Anamoe, the retired champion from Godolphin, secured the NSW Horse of the Year award, and in a historic moment, apprentice Zac Lloyd (son of South African star Jeff) became the first apprentice jockey to claim the prestigious Bart Cummings Medal at the NSW Racehorse Owners Awards held at Royal Randwick on Thursday night.

Although Anamoe was anticipated to dominate the awards, Zac Lloyd's unexpected victory as the first apprentice jockey to win the coveted Bart Cummings Medal came as a surprise. The medal, awarded for exceptional and consistent performance in NSW racing, had been won by Chris Waller for 12 consecutive years.

Zac Lloyd's remarkable accomplishment of riding 76 city winners, clinching the Sydney apprentice premiership, and securing second place in the senior jockey title behind James McDonald, earned him the Bart Cummings Medal with 81 votes. This achievement surpassed Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with 64 votes, and Chris Waller with 62 votes.

Zac Lloyd also earned the Theo Green Medal for Sydney's leading apprentice, while fellow apprentice and close friend Dylan Gibbons received the Racing Writers Personality of the Year award.

Peter V'landys, Racing NSW chief executive, praised Zac Lloyd's extraordinary talent and noted his success as part of a new generation of remarkable young riders in NSW. Lloyd's victory over the 12-time Bart Cummings Medal winner, Chris Waller, highlighted the significance of his win.

Chris Waller secured his 13th consecutive Tommy Smith Medal as Sydney's premier trainer, and James McDonald, the reigning champion jockey, retained the George Moore Medal.

Anamoe, a six-time Group 1 winner last season, was retired to stand at Darley Stud this spring. The awards he received included Champion Miler, Middle Distance awards, and the coveted Horse of the Year title.

Other winners of the night included Shinzo, the Golden Slipper winner, who earned Champion Two-Year-Old honors; Giga Kick, the Everest hero, who won the Sprinter category and shared Champion Three-year-old with In Secret. Durston, the Caulfield Cup winner, secured the Stayers title by also winning the Newcastle Cup and Wyong Cup.

Additional awards went to Icebath (Provincial), Opal Ridge (Country), Insurrection (BOBs), Atishu, and Sunshine In Paris, who shared the Queen of the Autumn title. Phylisha Doyle from the Waller stable won the Strapper of the Year award.