KYM Hann has been a major player at the past two Bendigo Trainers' Association horse of the year awards night - this year is no exception.
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Hann, whose past two seasons' haul has included back-to-back horse of the year awards with Glenrowan Prince and the leading trainer's title in 2017-18, will supply two of the leading fancies for the top award this year with All About Nicci and Like To Think So.
The pair form half of a high-calibre four horse field for the leading sprinter award alongside the Mick Sell-trained Carlingford and Shaun Dwyer mare Miss Leonidas.
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It is Dwyer's stakes-winning mare that Hann believes will leave him without a collect at Saturday awards night at Silks Function Centre.
"It's a given," was Hann's frank assessment in regards to Miss Leonidas' claim on the best sprinter and horse of the year awards.
"That said we couldn't be happier with our two horses, they've both acquitted themselves well this season.
"If I had to split mine, it would definitely be All About Nicci. She's won two in town and been stakes placed and has a couple of city placings as well.
"I think she's definitely the better performed of the two."
The seven-year-old mare has been retired after a quality 32-start career, which produced seven wins (three in city class) and six placings.
She will be sent to stud to be served by Capitalist, after she ended her career last month with a pair of starts in Group 3 races.
That leaves Like To Think So, who will be aimed at the Listed Wylie Stakes and Durbridge Stakes in Adelaide in his next preparation, as the undoubted star of Hann's stable.
His former stable-mate All About Nicci was third in last year's Durbridge.
Hann declared Like To Think So, a five-year-old gelding with five wins from 18 starts for earnings of more than $170,000, as the best horse he's had in his stable.
"I do think he's up to stakes company once he gets on a dry track ... I do think he's best horse I've had," he said.
While unable to secure the leading trainer title for a third-straight year, Hann can be well satisfied with a strong 2018-19 season.
This time last year he had three city winners alongside his name - he now has seven.
"Even though we haven't has as many winners, we have been competing in a lot better grade than what we normally do and our city record is pretty good, which is what we have to aim for," Hann said.
"We've won a lot of prize money too," he added, with All About Nicci and Like To Think So in particular combining for $264,405 in earnings.
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