WHAT A Jolt, what a horse.
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Lester Hewitt’s gelding was awarded the Bathurst Paceway’s Horse of the Year title during the 2017-18 season presentation night on Friday.
What A Jolt, a four-year-old Village Jolt gelding, registered seven wins during the season, including three consecutively at one point.
Hewitt paid tribute to driver John O’Shea, who formed a strong connection with the horse, using his brilliant gate speed to advantage many times.
Harness Racing chairman Rod Smith was in attendance, highlighting the $200,000 funding increase for the Gold Crown (which will provide four Group 1 finals in 2019).
He then made the presentation for Trainer of the Year to Steve Turnbull, whose season tally of 63 wins included five trebles.
He also found Group success at Bathurst with Art Series in the Gold Bracelet and NSW Regional Final.
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Steve’s children Amanda and Mitchell completed a family trifecta of major premierships, by taking out the Senior and Junior Driver of the Year Awards respectively.
Amanda’s 49 winners included five winners at one meeting, back in October last year.
Turnbull also took out the Soldiers Saddle Final, Oberon Cup, Sales Graduate Final and both feature wins by Art Series.
In making the presentation to Amanda, Mayor Hangar recalled his days as a teacher at Kelso High School, reminding Amanda that she still owed him a History assignment from back in Year Nine !
Amanda’s focus then was clearly on the future, and not writing about the past, and nothing’s changed since.
Mitchell was dux of a very strong class of Bathurst junior drivers - the likes of McKayler Barnes, Justin Reynolds, Doug Hewitt and Jake Davis – with 17 wins for the season, which included a treble and several doubles.
Jenny Turnbull, mother of Amanda, received the award for Juvenile Horse of the Year Shoobee Doo.
The two-year-old Shoobees Place colt lined up at Bathurst seven times for four wins, which included heat and final of the Graeme Board Sales Graduate series, and a heat of the NSW Breeders Challenge.