Media figure Terry McAuliffe, prominent breeder Harry Perks and stayer Warning were among those recognised at the South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Annual Horse of the Year Awards in Adelaide on Saturday night.
Terry was recognised for his services to the thoroughbred industry when he was presented with the prestigious Matrice Award.
On hand to receive the award, an emotional Terry was quick to thank his family and particularly his wife Christine for enabling him to follow his dream in racing while bringing up a family of boys.
Previous winners of the award include CS Hayes, David Coles, Blevic, Without Fear, Swettenham Stud and Magic Millions.
“It is wonderful recognition of Terry's dedication to the South Australian industry,” said committee chair Sam Hayes.
“Many know what a great racecaller he has been but it's (also) the decades of service to all forms of the sport, particularly his enthusiasm to the breeding industry in our state,”
The Matrice Award was one of the highlights of the annual SA Thoroughbred Breeders Awards dinner, which attracted 200 guests, was jointly hosted by Sam Hayes and Matthew Kelly (SA Breeders executive), and celebrated the state’s equine excellence.
Four of Harry Perks’ SA bred horses were in the final 12 of the Horse of the Year award: Warning, Dalasan, Dawn Passage and Banquo.
Past winners of the SA Horse of the Year award include Makybe Diva, Mummify, Divine Madonna, Gold Guru, Episode, Durbridge, Special, Manikato and Viddora.
In a twist of fate, Harry Perks and connections celebrated another G1 win on the night when the Mill Park Stud and the Quality Thoroughbred Breeding Joint Venture co-bred Horse of the Year finalist Run Fox Run took out the G1 Cape Flying Championship at Turrfontein, in South Africa, less than an hour after the dinner wound up.
Warning, a son of Declaration of War, was bred by Harry Perks, and is from Livia, who was crowned the Claude Haigh Memorial Leading Broodmare of the Year.
Award winners:
TopSport Horse Transport Horse of the Year – Warning
Morphettville Equine Clinic Matrice Award – Terry McAuliffe
Magic Millions Leading Stallion – Dalakhani (Cornerstone Stud)
Adelaide Plains Bloodstock Leading 2YO Sire – Zebedee (Cornerstone Stud)
Claude Haigh Memorial Leading Broodmare – Livia (Harry Perks)
Surewise Insurance Leading Breeder By Stakes Wins – Harry Perks
Hygain Leading 2YO – Away Game (Mill Park Stud/Mills Thoroughbred Breeding Partnership)
IMAGE: Matrice Award winner Terry McAuliffe with wife Christine and son Charlie. PHOTO: atkinsphotography.com.au
