Imperatriz Crowned HTBA 2024 Champion Racehorse

Over 340 Australian thoroughbred industry leaders, clients and supporters, attended the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association 2024 Annual Awards in Scone to recognise the Hunter’s elite equine athletes.

“The Hunter Valley is Australia’s premier thoroughbred breeding region and Horse Capital. It is Australia’s jewel in the thoroughbred breeding crown.  The breadth and depth of talent of our people and the success of our equine athletes is world renowned.  I am very proud to recognise their achievements at tonight’s Annual Awards,” Mr Barley Ward-Thomas, HTBA’s newly elected President said.

The Supreme Award of the evening and the year - the 2024 HTBA Champion Racehorse:

Winner: IMPERATRIZ

The 2024 HTBA Champion Racehorse is awarded to IMPERATRIZ. Daughter of I Am Invincible out of the mare Berimbau (Shamardal). Born at Bhima, IMPERATRIZ is a multiple Group 1 winning filly of the VRC Sprint Classic, the VRC Lightning Stakes, the MVRC Moir Stakes, the MRVC Mankato Stakes, the MVRC William Reid Stakes and Group 2 McEwen Stakes and placed 2nd in the Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap.

Her sire I Am Invincible was also recognised:

2024 HTBA Champion Sire:

Winner:  I AM INVINCIBLE

The 2024 HTBA Champion Sire was awarded for a third time to I AM INVINCIBLE. Winner of the  HTBA Champion Sire category in 2021 & 2023, I AM INVINCIBLE, is a brilliant sprinter and champion racehorse. His black-type progeny for this season raked up 461 points on the black-type premiership leader board including through stakes winners Imperatriz, King’s Gambit, King of Sparta, Move to Strike and many more.

Other winners on the evening were:

2024 HTBA 2-year-old racehorse award: 

Winner LADY OF CAMELOT

This year’s 2024 HTBA Champion 2-year-old Racehorse award winner is LADY OF CAMELOT, a filly by Written Tycoon out of Miss Debutante. LADY OF CAMELOT, is a Group 1 winner of ATC Golden Slipper, 1st in the Group 3 ATC Widden Stakes, 2nd in the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and 2nd ATC Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes. MISS CAMELOT was born at Newgate and bred by Go Bloodstock.

2024 HTBA 3-year-old racehorse award:

Winner:  RIFF ROCKET

The 2024 HTBA Champion 3-year-old Racehorse is awarded to RIFF ROCKET. Son of American Pharoah (USA) out of the mare Missile Coda. RIFF ROCKET is a multiple Group 1 winning gelding of the ATC Australian Derby, the Group 1 VRC Victorian Derby and the Group 1 ATC Rosehill Guineas. Winning the Group 3 VRC CS Hayes Stakes and the listed VRC Super Impose Stakes and notable 2nd placing in Group 3 MRC Caulfield Classic and 3rd in the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas. RIFF ROCKET was bred at Coolmore and is owned by Woppitt Bloodstock.  

2024 Champion Broodmare award:

Winner: MISS DEBUTANTE

The 2024 HTBA Champion Broodmare Award is presented to MISS DEBUTANTE owned by GO Bloodstock and resident mare of Newgate. MISS DEBUTANTE’s multiple stakes winners include the 2024 Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper winner Lady of Camelot and the 2023 Group 3 VRC Furphy Sprint winner in Queen of the Ball.  

2024 HTBA Champion First Season Sire award

Winner:  TOO DARN HOT

TOO DARN HOT (GB) is awarded 2024 HTBA Champion First Season Sire.  Standing at Darley Kelvinside, the son of Dubawi (IRE) out of the mare Do Re Mi (GB). TOO DARN HOT’S first crop of 2-year-olds include winners such as Broadsiding and Fallen Angel (GB). His first season progeny have given him a black-type premiership points rating of 43 to take home this year’s title.

The HTBA congratulated all 2024 award winners and extended gratitude to all sponsors for their support of both these awards and the HTBA’s work more broadly to promote, protect and progress the Hunter’s world leading thoroughbred breeding industry and the champion athletes we produce.