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South Australians Jamie Kah and Will Price were among the big winners at the 2021 Victorian Racing Awards which were presented via a special broadcast on Racing.com on Sunday night
The riders were both recognised for their strong performances over the 2020-21 Victorian racing season, with Kah taking home the night's biggest riding honour – the prestigious Scobie Breasley Medal.
25-year-old Kah became the first female rider to win the Medal in its 26-year history, capping a breakthrough season in which she set a new Victorian metropolitan record with 105 wins.
The Scobie Breasley Medal, named in honour of the first inductee into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, recognises riding excellence at Victorian metropolitan race meetings with votes awarded at each by Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards on a 3-2-1 basis for the best ride of the day.
Kah, who has been awarded South Australia's equivalent – the John Letts Medal – four times, secured the Scobie Breasley Medal by a record margin. She polled at 39 meetings to claim 86 votes and finish 37 votes clear of her nearest rival, Damian Lane (49).
"To be given this award (Scobie), there is so much history and prestige that comes with it, I'm absolutely privileged to be awarded it," she said.
"There were so many highlights through this year, it just got better and better every month.
"Winning Group 1 races is amazing but to be at your best the whole year and be rewarded with the Scobie, it's very special.
"There are some amazing riders in that top five so for me to win it, I'll definitely never forget it."
As well as being awarded the Scobie Breasley Medal and her maiden Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership, Kah also took home the Victorian Jockeys Association (VJA) Most Valuable Jockey Award, which is voted on by all Victorian riders.
Apprentice Will Price added the VJA Rising Star Award to the two premierships he claimed as the leading apprentice jockey at both state and metropolitan level, where he piloted 73 and 47 winners respectively.
It is the second successive year that 21-year-old Price has scooped the VJA Rising Star Award, which is voted on by fellow riders and recognises the most talented young hoop in the Victorian jockeys' room.
"It's a big thrill for your peers to vote you in as the rising star – it means a lot to get this one again," Price said.
"It's good to get recognition for your hard work. It definitely makes getting up early every morning worth it. It's good to be able to ride consistently and ride winners.
"Coming over here (to Victoria) I didn't know what to expect or how it was going to play out but it's all happened quite quickly which has been nice. I've just got to keep building on that and keep riding consistently.
"As I am coming to the end of my apprenticeship hopefully I can outride my claim and then be recognised as a senior jockey and be put on quite regularly in the city."
