Bold Glance named Gold Coast Carlton Draught Horse Of The Year

TOUGH Toowoomba sprinter Bold Glance today joined some illustrious names when he was named the 2010-11 Carlton Draught Horse Of The Year at the Gold Coast Racing Industry Awards.
The GCTC introduced the award in 1987 and previous winners include the likes of Stylish Century, Rough Habit, Cole Diesel and Might And Power.
The list of contenders this year included brilliant Magic Millions Classic winner Karuta Queen, classy Hollindale Stakes victor My Kingdom Of Fife and Captain Sonador, who was outstanding in winning last January’s Goldmarket Hcp under 59kg.
 But the Norm Hilton-trained Bold Glance trumped them all, earning Horse Of The Year honours after winning two of the Gold Coast’s feature sprints last season.
He beat an outstanding field, including subsequent Stradbroke Hcp placegetter Zero Rock and Group One winner Captain Sonador, in the $400,000 R M Williams Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on January 15 (pictured).
Bold Glance then returned to the Gold Coast in March to land the $100,000 Gold Coast Stakes (1200m).
The son of Sequalo underlined the strength of that form by going on to finish a gallant third to Sacred Choice in the Group One Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 16.
Part-owners Bill and Trudy Walsh, who accepted today’s award, hope Bold Glance can add to his fine Gold Coast record in the future.
“He is having a long break at the moment and won’t be back to attempt back-to-back wins in the Magic Millions Cup next January, but hopefully he can have another crack at it in the future,’’ said Bill Walsh.
“We’ve always loved racing at the Gold Coast and we’d really love to be back here again on Magic Millions day as there is something very special about that raceday.
“We want to thank our trainer, Norm Hilton. We think we have a great little horse and you can’t have a good horse without a great trainer and Norm has proved that if he gets the right ‘cattle’ he will do the job.’’
Two other awards were presented today with Celtic Dancer named the H. Harvey Prestige Gold Coast Horse Of The Year and Ruapehu Boy taking out the GCTC Premiership Horse Of The Year.
Celtic Dancer was judged the standout performer of the 12 monthly award winners from the 2010-11 season. Winners of feature races are not included in this category.
Trained by Noel Doyle and raced by Reg and Phyllis Kling, Celtic Dancer won a strong three-year-old race at the Gold Coast on New Year’s Day before running fourth to Torio’s Quest in the $1m Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) on January 15.

 The Alicia Willick-trained Ruapehu Boy earned the GCTC Premiership Horse Of The Year title after winning four races at the Gold Coast in 2010-11, including a 14-1/2 length romp to win his Maiden in March.  This award is determined on a points basis throughout the season, with horses earning seven points for each win, three points for a second and one point for third.
 The Gold Coast’s three 2010-11 premiership winners also received their trophies at today’s awards function.
Dan Griffin collected his fifth straight Attwood Marshall Lawyers’ Jockeys’ Premiership, equalling the feat of the Ken Russell back in the 1980s. Griffin dominated the jockeys’ title, riding 63.5 winners for the season to gap his rivals.
 Brad Wallace won his first Traintech 2000 Apprentices’ Premiership with 36 winners, a tally that also lifted him into second place behind Griffin on the jockeys’ ladder.
John Morrisey won his third straight Bundaberg Rum Trainers’ Premiership with 24.5 winners, adding yet another premiership to the 21 he won at Canberra before moving north a few seasons ago.
The Women In Racing Inc. Award was presented to Nicole Bruce, in recognition of her hard work and dedication to the industry.
Nicole is not only a respected strapper and stable foreman on the Gold Coast, but has worked hard to further her studies and now runs a successful equine acupuncture and chiropractic business.
GCTC chairman Brett Cook said today’s awards again underlined the continuing strength of racing on the Gold Coast.
“It is great to see the very high standard of horses and jockeys that are attracted to the Gold Coast Turf Club and we congratulate all award winners for their outstanding success,’’ he said.
“With the multi-million dollar redevelopment of the precinct at the top of our agenda we aim to to provide showcase, national-standard facilities for members, trainers, jockeys and the public. So we can expect our standards to continually rise to greater heights.’’
CARLTON DRAUGHT HORSE OF THE YEAR
BOLD GLANCE
H. HARVEY PRESTIGE GOLD COAST HORSE OF THE YEAR
CELTIC DANCER
GOLD COAST TURF CLUB PREMIERSHIP HORSE OF THE YEAR
RUAPEHU BOY
ATTWOOD MARSHALL LAWYERS JOCKEYS’ PREMIERSHIP
DAN GRIFFIN (63.5 winners)
TRAINTECH 2000 APPRENTICES’ PREMIERSHIP
BRAD WALLACE (36 winners)
BUNDABERG RUM TRAINERS’ PREMIERSHIP
JOHN MORRISEY (24.5 winners)
WOMEN IN RACING INC. AWARD
NICOLE BRUCE