The inaugural Colin Alderson Rising Star Award, for which Victorian trainers 40 years or younger and with no more than seven racing seasons’ experience are eligible – was taken out by two trainers who learned their craft under Weir.
Warrnambool-based trainers Daniel Bowman and Mitchell Freedman, two close friends, both polled 88 votes to be crowned joint winners of the Rising Star Award, with Archie Alexander in third position with 43 votes.
