JUMPING ACHIEVEMENT OF YEAR AWARD GOES TO NATIONAL WINNER

GLAMOUR jumper Pentiffic was the star of the 2009 Mosstrooper Fellowship Awards which were presented at a gala dinner at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on Saturday night.

The Victorian and South Australian jumps racing fraternities gathered for the industry’s night of nights where Pentiffic took home the prized Victoria Racing Club Jumping Achievement ofthe Year Award.

In a dominant season, the Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston-trained jumper was victorious in the Grand National, Hiskens and Crisp Steeplechases in Victoria, together with the Yalumba Classic Hurdle at Oakbank, SA.

Those victories saw Pentiffic score a comfortable victory in the J.J.Houlahan Jumps Championship which honours the season’s top performers.

With wins in four of the 15 legs, Pentiffic finished the season on 48 points, 10 clear ofYamanura, with Desert Master next best on 34 points.

The champion jockey across the series was Brad McLean (78 points) who triumphed overBrett Scott (60) and equal third placegetters Trent Wells and Adam Trinder (54).

Ciaron Maher (70) held off a late charge from Robbie Laing (68) to be crowned championtrainer, with Houlahan and Johnston (62) finishing a close-up third.

Legendary trainer Eric Musgrove was acknowledged for his stellar career when presentedwith the Country Racing Victoria Lifetime Contribution of the Year Award.

Musgrove was the first trainer to amass 500 winners over jumps. He has also prepared jumpswinners in four states and has won almost every major event on the jumping calendar.

On a big night for Musgrove, he also collected the TRSA Les Short SA Jumping Achievementof the Year Award for his wins with Wheel The Lead in the Von Doussa Steeplechase andStop The Traffic in the Grand National Steeplechase.

Young rider Arron Lynch, who enjoyed success with Mybigfatgreekhorse throughout theseason, was awarded the RVL Jumping Jockey Encouragement Award.

Robbie Laing’s monumental feat to win the Grand Annual Steeplechase first up with SirPentire was recognised with the presentation of the Warrnambool Racing Club Provincial Jumping Achievement of the Year Award.

Members of the media were also recognised for their outstanding coverage of jumps racingthroughout 2009.

The AAP’s Tim Hickman was presented with the Melbourne Racing Club Jumping Media Story of the Year for his article titled Brookton Mist sold for 100 bales of hay, while BrunoCannatelli won the Moonee Valley Racing Club Jumping Photo of the Year for his photo ofDesert Master in the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool.

The list of award winners is:

J.J.Houlahan Jumps Championship Award (Horse) Pentiffic

J.J.Houlahan Jumps Championship Award (Jockey) Brad McLean

J.J.Houlahan Jumps Championship Award (Trainer) Ciaron Maher

Victoria Racing Club Jumping Achievement of the Year Award Pentiffic

Country Racing Victoria Lifetime Contribution to Jumping Award Eric Musgrove

TRSA Les Short SA Jumping Achievement of the Year Award Eric Musgrove

Racing Victoria Limited Jumping Jockey Encouragement Award Arron Lynch

Warrnambool Racing Club Provincial Jumping Achievement of the Year Award Robbie Laing

Melbourne Racing Club Jumping Media Story of the Year Award Tim Hickman

Moonee Valley Racing Club Jumping Photo of the Year Award Bruno Cannatelli

Media Contact: Shaun Kelly – RVL Communications ManagerM: 0417 145 796 P: (03) 9258 4252 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rodney Rae – AJRA President M: 0419 190 037