Nictock took home the Central District Racing Association horse of the year crown, won on the back of a stunning stretch over the course of 2017-2018 season.

The Mudgee-trained speedster, owned by Ken Hardy, Ian Hardy and Denise Hardy from Sydney, won seven of his first eight races, with the only blemish a third at Royal Randwick.

The chestnut gelding has since gone on to boast a record of seven wins, four placings from 16 starts and has won $190,845 in prizemoney.

Nictock edged a crack field of gallopers, with the 2016-17 champion Lake Lugarno, trained at Forbes by Barry Molloy, Sharpe Hussler (Cameron Crockett, Mudgee), Schedule (Mack Griffith, Mudgee) and Our Dasha (Derek Piper, Mudgee) all considered for the title.

“It was a bit of a surprise … I thought my other horse Sharpe Hussler might have got it,” Crockett smiled.

“But it’s by vote, and (CDRA) thought he was more deserving than the other horse. It doesn’t make a difference to me.

“If you’re lucky enough to get the right horse it just happens as you go. The trophy was something else, though, it’s brilliant.”

Nictock’s biggest runs include wins at Canterbury and Warwick Farm, while the superstar has chalked up wins at Wellington, Gilgandra and Bathurst as well.

“He’s well performed,” Crockett added.

Greg Ryan from Dubbo has again won the CDRA Jockeys Premiership, Warwick Farm based Bjorn Baker is the CDRA Trainers Premiership winner for the second year in succession while Chris Williams formerly from Dubbo won the Apprentice Jockeys Premiership.