The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.
This award originally started as the VRC Award and was renamed Australia's Champion Racehorse in 1982. A separate award was voted on between 1976/77 and 1993/4 by the Australian Racing Writers' Association with the only variations being Gurner's Lane (1982/3) and Bonecrusher (1986/7). The voting bodies combined from 1993/4.
Winx has won the award four times. Black Caviar and Sunline won it three times.
| Season | Horse | Age | Sex | Sire | Dam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | Via Sistina (IRE) | 6yo | M | Fastnet Rock (AUS) | Nigh (IRE) |
| 2023-2024 | Pride Of Jenni (AUS) | 6yo | M | Pride of Dubai (AUS) | Sancerre (NZ) |
| 2022-2023 | Anamoe (Aus) | 4yo | C | Street Boss (US) | Anamato (Aus) |
| 2021-2022 | Nature Strip (Aus) | 7yo | G | Nicconi (Aus) | Strikeline (Aus) |
| 2020-2021 | Verry Elleegant (NZ) | 5yo | M | Zed (NZ) | Opulence (NZ) |
| 2019-2020 | Nature Strip (Aus) | 5yo | G | Nicconi (Aus) | Strikeline (Aus) |
| 2018-2019 | Winx (Aus) | 7yo | M | Street Cry (IRE) | Vegas Showgirl (NZ) |
| 2017-2018 | Winx (Aus) [2] | 6yo | M | Street Cry (IRE) | Vegas Showgirl (NZ) |
| 2016-2017 | Winx (Aus) | 5yo | M | Street Cry (IRE) | Vegas Showgirl (NZ) |
| 2015-2016 | Winx (Aus) [3] | 4yo | M | Street Cry (IRE) | Vegas Showgirl (NZ) |
| 2014-2015 | Dissident (Aus) [4] | 4yo | C | Sebring (Aus) | Diana's Secret (Aus) |
| 2013-2014 | Lankan Rupee (Aus) [5] | 5yo | G | Redoute's Choice | Estelle Collection (NZ) |
| 2012-2013 | Black Caviar (Aus) [6] | 6yo | M | Bel Esprit (Aus) | Helsinge (Aus) |
| 2011-2012 | Black Caviar (Aus) [7] | 5yo | M | Bel Esprit (Aus) | Helsinge (Aus) |
| 2010-2011 | Black Caviar (Aus) [8] | 4yo | M | Bel Esprit (Aus) | Helsinge (Aus) |
| 2009-2010 | Typhoon Tracy (Aus) [9] | 5yo | M | Red Ransom (USA) | Tracy's Element (Aus) |
| 2008-2009 | Scenic Blast (Aus) [10] | 5yo | G | Scenic (Ire) | Daughters Charm (Aus) |
| 2007-2008 | Weekend Hussler (Aus) | 3yo | G | Hussonet (USA) | Weekend Beauty (Aus) |
| 2006-2007 | Miss Andretti (Aus) | 6yo | M | Ihtiram (Ire) | Peggie's Bid (Aus) |
| 2005-2006 | Makybe Diva (GB) | 7yo | M | Desert King (Ire) | Tugela (USA) |
| 2004-2005 | Makybe Diva (GB) | 6yo | M | Desert King (Ire) | Tugela (USA) |
| 2003-2004 | Lonhro (Aus) | 5yo | H | Octagonal (NZ) | Shadea (NZ) |
| 2002-2003 | Northerly (Aus) | 6yo | G | Serheed (USA) | North Bell (Aus) |
| 2001-2002 | Sunline (NZ) | 6yo | M | Desert Sun (GB) | Songline (NZ) |
| 2000-2001 | Sunline (NZ) | 5yo | M | Desert Sun (GB) | Songline (NZ) |
| 1999-2000 | Sunline (NZ) | 4yo | M | Desert Sun (GB) | Songline (NZ) |
| 1998-1999 | Might and Power (NZ) | 5yo | G | Zabeel (NZ) | Benediction (Ire) |
| 1997-1998 | Might and Power (NZ) | 4yo | G | Zabeel (NZ) | Benediction (Ire) |
