Harness Racing NSW’s nomination list for the upcoming State Horse of the Year honours sees four different Bathurst trainers represented, showing strength in particular across the juvenile racing scene.

Steve Turnbull has a pair of runners nominated with Conviction (2yo colts/geldings) and Pixies Parlour (3yo fillies). Bernie Hewitt’s Im With Lexy (2yo fillies) was among the final five in her category while Ashlee Grives’ Ameretto (open mares) also made the cut.

Turnbull said he’s just thrilled to see his gelding be considered one of the leading four runners in his category across the entirety of NSW.

”We’re really happy to see him on there but I think he would be up against it to win,” he said.

“He’s always raced with those other horses there through the season though he wasn’t able to knock them off.”

That comment perhaps sells short just how strong Sams The Master has been over 2015-16.

He finish fourth in the Group 1 NSW Derby, behind fellow nominee and Kiwi sensation Our Waikiki Beach, and was runner-up to another award hopeful, Charlaval, in the G1 Breeders Crown 3yo & Geldings Final.

Turnbull’s runner only missed a placing on two occasions.

“He’s definitely the star of the stable. He been racing at the top level over both his two and three-year-old season and I hope he can keep racing at that level,” Turnbull said.

“He’s already made over $100,000 in just his first few years of racing and hopefully we can all continue to enjoy the ride.”

Grives’ Ameretto had another consistent season, which included a G2 runner-up finish in the Hondo Grattan Stakes and a fourth in the G1 Breeders Challenge Four Year Old Mares final.

The mare is up against a remarkable list of runners which comprises of G1 Ladyship Mile champion Frith, G1  Queen of the Pacific placegetter Cyclone Kate and G1 Miracle Mile third-place finisher Arms Of An Angel.

Hewitt’s Im With Lexy has enjoyed a wonderful start to her career, which includes a place finish in the G1 NSW Breeders Challenge 2yo Fillies Final. She’s joined in the category by Bathurst Gold Tiara winner Dont Think Twice.

Former Tiara winner Pixies Parlour couldn’t do the Bathurst double by winning the Gold Bracelet but did manage to rack up a great list of results last season, headed by a win in the G3 NSW Breeders Challenge Regional 3yo Fillies Final. 

Conviction is a major contender for his category after claiming last season’s G1 NSW Breeders Challenge 2yo Colts and Geldings Final.