Cejay Graham wins top apprentice gong while Antino crowned Queensland horse of the year at gala awards function
Cejay Graham has gone from driving six hours to the races twice a week to winning the premier award for apprentice jockeys in the state, capping off a golden 12 months in the saddle.
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Cejay Graham has capped off a breakout season in the saddle by winning the Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of the Year award, while Antino was crowned the state’s premier horse.
The popular rider has gone from suffering a broken back early in her career along with two broken wrists, to driving six hours to the races twice a week in Brisbane from her home in Port Macquarie to landing the award in a meteoric rise through the ranks.
Graham’s 59 metropolitan wins last season saw her finish second to standout rider Jimmy Orman, who collected his third consecutive George Moore Queensland Jockey of the Year award on the night.
Leading trainer Tony Gollan, who enjoyed a record breaking season of his own, won his 11th straight Jim Atkins Queensland Trainer of the Year award.
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In a season where no Queensland horse managed to win a Group 1, Antino’s Group 2 Victory Stakes win in the winter along with his heart breaking runner up performance in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap last spring was enough to win the coveted Horse of the Year award.
Lawrie Mayfield-Smith’s Zouna won two-year-old of the year for his performances throughout the winter, which eventually saw him scratched from the Group 1 JJ Atkins in controversial fashion when vets ruled him unfit to race.
Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner Abounding was the state’s three-year-old of the year.
Barry Baldwin was inducted in the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame on the night also, in recognition of his contribution to racing over his decades as a trainer.
“The TAB Queensland Thoroughbred Awards is always a fantastic event for the industry, and a great opportunity to acknowledge the class and quality of both human and equine participants in our sport,” Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott said.
“It has been another terrific season unearthing the next generation of stars both on and off the track, and it is fitting to see more than 400 people celebrating at The Star Brisbane to acknowledge those achievements.
“Antino’s Queensland Horse of the Year Award is thoroughly deserved following a strong showing in Melbourne during the spring.”
Originally published as Cejay Graham wins top apprentice gong while Antino crowned Queensland horse of the year at gala awards function
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