2023 HRA Broodmare of the Year Awards

Winona Award - Pacing Broodmare of the Year - Lettucereason.

The impact of Leap To Fame’s stunning success has flowed onto the Winona Award for Australia’s 2023 Broodmare of the Year.

As well as being the dam of Leap To Fame, Winona winner has also produced Blacks A Fake and NZ Cup winner Swayzee.

In one of the dominant Winona Award wins, Lettucereason scored top votes from 14 of the 17-person voting panel.

Between them, Leap To Fame and Swayzee raced 34 times last season for 21 wins, five placings and banked almost $1.7 million.

The siblings famously fought out an epic battle in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake in July, where the older Swayzee took the honours before Leap To Fame turned the tables. Their only subsequent clash was in the Brisbane Inter Dominion pacing final in December.

Lettucereason, a daughter of Art Major, enjoyed a successful racing career with 51 starts, 17 wins, 22 placings, and $180,073 in earnings before being retired to the breeding barn.

A clear runner-up in the Winona Award was the decorated Lady Euthenia, who was represented by Major Delight, Max Delight and Lady Delight last season. They won 10 races with another 16 placings and $333,411 in earnings.

The champion factor also played a big role in the trotting equivalent, the Maori Miss Award for the Trotting Broodmare of 2023.

Just Believe’s dam, Heavens Above, won the title with 10 of a possible 17 top votes.

Former top trotting mare and now successful dam Sumthingaboutmaori was second thanks to the deeds of Aroha Koa (nine wins and $107,915) and Central Otago (three wins and $47,525).