Dissident Named Aussie HOY

On the strength of four Group 1 successes, Dissident (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) was named Australia’s Horse of the Year Thursday, adding the national honor to his title as Victorian Horse of the Year. It is the fifth time in six years that a horse trained by Peter Moody has been recognized (Typhoon Tracy, 2010; Black Caviar, 2011-2013).

Voting takes place among 56 racing media and handicappers and takes into account all performances on Australian soil, as well as international efforts by locally trained runners.

With top-level scores in the Memsie S., Makybe Diva S., C. F. Orr S. and All-Aged S., Dissident, who now stands at Newgate Stud, collected 119 votes, 61 more than Brazen Beau (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), who was named champion 3-year-old. Contributer (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) (31), the champion middle-distance horse and Western Australian filly Delicacy (Aus) (Al Maher {Aus}), the champion 3-year-old filly, were third and fourth in the voting, respecitively. Dissident was also named champion sprinter over Brazen Beau.

Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro), impressive winner of the G1 Golden Slipper S. in the fall, easily outpointed Pride of Dubai (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) to be named champion 2-year-old, while Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) earned champion stayer honors for his four-length victory in the G1 Melbourne Cup.

Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock (Aus) was named champion sire, while Hugh Bowman and Chris Waller were recognized as champion Group 1 jockey and trainer, respectively.