Majestuoso crowned Victoria’s champion horse of season 2022

Standout harness racing performances on the big stage define all professional athletes and it was a string of those very moments that secured Majestuoso (Majestic Son) the honour of Victorian Horse of the Year for season 2022.

The Andy Gath-trained gelding was crowned the state’s premier standardbred at a gala function at Crown Palladium on Sunday night, in the process becoming the first squaregaiter since one-time stablemate Tornado Valley in 2019 to receive the award.

It capped a truly remarkable evening for Gath, who had earlier been inducted as a Caduceus Club Living Legend for his lifelong achievements in harness racing.

Champion reinsman Chris Alford was the toast of the room when he was named the newest Gordon Rothacker Medal recipient, while tireless volunteer Margaret Watson won the Pearl Kelly Award for her years of dedication to the sport.

Majestuoso’s 2022 season was something special. He competed in six Group 1 events and won five of them, with his only defeat coming when a narrow second to Just Believe in the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final in December.

Among his haul was the Great Southern Star Final, the V L Dullard Trotters Cup, The Knight Pistol, Australian Trotting Grand Prix and Cranbourne Trotters Cup, with year-long earnings just shy of $400,000.

Owned by Norm Jenkin, Majestuoso came into Gath’s care early in his career after just three official starts for former trainer Rickie Alchin.

He has proven yet another shrewd buy by Gath and Jenkin, winning 26 races for the team since first competing for the Long Forest barn in mid-2018.

Majestuoso, who was also crowned Aged Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year, takes the mantle of Victoria’s best horse from superstar pacer Lochinvar Art, who was a back-to-back winner in 2020 and 2021.

Gath Racing is also celebrating Catch A Wave’s confirmation as Victorian 3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year.

While his recent Chariots of Fire and Miracle Mile heroics weren’t able to be taken into account by judges, the son of Captaintreacherous still did more than enough to edge out fellow nominees Captain Ravishing and Interest Free.

Catch A Wave continued to justify the early spruik placed on him by his master trainer with a Group 1 win in the APG Gold Bullion during May and capped off another brilliant season with victory in the $130,000 Vicbred Super Series Final on New Year’s Eve.

The 2022 honour backed up his two-year-old boys’ award from the season prior.

Major Delight’s unbeaten campaign secured her 2YO Pacing Filly of the Year spoils, with the daughter of Bettors Delight one of five Emma Stewart-trained horses to win age/sex titles.

In the trotting ranks, the Anton Golino-trained trio of Cravache Dor, Egret and Im Ready Jet topped their respective classes, while new kids on the block The Locomotive and Rockinwithattitude were clear winners of the two-year-old squaregaiting awards for respective conditioners Wayne Potter and David Miles.

Stewart was acknowledged for her eighth-straight Victorian (271 wins) and metropolitan (112) trainer titles, while James Herbertson collected his state (231 wins) and concession driver premiership trophies and Mark Pitt his as leading metro (70 wins) reinsperson in 2022.

Bill and Anne Anderson from Lauriston Bloodstock were crowned Victorian Breeder of the Year after yet another remarkable run of winners, and Lang Distinguished Service Awards were presented to Graham Prosser, Gay Donnelley and Richard Cust.

2022 AWARDS

Gordon Rothacker Medal: Chris Alford

Pearl Kelly Award: Margaret Watson

Caduceus Club Living Legend: Andy Gath

2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year: The Locomotive. Finalists: Stevie Gee, Uptown Lad, Ess Kay Hollywood

2YO Trotting Filly of the Year: Rockinwithattitude. Finalists: Cognati, Susan Is Her Name, Valerie Lane

3YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year: Cravache Dor. Finalists: Courage Stride, Harry Stamper, Plymouth Chubb

3YO Trotting Filly of the Year: Egret. Finalists: Amandine, Revelstoke, Courmayeur, Used To Be A Maid

4YO Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year: Aldebaran Zeus. Finalists: Locksley Lover, Mufasa Metro, Ollivici

4YO Trotting Mare of the Year: Queen Elida. Finalists: Sheza Pleasure, Visionary

Aged Trotting Mare of the Year: Im Ready Jet. Finalists: Hopeful Beauty, Imamaorijet, Aldebaran Crescent, Vacation Hill

Aged Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year: Majestuoso. Finalists: Nephew Of Sonoko, Just Believe, Sundons Courage

2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year: The Lost Storm. Finalists: First Responder, School Captain, Petracca, Perfect Class

2YO Pacing Filly of the Year: Major Delight. Finalists: Joyful, Tempting Tigress, Perfect In Pink, Soho Seraphine

3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year: Catch A Wave. Finalists: Captain Ravishing, Interest Free

3YO Pacing Filly of the Year: Encipher. Finalists: Amore Vita, Just Hope, Soho Historia

4YO Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year: Better Eclipse. Finalists: Act Now, Rock N Roll Doo

4YO Pacing Mare of the Year: Ladies In Red. Finalists: Dougs Babe, Tough Tilly, Treachery

Aged Pacing Mare of the Year: Spellbound. Finalists: Von Art, Amazing Dream, Maajida

Aged Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year: Honolua Bay. Finalists: Mach Dan, Torrid Saint, Like A Wildfire

2022 Victorian Horse of the Year: Majestuoso. Finalists: Better Eclipse, Ladies In Red, Major Delight

Victorian Concession Driver of the Year: James Herbertson

Metropolitan Driver of the Year: Mark Pitt

Victorian Driver of the Year: James Herbertson

Metropolitan Trainer of the Year: Emma Stewart

Victorian Trainer of The Year: Emma Stewart

Lang Distinguished Service Awards: Graham Prosser, Gay Donnelley and Richard Cust

Victorian Breeder of the Year: Bill and Anne Anderson (Lauriston Bloodstock)

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria