The 2015/6 season annual awards ceremony dinner was held on Saturday 30 July 2016 at the Christchurch Casino, Mashina Lounge. The awards evening recognised the outstanding performances and performers of the 2015/6 season
The evening consisted of pre-dinner drinks followed by a three course meal with the award ceremonies MC’s being Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin. An audience of approximately 280 were in attendance.
The proceedings were dominated this year by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained horses, notably More the Better, Spanish Armada, Lazarus, Dream About Me, High Gait, Have Faith In Me, Smolda and Greg and Nina Hope with Monbet, Enghien, Quite A Moment. Together with leading trotter Monbet, Have Faith In Me dominated the Harness Horse of the Year contest which was taken out by Monbet.
Season highlights were the Grand Circuit performances of pacer Have Faith In Me and trotter Monbet with seven Group I victories. The season ending Group One Harness Jewels day at Cambridge in 2016 continued to be a fine advertisement for harness racing.
Congratulations to all the award winners on the night. A listing follows with applicable seasonal details (NZ and Australian stats to 31 July 2016). Total votes cast were 27 per category :
Woodlands Stud 2YO Pacing Filly : SPANISH ARMADA (Bettors Delight/Galleons Supreme) [unanimous]; owner : Mrs Jean Feiss ; trainers : M Purdon & Ms NC Rasmussen; seasonal record : 8 starts, 6 wins, 2 placings, $306,416, 1: 55.7
Other contenders : Delightful Memphsis, Partyon, Renske B
PGG Wrightson 2YO Pacing Colt or Gelding : MORE THE BETTER (Bettors Delight/Lucky Pocket) [unanimous]; owners : Mark Purdon, Roy Purdon, Sir David Levene ; trainers : M Purdon & Ms NC Rasmussen; seasonal record : 10 starts, 6 wins, 4 placings $339,447, 1:53.3
Other contenders : Pacing Major, Ultimate Machete, Vasari
Race Images Bloodstock 2YO Trotting Filly : DI’Z LUCK (The Pres/Howz Lucky); owners : Mrs Sarah Smith, Winsome Dormer, Cleland racing Syndicate, Nigel Armstrong, EG Sawma, SW Aitken; trainer : G Smith; seasonal record : 9 starts, 1 win, 3 placings, $12,996 T2:09.8 (1950mM)
Other contenders : One Bid Buys, Our Rosa, Ruthless Kayla, Winnie Magoogan
Farmlands 2YO Trotting Colt or Gelding : ENGHIEN (Love You/Another Starlet); owners : Richard Dellaca, Greg Hope; trainers : GP & Mrs NM Hope; seasonal record : 7 starts, 4 wins, 1 placing, $76,107, T1:59.3
Other contenders : Custodian, Habibi Inta, Heavyweight Hero
PMP Print 3YO Pacing Filly : DREAM ABOUT ME (Bettors Delight/Splendid Dreams) [unanimous]; owners : Charles Roberts, Estate Mrs JL Roberts, Paul and Mary Kenny; trainers : M Purdon & Ms NC Rasmussen ; seasonal record : 4 NZ starts, 2 wins, 2 placings, $167,700, 1:53.9 (1950mM); 6 Aus starts, 6 wins, $380,387, 1:53.4
Other contenders : Golden Goddess, Luisanabelle Midfrew, Piccadilly Princess
Woodlands Stud 3YO Pacing Colt or Gelding : LAZARUS (Bettors Delight/Bethany) [unanimous]; owners : Mrs Glenys Kennard, Philip Kennard, Trevor Casey, Kevin Riseley; trainers : M Purdon & Ms NC Rasmussen; seasonal record : 7 NZ starts, 7 NZ wins, $493,394 1:54.8; 2 Aus starts, 2 wins, $134,298, 1:55..1
