NSW Country and Provincial Racing Awards finalists announced

Tom Walter - Thursday August 10

Newcastle horseman Kris Lees is set to claim his third consecutive NSW Provincial Trainer Of The Year Award.

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Trainer Kris Lees and stable star Le Romain. Photo: Steve Hart

The 2017 Country and Provincial Racing Awards function will be held on Friday September 29 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney where Lees is the sole nominee for the Provincial Trainer Of The Year category.

Two of Lees' Group I winners from last season, Le Romain and Sense Of Occasion, are finalists for the Provincial Horse Of The Year Award.

Jeff Penza, who finished last season as the state's most prolific jockey with 136 wins, is in line to claim Provincial Jockey Of The Year honours while the Provincial Apprentice Jockey Of The Year is set to go to Rachel King.

On the country circuit, four horses – Eckstein, The Monstar, Green Sweet, and Quatronic, have been entered for the Horse Of The Year prize.

Highway specialist Matthew Dunn has been nominated for the Country Trainer Of The Year Award alongside Brett Thompson and Trevor Sutherland.

The full list of finalists for each category can be found below:

COUNTRY

Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award

No finalists are announced for this award.

Country TAB Race Club of the Year

Moruya Jockey Club

Murrumbidgee Turf Club

Muswellbrook Race Club

Wellington Jockey Club

Community Race Club of the Year

Berrigan & District Race Club

Bong Bong Picnic Race Club

Deepwater Jockey Club

Gilgandra Jockey Club

Country Trainer of the Year

Brett Thompson

Matthew Dunn

Trevor Sutherland

Country Horse of the Year

Eckstein

Green Sweet

The Monstar

Quatronic

Country Leading Apprentice of the Year

Jean Van Overmeire

Country Jockey of the Year

Greg Ryan

Rachael Murray

Robert Thompson

Leading Approved Rider of the Year

Ricky Blewitt

PROVINCIAL

Ted McCabe Provincial Recognition Award

No finalists are announced for this award.

Provincial Jockey of the Year

Jeff Penza

Provincial Apprentice Jockey of the Year

Rachel King

Provincial Trainer of the Year

Kris Lees

Provincial Horse of the Year - Finalists

Le Romain

Sense of Occasion

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