Awards

Christen Ercig-Wilson (Jack Pilkington)

Horses strapped in Sydney this season: Bernen Win.

Christen Ercig-Wilson moved seamlessly into a foreman role at Pilkington Racing 5 months ago.
Despite her depth of knowledge and experience through years of service to the sport in some of the top stables, Chrissie has an insatiable hunger for learning. She is always trying to improve herself both in practical stable-learning and through further studies such as the Cert. IV Trainers Course.

Chrissie leads by example everyday. She is 100% committed, not only to our stable and its long term success, but also to the industry as a whole. Workers like Chrissie are a huge asset to our industry, particularly as this level of commitment is increasingly harder to find among the younger generation. She is also patient and thorough when passing this knowledge on to less experienced employees.

Chrissie is always punctual and her attention to detail and tireless work ethic contribute enormously to the culture of our stable. We have confidently handed her more and more responsibilities across the 5 months with our stable and hope this continues for a long time to come.

Having worked with Chrissie in 2 other stables previously and known her for many years, I had no hesitation in nominating her for strapper of the year despite her relatively short tenure with Pilkington Racing. Such an award wouldn’t just be a reward for her work in our stable, it would be an acknowledgment of her dedication to the racing industry over many years and undoubtedly many more to come. I’d personally like to thank Chrissie very much for this level of commitment to the sport we all love as we’re all lucky to have workers like her!

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Danielle Akon (John Sargent)

Horses strapped in Sydney this season: Nullarbor Jane, Casual Connection.

Danielle Akon is an outstanding strapper whose dedication, professionalism, and genuine passion for thoroughbred racing make her an exceptionally deserving recipient of the Sydney Strapper of the Year Award.

During her two years with John Sargent Racing, she has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of horse care, stable presentation, and work ethic.

The horses in her care, including Nullarbor Jane and Casual Connection, receive exceptional attention every day, reflecting Danielle’s unwavering commitment to their wellbeing and performance.

Her work ethic is second to none. Despite balancing two jobs, Danielle ensure the horses receive the care they deserve. No task is ever too difficult, and she approaches every responsibility with enthusiasm, determination, and a positive attitude..

Garance Lathiere (Robert Quinn)

Horses strapped in Sydney this season: Ces Soirees La, Sunsource, Irish Jig, Wals Me Mate.

I could not think of a more suitable candidate for this award than Garance. Garance’s passion and dedication for her horses and horse racing is unbelievable.

Her attention to detail is second to none when it comes to caring for her horses. She has a wonderful passion for wanting to get the very best out of every horse in our stable.

She is always looking for new ways to improve our horses’ stable life. In her time working for Robert Quinn Racing she has helped raise our standard, constantly pushed herself and those around her to continue to raise the bar in our efforts to be a proud, competitive, respected Sydney Stable.

If I had to sum up Garance Lathiere’s time spent so far in the sport of Horse Racing I would simply say “Passionate”

Jacob Anderson (Joe Pride)

Horses attended in Sydney this season: Private Eye, King’s Secret, Accredited.

Jacob Anderson joined our stable with no previous experience around horses, but through his dedication, work ethic, and genuine willingness to learn, he has developed into an outstanding strapper and an invaluable member of our team.

Jacob is consistently the first person at the stables each morning, ensuring the first group of horses are on the walker and prepared for the day ahead. He approaches every task with enthusiasm and takes great pride in the care and wellbeing of our horses.

He has earned our complete trust and has travelled interstate with our horses during carnival campaigns to Melbourne and Brisbane, where he has represented our stable professionally and cared for the horses to the highest standard.

Although Jacob is naturally quiet and humble, his actions speak for themselves. He always presents himself professionally, has a positive attitude, and is eager to continue learning and improving. He never hesitates to take on additional responsibilities and can always be relied upon to do the job well. He is highly respected by his colleagues, gets along with everyone in the stable, and contributes positively to our team culture.

Jacob’s commitment, reliability and genuine passion for the horses makes him an exceptionally deserving finalist for Strapper of the Year. He embodies the qualities this award recognises, and we are proud to support his nomination

Jane Shaw (Karin Owen)

Horses strapped in Sydney this season: Fay’s Angels.

Jane has exceptional depth of character. She is very dedicated and straps voluntarily, usually every time I bring my metro runner, Fay’s Angels to town (she does have a family connection to the horse). She travels from Coff’s Harbour, meets me at Taree, and helps prepare the horse and share the driving. She is very organised and even prepares a packed lunch for me!

She is a very experienced horsewoman and excellebt at handling difficult horses (Fay’s Angels can be quite difficult) Jane liases well with other industry participants and can be called upon to be in charge of the horse to prepare, float and saddle it on raceday if required.

She is very reliable and also straps many of my runners on the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers area.

Kathleen Watts (Price-Kent Racing)

Horses strapped in Sydney this season: Golden Path, La Fracas, Skycatcher, Bustling.

Rain, hail or shine, Kat Watts is the first stablehand in the barn and the last to leave. No stone is left unturned; whether it’s with the horses or keeping the barn clean and tidy. She has a horse-first mentality whether its within working hours or doing the extras.

Kat travels with horses to the races and makes sure everything is done perfectly. She prides herself on the work she does and the way she presents herself and the horses she takes racing.

Regardless of the result, Kat is happiest when the horses come back safely. She doesn’t have the strongest win/loss record but her attitude towards her job never changes.

