Happy Trails Crowned SA Horse of the Year

Media Release - Sunday February 1

Star galloper Happy Trails was on Saturday night crowned the South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders' Horse of the Year for the 2014 calendar year at a glittering awards presentation at Adelaide's Intercontinental Hotel.

The son of Good Journey was selected as the top performer from a list of 12 finalists including Group One winners Bounding, Fawkner, Go Indy Go, Kushadasi and Moment of Change and he was a popular winner of the award sponsored by Goldners Horse Transport.

Bred by Brenton and Liz Parker, Happy Trails was sold to trainer Paul Beshara for $11,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale through the draft of Mill Park.

The gelding was one of the stars of the VRC Melbourne Cup Carnival and scored an impressive and thrilling win in the Group One LKS Mackinnon Stakes on Derby Day last year.

The Parkers and Happy Trails' connections, Adelaide's Dickmann family, were on hand to receive their respective awards at the function, presented by Tattsbet. In excess of 260 guests attended the function hosted by Sam Hayes and Richard Zachariah.

"The family is so honoured to have won this prestigious award," owner Erica Dickmann said. "We've come close to winning it a couple of times and to finally have got the nod is very special."

"Happy Trails is a very special horse to us and we're looking forward to his autumn campaign which will commence soon."

Brenton and Liz Parker, the proud breeders, were thrilled with the latest award for the star they bred.

"Madame Flurry has been a special mare to us. She has also produced another stakes performer and a Sydney winner and we have a couple more to come through," Brenton Parker said.

"We know Happy Trails is such a popular horse and Liz and I are thrilled he has been recognised again. He's won a Group One during the past three seasons and we hope there's more to come!"

The popular chestnut is working well and will head to the Orr Stakes on the way to a crack at the Group One Australian Cup at Flemington - the scene of his three group one victories to date.

South Australia's Jolly family received the prestigious Morphettville Equine Clinic Matrice Award - annually presented to an individual, horse or group for outstanding contribution to the South Australian Thoroughbred Industry. Past winners of the Matrice Award include David Coles, Blevic, Leon Macdonald, Mill Park, Jim O'Connor, CS Hayes, Without Fear, Makybe Diva, Swettenham Stud and Tony and Kerrin McEvoy.

"It is an incredible honour," an emotional Peter Jolly said. "This is a big shock."

"I'm so proud of the achievements of my boys who are both Group One winning trainers. To win the Matrice Award as a family is very special."

Cornerstone Stud based Good Journey, the sire of Happy Trails, was crowned the Magic Millions Leading SA Stallion and SA Jockey Club Leading 2YO Sire.

Harry Perks made a number of visits to the presentation area - his awards including Claude Haigh Memorial Leading Broodmare for Elegant Eagle, Finniss Lodge Leading 2YO for Go Indy Go and the Newmarket Insurance Brokers Leading SA Breeder by Stakes Performers.

Perks is also a sponsor of the Millionaires Club which saw three new inductees in 2015 - Blevic, Durbridge and Streak.

Former Matrice Award winners Ken and Helen Smith won the United Discount Chemists Leading SA Breeder by SA Stallions.

South Australian Derby winner Kushadasi, prepared by Richard Jolly, won the National Jockeys Trust Award as the Leading SA Bred Three-Year-Old for breeder Vintage Bloodstock.

Tattsbet South Australian Horses of the Year Award Winners

Magic Millions Award - Leading SA Stallion

Good Journey (Cornerstone Stud)

SA Jockey Club Award - Leading 2YO Sire

Good Journey (Cornerstone Stud)

Claude Haigh Memorial Award - Leading SA Broodmare

Elegant Eagle (Harry Perks)

Finniss Lodge Award - Breeder Leading 2YO

Harry Perks for Go Indy Go

National Jockeys Trust Award - Breeding Leading 3YO

Vintage Bloodstock for Kushadasi

Butterfields Farm Direct Horse Feed - Breeders of G1 winners