2025 Sportsbet Queensland Thoroughbred Awards finalists announced

A trio of champions will battle it out to be crowned Queensland Horse of the Year at the 2025 Sportsbet Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.

Earlier today, the finalists for this year's Awards were unveiled ahead of the gala event at The Star Brisbane on Sunday, October 12, recognising the Sunshine State's most outstanding gallopers and participants over the past season.

The race for the top gong is set to be one of the closest in years with all three nominees enjoying Group 1 success last season, as reigning Horse of the Year Antino goes head-to-head with fairytale Melbourne Cup champion Knight's Choice and star colt Cool Archie.

The J J Atkins winner also headlines the nominations for 2YO Horse of the Year, alongside Grafterburners and Sunrays, while Philia, Spicy Martini and Give Me Space will battle it out for the 3YO Horse of the Year honours.

Antino and Knight's Choice also feature in the 4YO and Older Horse of the Year nominations, alongside with Zarastro who came agonisingly close to taking out the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup in June.

In total, close to 30 awards will be presented – including Trainer, Jockey and Apprentice of the Year, as well as the Sportsbet Queensland Horse of the Year.

The evening will also see four new inductees into the Queensland Hall of Fame.

Acting RQ CEO Lachlan Murray said the Horse of the Year finalists are the strongest group seen in recent years, with a cumulative four Group 1 wins and eight black type successes.

"The star power on show in Queensland has well and truly come to the fore over the last 12 months," Mr Murray said.

"Knight's Choice re-wrote the record books by becoming the first Queensland-trained horse to take out the race that stops a nation, whilst Antino's demolition in the Doomben Cup still sits comfortably within the Longines World's Best Racehorse rankings.

"Cool Archie's two-year-old season stacked up against the best the nation had to offer last season, with his five-race winning streak culminating in Group 1 glory in the JJ Atkins.

"It's also important that we acknowledge our off-the-track success, and we are pleased to again recognise the Stable Person of the Year for the dedication of those behind the scenes at the coalface of the sport.

"Similarly, the vital support the Queensland Off-The-Track Program provides our animals post-racing will be celebrated through the Queensland Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year Award."

Tony Gollan headlines the nominees for the Queensland Trainer of the Year, looking to take out a 12th straight title following another outstanding season in which he notched 134 metropolitan victories.

Co-trainers Chris and Chris & Corey Munce, as well as the team of Sheila Laxon and John Symons, are also recognised as nominees for their excellent respective seasons in which both stables claimed Group 1 victories.

The George Moore Queensland Jockey of the Year title race will also go down to the wire with history-maker Angela Jones to go up against Melbourne Cup champion Robbie Dolan and young gun Emily Lang.

Finally, Lang – who finished second in the Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership – has also been nominated for Queensland Apprentice of the Year, with Cody Collis and Bailey Wheeler her rivals.

Sportsbet Queensland Horse of the Year