Malak Singh (Chris Waller)

Horses strapped in Sydney this season: Campione D’Italia, Soul Of Spain, Beiwacht, Tron Bolt.

Few people embody the values of horsemanship, dedication and teamwork quite like Malak Singh.

A foreman at Chris Waller Racing for more than 10 years, Malak has been an integral part of the stable’s success, earning the respect of everyone around him through his unwavering work ethic, loyalty and genuine care for both horses and people.

Throughout his career, Malak has strapped outstanding racehorses including Beiwacht, Campione D’Italia, Tron Bolt and Switzerland. Within his barn, he has also overseen the daily preparation and care of some of Australia’s finest Group 1-winning colts and geldings, including Home Affairs and Nature Strip, along with many other elite performers.

While these achievements speak volumes, it is Malak’s character that truly sets him apart. As a foreman, he leads by example, mentoring a team of staff who not only respect him immensely but genuinely enjoy working alongside him. He creates a positive, supportive environment where everyone feels valued, and he is always willing to lend a hand, share his knowledge or simply brighten someone’s day with his sense of humour.

Malak’s care for his horses is second to none. He goes above and beyond to ensure every horse in his care receives the attention, patience and love they deserve, treating each one as an individual. His dedication doesn’t end with the horses—he shows the same compassion and generosity towards his workmates, always putting others before himself.
Reliable, loyal, selfless and incredibly hardworking, Malak is the type of person every stable hopes to have. He is a beautiful man with a kind heart, a trusted leader, and someone who consistently gives far more than is asked of him.

Megan Booker (Angela Davies)

Horses strapped in Sydney this season: Through The Cracks, Our Kobison, Salina Dreaming, Denham Star, Clipper.

Megan Booker embodies everything that is exceptional about the thoroughbred racing industry. Her dedication, professionalism, horsemanship, and genuine love for horses set her apart and make her an invaluable member of our stable.

Every day, Meg demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the welfare and success of our horses. Whether she is strapping at the races, riding trackwork in the early hours of the morning, or caring for horses back at the stable, her attention to detail is second to none. She notices the smallest changes in a horse’s behaviour, health, or wellbeing and takes immediate action to ensure every horse receives the highest standard of care. Her knowledge, intuition, and work ethic give owners, trainers, and staff complete confidence that every horse in her care is receiving exceptional treatment.

What makes Meg truly special is that her commitment to the horses does not end when their racing careers are over. Many people focus on a horse’s racing success, but Meg is equally passionate about ensuring every horse has the best possible future after racing. She dedicates countless hours to retraining retired racehorses through dressage and other educational work, patiently teaching them new skills and preparing them for life beyond the racetrack. Through her efforts, numerous horses have been successfully rehomed into loving, suitable homes where they can thrive in their second careers.

Meg approaches every horse as an individual, investing her time, patience, and expertise into helping them transition successfully. Her passion for equine welfare reflects the very best values of our industry and provides an outstanding example of responsible aftercare.

In addition to her horsemanship, Meg is highly respected by her colleagues and peers. She is always willing to help, share her knowledge, and support others. Nothing is ever too much trouble when it comes to the horses. Whether it means arriving early, staying late, or going above and beyond to meet a horse’s needs, Meg does so willingly and without seeking recognition. Her positive attitude, reliability, and unwavering dedication make her a role model within our stable and throughout the racing community.

Meg’s contribution extends far beyond her job description. She is an advocate for horse welfare, a skilled horsewoman, an outstanding trackwork rider, and a compassionate caretaker who continually puts the needs of the horses first. The care, dedication, and professionalism she demonstrates every day have a lasting impact on the horses she works with and on everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her.

Sydney racing is stronger because of people like Meg. Her commitment to excellence, both during and after a horse’s racing career, makes her a truly deserving recipient of the Sydney Strapper of the Year Award.
We can think of no one more worthy of this recognition than Meg, whose devotion to the welfare, success, and future of every horse in her care is simply exceptional.

Michael Harry (Peter Snowden)

Horses strapped in Sydney this season: Nitro, Amreekiyah, Dolce Dior.

Over the past year, Michael Harry has shown outstanding dedication and commitment to the stable.

He has developed tremendously, taking every opportunity to learn and continually improving his skills and horsemanship. He has travelled with our horses on multiple occasions, always representing the stable professionally and proving himself to be reliable in any situation. He is consistently the first person to put his hand up to cover shifts, help his team mates out and take on extra responsibilities without hesitation.

Michael’s work ethic, positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond make him an invaluable member of our team. He genuinely cares about the horses and takes great pride in his work every day.

He is thoroughly deserving of being recognised as a finalist for Strapper of the Year.

Stephanie Alexander (Brett & Georgie Cavanough)

Horses strapped in Sydney this season:  Chidiac, Wanaruah, Fingers Hunter, Warrior For Peace, Navy Steel, Shenandoah River.

Stephanie Alexander has been an integral part of every stage of Cavanough Racing’s success.

An elite horsewoman with exceptional horse handling, horse breaking and riding skills, she has proved an irreplaceable member of our team.

Very devoted and a tirelessly hard worker who has a work ethic second to none. She is a fantastic leader and very capable individual who leads a successful team.

Presentation of herself and the horses is always of the highest standard and, after 13 years, she is one of the most valued members of our team.