Gold Coast Racing Celebrates 2025/26 Season Stars at Sky Racing Industry Awards Night
The Gold Coast racing community came together for a special night of celebration as the Gold Coast Turf Club recognised the outstanding achievements, contributions and performances of the 2025/26 racing season.
Maddy Sears recognised for outstanding industry contribution
The evening’s first honour, the Women in Racing Outstanding Contribution to the Racing Industry Award, was presented to Maddy Sears. Having grown up around horses, Maddy joined her father Tony as co-trainer at Sears Racing in 2019 before establishing the stable’s Gold Coast operation in 2024. Her energy, dedication and success have quickly made an impact, with stable star Yellow Brick among the horses to deliver major results. The award recognised Maddy as an exciting young talent with a bright future in the training ranks.
Jim Curran named Member of the Year
Jim Curran was recognised as the Gold Coast Turf Club’s Member of the Year, an award celebrating attendance, support and contribution to the Club. Despite having been a member for only six years, Jim has become one of the most familiar faces on racedays and is regularly among the first through the gates. Known by staff and fellow members alike, Jim’s commitment to the Club embody the sense of community at the heart of Gold Coast racing.
Bella Youngberry makes Gold Coast racing history
It was a history-making season for Bella Youngberry, who became the first female jockey to win both the Gold Coast Jockeys’ Premiership and Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership in the same season. Bella finished the 2025/26 Gold Coast campaign with an outstanding 34 winners, while also securing the Queensland Provincial Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership.
Tony Gollan claims Trainer Premiership
Leading trainer Tony Gollan secured the Gold Coast Trainer Premiership after preparing 26 winners at the track across the season. Gollan’s growing Gold Coast presence has been matched by success on the track, with local highlights including John Rambo’s Gold Jewel victory and a treble on Magic Millions Gold Day. The premiership added to another exceptional season for Gollan, who also claimed his 13th consecutive Queensland Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership and the Queensland Provincial Trainers’ Premiership.
Count Nicholas crowned Premiership Horse of the Year
Count Nicholas, trained by Adam Campton, was named Premiership Horse of the Year following a remarkably consistent campaign at his home track. From 10 Gold Coast starts during the season, Count Nicholas recorded four wins and four second placings, finishing in the top two on eight occasions. Those performances earned him 32 premiership points and the season title.
Janet Plumb receives the “WOW” Award
One of the most popular honours of the night, the “WOW” Award, was presented to Janet Plumb. Now in its fourth year, the award recognises someone whose hard work, dedication and contribution to the Gold Coast racing industry deserves special acknowledgement. Janet has served the Club for nine years and, in her role as Owners and Sponsors Liaison, has become one of the most recognisable faces on racedays. Her warmth, enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring owners, sponsors and guests enjoy the very best Gold Coast hospitality made her a fitting recipient.
Pride Of Jenni named Feature Horse of the Year
Champion mare Pride Of Jenni was awarded Feature Horse of the Year, with the honour accepted by Tony Ottobre. Her brilliant victory in the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes was one of the defining performances of the Gold Coast season. In trademark fashion, Pride Of Jenni led throughout and held off a high-quality field featuring Melbourne Cup winners Half Yours and Knight’s Choice, producing a performance worthy of the season’s top feature-race honour.
Spicy Martini crowned Gold Coast Horse of the Year
Spicy Martini was named Gold Coast Horse of the Year, recognising the best-performing Gold Coast-trained horse across the 2025/26 season, regardless of where it raced. The Toby Edmonds-trained star enjoyed an exceptional campaign highlighted by victory in the Stradbroke Handicap, a runner-up finish in the Doomben 10,000 and victory in the Ascot Handicap. Those performances saw Spicy Martini represent the Gold Coast with distinction on some of Queensland racing’s biggest stages.
Bryan Guy and Michael Rodd inducted into Hall of Fame
The evening concluded with two celebrated figures of Gold Coast racing being inducted into the Gold Coast Turf Club Hall of Fame. Trainer Bryan Guy was honoured following more than two decades training on the Gold Coast and a career that included premiership success and victories in some of Australian racing’s most significant feature races. Joining him was champion jockey Michael Rodd, whose remarkable career began as an apprentice under Guy. Rodd rode approximately 400 winners during his four-year apprenticeship and claimed the 2000/01 Gold Coast Turf Club Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership with 42 wins, a record that still stands. He would go on to reach the highest levels of Australian racing, winning the Melbourne Cup aboard Efficient and the Cox Plate aboard Maldivian, while also enjoying memorable feature-race success on the Gold Coast.
Celebrating the people and horses behind Gold Coast racing
The Industry Awards Night was a fitting celebration of another memorable racing season, recognising not only outstanding results on the track but also the people whose passion and commitment continue to strengthen the Gold Coast racing community. The Gold Coast Turf Club congratulates all 2025/26 award winners and Hall of Fame inductees and thanks major sponsor SKY Racing, along with everyone who helped make the evening a memorable celebration of our industry. For the full photo album from the night you can click here.
