BLACK AND BENT, the versatile jumps racing star, has moved a step closer to a fairytale victory in the 2010 Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of the Year award.

The Australian and Galleywood Hurdle winner has today been named as one five finalists for the coveted award following the collation of votes from members of the Victorian media.

The remaining four finalists are Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, Tatts Cox Plate winner So You Think and multiple Group 1 winners Starspangledbanner and Typhoon Tracy.

The winner will be announced at the Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Awards presented by Tabcorp at Crown’s Palladium on Sunday night, 8 August.

In a remarkable 2009-10 season, the Robert Smerdon-trained Black And Bent tasted more success than any other on Victorian tracks with four hurdle and four flat wins.

If victorious he would snap the recent domination of sprinters with West Australian star Scenic Blast awarded the title last year, Weekend Hussler in 2008 and Miss Andretti in 2007.

The five finalists for the title of Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of the Year are (statistics
relate to performances on Victorian tracks from 1 August 2009);

1. Black And Bent – 14 starts, 8 wins, 1 placing
The most successful horse in Victoria this season with four flat and four hurdle wins

2. Shocking – 9 starts, 2 wins (1 x G1), 3 placings
Winner of the Emirates Melbourne Cup

3. So You Think – 3 starts, 1 win (G1), 1 placing
Least experienced horse in history to win the Tatts Cox Plate at just his fifth start

4. Starspangledbanner – 8 starts, 4 wins (2 x G1), 1 placing
Group 1 winner at 1100m defeating older horses and at 1600m against three-year-olds

5. Typhoon Tracy – 7 starts, 4 wins (3 x G1), 2 placings
Triple Group 1 winner with victories in the Myer Classic, Sportingbet Orr Stakes and Rokk

Ebony Futurity Stakes

A range of awards will be presented alongside the Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of
the Year award at Crown on 8 August including:

• Scobie Breasley Medal presented by Tabcorp
• Fred Hoysted Medal presented by Sport 927
• Tommy Corrigan Medal presented by Thoroughbred Racing Productions
• TVN Most Memorable Moment Award

Bookings for Victorian racing’s night of nights can be made by visiting racingvictoria.net.au/events
or by calling Customer First on 1300 139 401.

(The Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of the Year award is judged on performances on Victorian tracks only from the period 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010. All horses are eligible, irrespective of where they are trained, provided they are judged on Victorian performances only. The five contenders who attracted the least number of votes and thus were not named as finalists are (in alphabetical order) Turffontein, Viewed, Wanted, Whobegotyou and Zipping).

RACING VICTORIA MEDIA RELEASE

Media Contact: Shaun Kelly – RVL Communications Manager M: 0417 145 796 P: (03) 9258 4252 E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it