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Tasmania’s horse of the year will be announced at a gala event in Launceston on Friday 10 September with suspense mounting over which of the state’s star performers will be given the honour of being named Tasmania’s best galloper.

Ladbrokes Devonport Cup and dual weight-for-age winner Newhart is favourite, but corridor whispers are spruiking Turk Warrior could be the first two-year-old to win the coveted title.

Not even the great Alfa could break with tradition and topple more seasoned gallopers when he shone as a two-year-old during the 1995-96 season during which he was undefeated from six starts in Tasmania.

Turk Warrior was undefeated from six starts last season and is a shoe in to be named the top 2YO, but his form makes a good case for snatching the HOTY title.

Here are the top contenders in each of the three categories to be announced at Country Club Tasmania on Friday night.

TURK WARRIOR: The Glenn Stevenson-trained gelding emerged from the 2020-21 season unbeaten from six starts.

The Outreach gelding gave us a glimpse of things to come with an effortless three-length win on debut in Hobart in late November last year in the Tony Carrick Vase over 1000m.

He followed up with win in the state's two Listed events, the $100,000 Elwick Stakes, and the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes before easily winning the Tasmanian Magic Millions 2YO Classic in Launceston.

After a short break Turk Warrior returned to win the Tasbred 2YO and ended his season with an impressive win in the Sires Produce Stakes at his first try over 1400 metres.

MISS CHARLIE BROWN: The well-bred filly opened her account with an impressive win in the Alfa Bowl over 1100m in Launceston and followed up with an even more impressive win in the Alexandra Plate at the same venue.

The Adam Trinder-trained filly then ran on for a game second to Turk Warrior in the Elwick Stakes and she ended her campaign with a luckless fourth in the Gold Sovereign.

ALPINE WOLF: The gelding was a late arrival to racing but impressed at his only two starts, winning by four lengths on debut in a maiden in Devonport when in the care of Mark Ganderton.

The striking gelding closed the season with trainer Barry Campbell who saddled him up to win the Ladbrokes Handicap over 1009 metres in Devonport scoring comfortably from Coeur De Lyon.

Alpine Wolf was the first winner by first season sire Alpine Eagle.

SWOOP DOG: Burst onto the scene with an impressive maiden win in Launceston and after finishing a luckless second at his subsequent start he powered home to win the Listed $100,000 Tasmanian Guineas over 1600m in Launceston.

He stepped up to the longer distance for the first time and emerged triumphant in the Listed $100,000 Launceston Guineas over 2100m.

The John Blacker-trained gelding then finished a game third to Explosive Jack in the Tasmanian Derby before ending his season with a creditable third in the weight-for-age Mowbray Stakes won by Newhart.

HELA: The Scott Brunton-trained filly was unbeaten from seven starts in Tasmania that began with a modest maiden in Hobart in mid-October last year followed by two more wins in graded events.

At her first try over 1600m she demolished a handy field in the Thousand Guineas and that paved the way for an impressive performance to win the Strutt Stakes over 2100m in Hobart.

The filly had one more start in Tasmania for an easy win in a benchmark 74 handicap before making the trip to South Australia where she was unplaced in the Group 1 South Australian Oaks.

WAR CORRESPONDENT: After winning his maiden in Devonport in late November, War Correspondent notched a string of seconds before going on to win the $100,000 3YO Cup in Launceston and followed up with a dour win in the Carbine Club Stakes in Hobart on Derby Day.

The gelded son of Time for War then delivered a brilliant performance to easily win the $50,000 3YO Classic on Launceston Cup Day.

He then travelled to Victoria where he scored an emphatic win in a $135,000 race over 1200m at Moonee Valley.

NEWHART: Opened his season with an amazing first-up win over 1400m in Launceston after which he placed second in the Golden Mile and Sheffield Cup on his home track at Devonport.

The Leanne Gaffney-trained gelding then won the $100,000 Devonport Cup before focusing on the two main weight-for-age features.

Newhart gave his rivals a galloping lesson in the $100,000 Thomas Lyons Stakes over 1400m and he ended his season with a win in the Listed Mowbray Stakes.

STILL A STAR: Champion mare that scored a brilliant win in the weight-for-age Vamos Stakes for fillies and mares over 1400m at her first start in almost a year to the day.

The Bill Ryan-trained mare then embarked on an interstate campaign that included an unplaced effort in the $5 million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley before she was run down in the last stride by multiple Group 1 winner Mr. Quickie in The Victoria Handicap at Caulfield.

Still A Star ended her season with a resounding win in the $140,000 Anniversary Vase over 1400m at Caulfield.

TURK WARRIOR: This son of boom sire Outreach raced against his own age to be unbeaten from six starts with his biggest wins coming in the $100,000 Elwick Stakes and the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes.

The Glen Stevenson-trained gelding won just under $300,000 in prizemoney and returned an average winning margin of almost three lengths, winning over distances ranging from 1000m to 1400m.