Spirit Of Boom named GC Horse Of The Year

TOOWOOMBA sprinter Spirit Of Boom was crowned the Carlton Draught Horse Of The Year at last night’s Gold Coast Racing Industry Awards.
Trained by Tony Gollan, Spirit Of Boom (pictured) beat a strong field of contenders for the 2011-12 award which included brilliant Brisbane two-year-old Sizzling, Gold Coast sprinter Celtic Dancer, New Zealand mare Shez Sinsational, Magic Millions Classic winner Driefontein and top Gold Coast filly Punch On.
Spirit Of Boom clinched the award after his two feature race victories at the Gold Coast during last January’s summer carnival.
The four-year-old won the $100,000 Carlton Draught Goldmarket Hcp (1300m) on January 2 and backed up at his next start to land the $400,000 R M Williams Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on January 14.
Spirit Of Boom continued his fine summer form into the Queensland winter carnival, finishing fourth at Group One level behind Sea Siren in the Doomben 10,000 in May.
Toowoomba trainer Tony Gollan accepted the trophy on behalf of the Spirit Of Boom team at last night’s awards ceremony at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
“This horse gave us all some great moments here at the Gold Coast this year and we are thrilled to win this prestigious award,’’ he said.
“He’s come back very well after his break and will be heading to Melbourne over the spring were we hope he can break through to win his first Group One.’’
Spirit Of Boom becomes the 26th winner of the award first introduced by the GCTC in 1987.
Several other awards were presented last night.
The Bruce Hill-trained Brigadoon Jack was crowned the H Harvey Prestige Gold Coast Horse Of  The Year. This award is presented to the horse judged to be the best of 12 monthly award winners during the season.
Brigadoon Jack won two monthly awards (in May and June) after stringing together four successive Gold Coast victories in that period.
The Gold Coast Turf Club Premiership Horse Of The Year was taken out by the Les Kelly-trained Go Kingpin. The award is judged on a points basis taken over the entire season with seven points awarded for each win, three points for a second placing and one point for a third.
Go Kingpin collected 35 premiership points after four wins, two seconds and a third.
This season’s Gold Coast premiership winners also collected their awards last night. Dan Griffin has won a record sixth straight Attwood Marshall Lawyers Jockeys’ Premiership with 49 winners and Tegan Harrison became the first female rider to win the GCTC apprentices’ title with 29.5 winners.
Helen Page won her first Bundaberg Rum Gold Coast trainers’ premiership with 24 winners, ending John Morrisey’s three-season title run.
Page’s acceptance speech was one of the highlights of the evening as she called up her stable staff to join her on stage.
“You can’t win a premiership without great staff  like I have,’’ she said.
Story: Neil Archer
Photo: Trackside Photography Pty Ltd