ON Saturday night Anthony Frisby enjoyed a career first when he was presented with a Harness Racing New South Wales award, but before the end of the year he wants a bigger prize in New Zealand.
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That is when he hopes to find New Zealand Cup and Inter Dominion success with stable star Our Uncle Sam.
The Sportswriter x Rooftop Fairy gelding, trained by Anthony's father Chris, has already proven himself up to the task of matching it with - and beating - the best runners in Australasia.
He ran second to Tiger Tara in last December's Inter Dominion Grand Final while in March he landed the Frisbys their first Group 1 success when he took out the Bohemia Crystal Free For All.
It was for his efforts in the gig that evening that Anthony Frisby earned the Harness Racing NSW Kevin Newman Award For Driving Excellence.
"You always put in the work, you always work towards winning a Group 1, but then to get that award on top of it, it's just fantastic," Frisby said.
"It was special for the horse to finally crack one. He stepped up a lot that season and ran a couple of cracking races against Tiger Tara and a lot of other good horses as well, it was just nice to get his name on the board.
"All the family is involved with him, we brought him at the yearling sales and put all the work into him. You sort of put all the yards in, so the satisfaction of winning that Group 1 after what you've done - it was just a great big thrill."
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Our Uncle Sam, who also ran second in the Hunter Cup and Len Smith Mile last season, will return to the track for a trial next Monday.
How performs then will dictate the Frisbys' plans for him.
"We'd love to take him to New Zealand for the New Zealand Cup, but we're not sure of that yet, it's not set in concrete yet," the talented reinsman said.
"It depends on how he trials and as long as we're happy with him. But we definitely want him to go over there for the Inter Dominion, so he'll be going over there one way or the other.
"So that's our main goal, just to get him cherry ripe for that and into that Inter Dominion series."
The driving excellence award was not the only honour for the Frisbys on Saturday evening, as Major Occasion was named the aged mare pacer of the year.
She won four of her 13 starts last season - including the Group 2 Sibelia Stakes - and picked up another six placings which featured runner-up finishes in the Group 1 Ladyship Mile and Group 3 Ranji Bill Stakes.
"We had a good year with our horses, Major Occasion, she also done a super job. She was always there," Frisby said.
"You've got to enjoy every moment while you've got them because it can be an absolute long wait before you get another one. We've just been lucky we've got two very nice horses at the same time, I've been lucky enough to work with Dad and have a few nice horses."
Bathurst trainer Gemma Rue won the Menangle First Lady Award.
