Highly regarded Pearcedale trainer John Paraskevas has taken out the 2022-23 ‘Provincial Strike Rate’ Award.

Paraskevas’ 66 country starters claimed 31 wins at a 46.97% winning strike rate.

He shaded Jason Thompson, also runner-up last year, who had 128 wins from 295 starters at 43.39%, and last year’s winner Steven White with 40 wins from 97 starters at 41.24%.

Paraskevas had an ‘explosive’ 2022-23 racing season courtesy of his brood matron, Pretty Bomb – led by Nehalem with 16 ‘country’ wins.

Kennelmate Every Four Years was next with 12, followed by Nehalem’s littermates His Genius Hands with seven and Choice She Made with four.

Pawnote: Nehalem was also a G3 Country Championship finalist at The Meadows.

Every Four Years also won a heat and final of the 2022 Healesville Puppy Championship while temporarily trained by Paraskevas’ son, Andrew.

1. The Victorian Provincial Strike Rate Award will be presented to the Victorian registered trainer who:
   1. Has the highest percentage of total winners compared to total starters who raced at full Provincial stake money races (Half Stakes excluded), conducted at Victorian Provincial tracks, during the racing year (1 July to 30 June)
   2. Has finished the racing year with a minimum of 52 starters at full Provincial stake money races, conducted at Victorian Provincial tracks, during the racing year (July 1 to June 30).
2. Provincial Full stake money races do not include Tier 3, reduced stake money races, or any other similarly conducted events on country tracks or any metropolitan full stake events conducted at Victorian metropolitan tracks.