Sarah Childs capped an outstanding season by becoming the first female to win Geraldton’s Leading Trainer award.
Childs had an almost unassailable lead before Sunday’s season-ending meeting and clinched the title early when Standup’n’deliver took out the opening race.
The young horsewoman led for the majority of the season and staved off Geraldton stalwart, Gordon Spowart, with Cliff Green and Tony Scally tying for third.
Giving Childs cause for double celebration was stable jockey and partner, Robert Markou, a tearaway winner in the Leading Jockey title.
Markou’s task made slightly easier when runner-up, Shaun Meeres, was put out of action late in the season with a shoulder injury.
Former Perth galloper McScar denied Childs a clean sweep of the major awards when he won Horse of the Year from Vitalism.
Formerly with David Harrison, the McFlirt gelding won five races and was placed on three further occasions from 10 starts.
Randy Tan claimed his first major title when he narrowly defeated Clint Johnston-Porter as Leading Apprentice.
LEADING TRAINER
Childs 121
Spowart 94
Green 69
Scally 69
LEADING JOCKEY
Markou 141
Meeres 97
Jerry Noske 85
Hill 82
HORSE OF THE YEAR
McScar 34
Vitalism 26
Mystery Glow 25
Fleeting Glance 23
Ainia 23
LEADING APPRENTICE
Tan 64
Johnston-Porter 61
Bell 45
Hunter 43
Julio Santarelli