Newcastle Jockey Club's 2020-21 horse of the year is the Australian Bloodstock-owned and Kris Lees-trained Mugatoo.
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During the season the six-year-old had nine starts, winning more than $3 million in prizemoney.
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Mugatoo started his campaign with victories in the group 3 Premier's Cup (1900 metres) at Rosehill and group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m).
Last October the gelding was beaten a head when runner-up in the group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick and was a luckless fourth in the group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Mugatoo's last win for the season was in the $5 million All Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 13.
He also ran fourth in the group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), fifth in the group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) and sixth in the group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), all at Randwick.
Mugatoo isn't expected back racing until next year.
The Australian Bloodstock-Lees combination also took out the same award 12 months ago with Raheen House.
In other NJC awards for 2020-21, apprentice jockey Dylan Gibbons is the rising star.
The 19-year-old, in his first full season, steered home 86 winners. This was second only to Aaron Bullock (106) of the Newcastle-based jockeys.
The NJC premierships, based on wins from races held on the Newcastle track during 2020-21, went to Lees (trainer), Christian Reith (jockey) and Reece Jones (apprentice).
The NJC strike rates were won by trainer Kim Waugh (Max Lees Medal) and jockey Brenton Avdulla (Bill Wade Medal).
Meanwhile, 2019 group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) runner-up Never Listen will carry 69 kilograms in a class 3 handicap (1400m) at Scone on Tuesday. The five-year-old mare, having previously been prepared by Peter Moody, returns to Upper Hunter trainer John Ramsey and resumes from a spell.
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