“Jeremy is the backbone of our racing operation. His role is high pressure with the number of runners we have but he does it extremely well and has had a huge impact on my business,” said Darren Weir.

“Jeremy was exactly what I needed to help my business grow. His goal for me when he started was to help me win the Victorian Trainer’s Premiership and we did that within three years. He’s a superstar at his job,” said Weir.

Jeremy joined Darren Weir in 2010 and, with an astute eye for a thoroughbred, Jeremy is part of Darren’s bloodstock team, inspecting yearlings and potential purchases. His input helped secure the likes of 2015 Melbourne Cup Winner Prince and Penzance and dual Group One winner Trust In A Gust.

“Despite the hard work and long hours Jeremy put in, he has earned the reputation and respect for being one of racing’s nice guys,” Weir said.

Chairman of the Awards judging panel, Johan Petzer praised Jeremy and all nominees.

“Jeremy’s steadfast dedication and unwavering commitment to the management of a very high profile and iconic training establishment complimented by a well organised manner and a professional work ethic, coupled with his unquestionable desire to improve his own skillset made him a very deserving winner of the overall excellence award,” Petzer said.

He added: “The judging panel is extremely pleased with the outstanding quality of the nominations received for the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards for 2017. As was the case in previous years, the quality of the nominees in 2017 was beyond question. The judging panel’s task in determining the ultimate winners in the various categories was not an easy one.”

Along with the winners and runners up in the six Award categories, Jeremy received his prize at the Eagle Farm Racecourse event hosted by Racing Australia and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and attended by more than 100 guests including trainers Adrian Bott, Kelly Schweida, and Racing Queensland Chairman Steve Wilson and Chief Executive Dr Eliot Forbes.

Now in it’s third year in Australia, the awards that recognise and reward the work done behind racing’s front line, attracted a record number of nominations and revealed rare skills, along with the common themes of loyalty, devotion, and humility throughout the six categories.

The Thoroughbred Excellence Award carried a prize of $5000 with a further $2000 to be distributed among her workplace colleagues.

Jeremy is also the winner of the Dedication to Racing Award and along with each of the other five category winners receives a prize of $10,000 with a further $3000 to be shared among fellow staff at their employers’ workplace. Each runner-up received $1000.

The full list of winners and runners up are as follows:

Leadership Award
Winner: John Livingstone, Operations Manager, Gai Waterhouse Racing (NSW)
Runner-up: Jade Rossington, Stud Manager, Willow Park Stud (NSW)

Horsemanship Award
Winner: Kellie McCarthy, Assistant Manager, Mill Park Stud (SA)
Runner-up: Scott Eeles, Breaking Foreman, Godolphin (NSW)

Dedication to Breeding Award
Winner: Vikki Cannon, Senior Horseperson, Gooree Park Stud (NSW)
Runner-up: Patrick Sheehan, Foaling Unit, Coolmore Stud (NSW)

Dedication to Racing Award
Winner: Jeremy Rogers, Racing Manager, Darren Weir Racing (VIC)
Runner-up: Angela Taylor-Moy, Foreperson, Darren Weir Racing (VIC)

Administration Award
Winner: Lyn Dressing, Administration Manager, International Racehorse Transport (VIC)
Runner-up: Sarah Moran, Personal Assistant, Griffiths Racing (VIC)

Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award
Winner: Jane Gollan, Racing and Administration Manager, Gollan Racing (QLD)
Runner-up: Lee Purchase, Stable Foreman, Darren Weir Racing, (Vic)