| 1996-1997 | Saintly (Aus) | 4yo | G | Sky Chase (NZ) | All Grace (NZ) |
| 1995-1996 | Octagonal (NZ) | 3yo | C | Zabeel (NZ) | Eight Carat (GB) |
| 1994-1995 | Jeune (GB) | 6yo | H | Kalaglow (Ire) | Youthful (Fr) |
| 1993-1994 | Mahogany (Aus) | 3yo | G | Last Tycoon (Ire) | Alshandegha (USA) |
| 1992-1993 | Veandercross (NZ) | 4yo | G | Crossways (GB) | Lavender (NZ) |
| 1991-1992 | Let's Elope (NZ) | 4yo | M | Nassipour (USA) | Sharon Jane (NZ) |
| 1990-1991 | Better Loosen Up (Aus) | 5yo | G | Loosen Up (USA) | Better Fantasy (Aus) |
| 1989-1990 | Almaarad (Ire) | 7yo | H | Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire) | Silk Blend (Ire) |
| 1988-1989 | Research (Aus) | 3yo | F | Imperial Prince (Ire) | Outing (Aus) |
| 1987-1988 | Beau Zam (NZ) | 3yo | C | Zamazaan (Fr) | Belle Cherie (NZ) |
| 1986-1987 | Placid Ark* (Aus) | 3yo | C | Arkenstone (Aus) | Northern Queen (Aus) |
| 1986-1987 | Bonecrusher (NZ) | 4yo | G | Pag Asa (Aus) | Imitation (NZ) |
| 1985-1986 | Bounding Away (Aus) | 2yo | F | Biscay (Aus) | Who Can Say (NZ) |
| 1984-1985 | Red Anchor (NZ) | 3yo | H | Sea Anchor (Ire) | Decoy Girl (GB) |
| 1983-1984 | Emancipation (Aus) | 4yo | M | Bletchingly (Aus) | Ammo Girl (Aus) |
| 1982-1983 | Gurner's Lane* (NZ) | 4yo | G | Sir Tristram (Ire) | Taiona (NZ) |
| 1982-1983 | Strawberry Road (Aus) | 3yo | C | Whiskey Road (USA) | Giftisa (NZ) |
| 1981-1982 | Rose Of Kingston (Aus) | 3yo | F | Claude (Ity) | Kingston Rose (Aus) |
| 1980-1981 | Hyperno (NZ) | 7yo | G | Rangong (GB) | Mikarla (NZ) |
| 1979-1980 | Kingston Town (Aus) | 3yo | G | Bletchingly (Aus) | Ada Hunter (Ger) |
| 1978-1979 | Manikato (Aus) | 3yo | G | Manihi (Aus) | Markato (Aus) |
| 1977-1978 | Maybe Mahal (Aus) | 5yo | M | Maybe Lad (Aus) | Faithfully Yours (Aus) |
| 1976-1977 | Surround (NZ) | 3yo | F | Sovereign Edition (Ire) | Micheline (NZ) |
| 1975-1976 | Lord Dudley (Aus) | 3yo | C | Right Honourable II (GB) | Jane Hero (Aus) |
| 1974-1975 | Leilani (NZ) | 4yo | M | Oncidium (GB) | Lei (NZ) |
| 1973-1974 | Taj Rossi (Aus) | 3yo | C | Matrice (Aus) | Dark Queen (Aus) |
| 1972-1973 | Dayana (NZ) | 3yo | G | Oncidium (GB) | Dicidiana (NZ) |
| 1971-1972 | Gunsynd (Aus) | 5yo | H | Sunset Hue (Aus) | Woodie Wonder (Aus) |
| 1970-1971 | Gay Icarus (Aus) | 4yo | G | Icarus (GB) | Gay M'Selle (Aus) |
| 1969-1970 | Vain (Aus) | 3yo | C | Wilkes (Fr) | Elated (Aus) |
| 1968-1969 | Rain Lover (Aus) | 4yo | H | Latin Lover (GB) | Rain Spot (Aus) |
*Two awards made in 1982-83 & 1986-87 with ARWA selecting different winner
Australian Champion Two Year Old
Australian Champion Three Year Old
Australian Champion Sprinter
Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse
Australian Champion Stayer
Australian Champion Filly or Mare
Australian Champion International Performer
Australian Champion Jumper
Australian Champion Trainer