Otago thoroughbred racing clubs have followed the lead of their harness racing counterparts in revamping their annual industry awards.
Otago thoroughbred clubs have banded together to support a new-look gala evening at Wingatui racecourse at Saturday, September 2, to celebrate their code.
Harness racing changed its award format last year and will run a similar function at Forbury Park on September 30.
The Otago thoroughbred awards will crown winners in the sprinter-miler, stayer and 3yr-old horse categories, from which a horse of the year will be selected.
The sprinter-miler and stayer categories look to be the most closely fought.
Brian and Shane Anderton-trained stablemates Coulee, Tommy Tucker and Fascinate will vie in the former.
Coulee won three of her 10 starts last season, including two group 3 races in the White Robe Lodge Handicap and the South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.
Fascinate ran second in the latter, which was her only group race showing last season.
However, she went one better than Coulee in winning four races last season.
Tommy Tucker has had a strong season in both sprinting and staying races.
Two listed races, the Easter Cup at Riccarton and the Timaru Cup, were among his four wins last season and he was runner-up behind Coulee in the group 3 White Robe Lodge Handicap.
Tommy Tucker's win in the group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup also sees him as a strong contender for Otago stayer of the year, where he is a finalist beside his stablemate Patrick Erin and the Terry Kennedy-trained Princess Brook.
Raise You Ten and Slammer will fight out the 3yr-old of the year and Gold Leaf and High Forty will contest the jumpers' award.
Trainer, jockey and volunteer awards will also be announced on the night.
Finalists for Otago's harness awards will be announced later this month.
