Alwyn Park Stud’s Ngyrie Gonzalez is the sole Western Australian Finalist for the this year’s Stud And Stable Staff Awards.

A total of eight awards will be handed out at the Awards ceremony which will take place on the Gold Coast on May 29.  The two finalists for each category will be announced on March 29.

The winners of the awards for Leadership, Horsemanship, Dedication To Breeding, Dedication To Racing, Administrative And Ancillary Services and Thoroughbred Care And Welfare Award will each receive $10,000 and a trophy, while the runners up in those categories will be given $3,000.

Ngyrie is among the short-list for Dedication to Breeding along with Diane Colebrook (Armidale Stud), Haley Forde (Aquis Farm), Rhys Coghlan (Yulong) and Sorcha Sweeny (Yulong).

“This year, the quality of nominations for the Awards has truly been outstanding,” Stud And Stable Staff Awards Chair Mel Weatherley said.  “It’s essential to recognise that the people within our industry are the true backbone.  Their dedication and passion has to be rewarded.”

Ngyrie has been based at Alwyn Park for 18 years with owners John and Sandra Andrew following an earlier stint at Heytesbury Stud.  “It’s a very family-oriented environment and John is a great boss,” she said in a profile for Westspeed Magazine in 2019.

“I grew up in East Vic Park and caught the bug from Dad.  He was a breaker and his father was a trainer.  I did an Equine Management course and kicked off at Heytesbury Stud when they stood stallions like Carry A Smile and Helenus.”

WA winners of the Stud And Stable Staff Awards in recent years include Yarradale Stud managers Bernie Hamill (Dedication to Breeding in 2015) and Davy Hanratty (Leadership in 2021).