Ill-fated galloper Gilded Venom has been crowned West Australia’s Horse of the Year for the 2008-09 season.  The result comes just two months after his younger half brother Scenic Blast (Scenic) was named both Australian Horse of the Year and Victorian Horse of the Year.

Gilded Venom (Golden Snake-Daughters Charm by Delgado) won the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m), G2 Cox Stakes (2100m) and G3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) during the star studded Perth Summer Carnival to clinch the award.

Senior part owner Neil Wholagan purchased Gilded Venom for just $22,000 from Durham Lodge at the 2005 Perth Magic Millions yearling sale.
Tragically, the budding star succumbed to a serious knee infection in January after a career of just 20 starts and earnings over $1 million.  Prepared during his career by part-owner Steve Wallace, Gilded Venom was on track for an Eastern States campaign when the infection took his life.

Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said he was thrilled to learn Gilded Venom was the latest graduate of his company to win a major racing award.  “Racing is about winning and we’re proud of the efforts of our graduates, who are purchased for less, but win more,” Chester said.  “For Magic Millions graduates to win the Horse of the Year award in every state which stages G1 events is a remarkable achievement.”

Wallace also operates Blackwatch Stud where he stands Redoute’s Choice stallion Passenger.  The $950,000 yearling won his first start by six lengths but was soon retired due to injury.  Passenger is a half-brother to the dam of G1 winner Mnemosyne.