Retired Everest winner Bella Nipotina and prolific Group 1-winning mare Via Sistina headline nominations for NSW Horse of the Year honours.
A shortlist of 10 finalists has been determined by a pointscore system.
Horses predominantly trained in NSW earn points for top-three finishes in Group and Listed races across Australia.
But those from interstate only earn points for races in NSW.
The Everest carries double points, with a panel of industry experts, including representatives from Racing NSW, the Australian Turf Club, racing media, and the NSWROA board, involved in the selection process.
Their votes, in conjunction with the pointscore, will determine the winners.
Bella Nipotina and Via Sistina will be joined by Buckaroo, Ceolwulf, Fangirl, Joliestar, Royal Patronage, Stefi Magnetica, Sunshine In Paris and Tom Kitten as finalists.
The winner will be announced during Racing’s Night of Champions, a flagship event for the NSW Racehorse Owners Association (NSWROA), at Randwick on August 28 that will have added significance this year.
A new award will be presented to mark the NSWROA’s 60th anniversary, with an owner who has made a sustained and outstanding contribution to the sport in NSW to be acknowledged.
“The board has been considering ways to formally recognise the invaluable contributions owners make to racing and decided this is a fitting way and time to do that,” NSWROA president Mr Tony Mitevski said.