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Just as the late great Wayne Wilson designed it, the battle for the medal named in his honour went down to the wire in 2021 between a small-time bush trainer and one of the big boys in town.
Just as the late great Wayne Wilson designed it, the battle for the medal named in his honour went down to the wire in 2021 between a small-time bush trainer and one of the big boys in town.
The annual medal named after the legendary race caller is run by the Australian Trainers' Association and every year honours trainers from across Queensland who have recorded a special career milestone or improved their personal best result.
It was premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan who prevailed in an exciting count on Thursday evening, just outlasting Rockhampton trainer Kevin Hansen – Gollan claiming his second Wayne Wilson Medal by just two votes.
Gollan was awarded the second ever WWM around a decade ago and won the prize this year following stable mates Vega One and Jonker being the first two past the post in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup earlier this year.
Hansen and Gollan are in different universes when it comes to training, the Central Queenslander poking along with a few horses, while the leading Eagle Farm trainer has rattled off eight straight Brisbane premierships.
"Kevin and I there, we were one and two for ages there in voting," Gollan said.
"The month Kevin won the monthly award, I won a Group 1 in Sydney and did not win the monthly award, and that is what it is all about and that is how Wayne wanted the award to be decided on and tonight is a good example of that.
"I am thrilled to have won it and it would not have mattered to me if someone else won it because they all would have been worthy recipients of this award."
Hansen's boom filly Sweet Dolly – who is unbeaten in four trips to the races – gave the Rockhampton horseman a special ride through the last year and into second position in the annual medal.
Cameron Partington, from the Queensland arm of the Australian Trainers' Association, believes Gollan was a worthy winner.
"It is about an event, something the trainer does, and for Tony Gollan this year – winning the medal for the second time – equalling Rob Heathcote, which I am sure he is happy about to equal his arch rival," Partington said.
"Tony quinellaed a Group 1 race in his home state with Vega One and Jonker, they are both horses he has had in his stable for quite a while now and particularly Vega One who has had a lot of setbacks, it was a great training achievement for him.
"To be on the biggest possible stage, winning a Group 1 race in your hometown and to quinella it – it is up there with his highest achievements in racing and that is where he gets his votes from – it would equal his personal best effort.
"I am sure the satisfaction he got from that day at Eagle Farm was huge."
The medal consists of trainers being judged on a monthly basis before 19 judges, who come from the media and racing industry, rank the monthly winners each month to land on an eventual overall winner – in a process similar to the AFL's Brownlow Medal.