Other contenders : Classie Brigade, Heaven Rocks, Waikiki Beach
Commodore Airport Hotel 3YO Trotting Filly : HIGH GAIT (Muscles Yankee/Regal Volo) []; owners/lessees : Breckon Farms Super Seven Syndicate ; trainers : M Purdon & Ms NC Rasmussen; seasonal record : 4 NZ starts, 3 placings, $27,363; 11 Aus starts, 9 wins, 2 placings, $186,408, T1:57.5 (1650mM, 1720mM)
Other contenders : Donegal Bettorgretch, Missandei, Wilma’s Mate
Trackside 3YO Trotting Colt or Gelding : MARCOOLA (Sundon/Arabess) [unanimous]; owners : Ken and Clint Ford ; trainer : Ken Ford ; seasonal record : 9 starts, 7 wins, $155,062 T1:59.8 (2200mM)
Other contenders : Conon Bridge, Lemond, Temporale
Auckland Trotting Club 4YO Pacing Mare : THE ORANGE AGENT (American Ideal/Lady Fingers) []; owners : Mrs PC Green, JP Green, Mrs ME Green, PC Bult; trainer : Brian Hughes; seasonal record : 5 NZ starts, 3 wins, 2 placings, $80,410, 1:54.3 (1700mM), 2 Aus starts, 2 wins, A$130,353 1:54,4 (2240mM)
Other contenders : Democrat Party, Fight For Glory, Rocker Band
Woodlands Stud 4YO Pacing Entire or Gelding : HAVE FAITH IN ME (Bettors Delight); owners : Dennis and Malcolm Dunford; trainers : M Purdon & Ms NC Rasmussen; seasonal record : 5 NZ starts, 2 wins, 2 placings, $161,899, 1:56.0 (2600mM), Aust 4 starts, 4 wins, A$612,600, 1:47.5
Other contenders : Costa Del Magnifico, Field Marshal, Hughie Green
NRM 4YO Trotting Mare : SUNNY RUBY (Sundon/Bright Diedre) []; owners : Fred Fletcher, Sam Smolenski ; trainer : S Smolenski; seasonal record : 17 starts, 6 wins, 5 placings, $80,930 T2:00.1 (1950mM)
Other contenders : Harriet Of Mot, Yagunnakissmeornot, Paramount Dream
Crombie Lockwood Bloodstock 4YO Trotting Entire or Gelding : MONBET (Love You/Diedre Darling); owners/lessees : Greg and Nina Hope, Morrie Molloy; trainers : GP & Mrs NM Hope; seasonal record : 12 NZ starts, 11 wins, $387.607, T1:56.6, 3 Aust starts, 2 wins, A$50,978, T1:59.6 (2760m std)
Other contenders : Le Reveur, Speeding Spur, The Almighty Johnson
Nevele R Stud 5YO and older Pacing Mare : LANCEWOOD LIZZIE (Bettors Delight/Kamwood Elsie) [15 votes]; owners : Mrs LP Wood, GA Chitty; trainer : Barry Purdon; seasonal record : 11 NZ starts, 1 win, 6 placings, $48,491, 1:55.2 (1700mM)
Other contenders : Art Critic, Saharazona, Tango’s Delight
Alabar 5YO and older Pacing Entire or Gelding : SMOLDA (Courage Under Fire/Under the Mattress) []; owners : Mrs Glenys Kennard, Philip Kennard, Trevor Casey, MAR Kirkwood; trainers : M Purdon & Ms NC Rasmussen; seasonal record : 8 NZ starts, 2 wins, 4 placings, $213,807 1:56.8 (2200mM), 5 Aus starts, 3 wins, 1 placing, A$503,100, 1:52.7 (2400mM)
Other contenders : Arden Rooney, Christen Me, Locharburn, Tiger Tara
Hanley Formula 5YO and older Trotting Mare : QUITE A MOMENT () ; owner : ; trainers : ; seasonal record : 12 NZ starts, 1 win, 6 placings, $35,630, T2:01.9, 10 Aust starts, 2 wins, 3 placings, A$53,789, T1:55.3
Other contenders : All Royal Gal, Queen Kenny, Quite A Moment, the Earth Moved
Garrards Horse & Hound 5YO and older Trotting Entire or Gelding : MASTER LAVROS (Sundon/Lacra Noblesse); owner : Kypros Kotzikas; trainer : Mark Jones; seasonal record : NZ 5 starts, 2 wins, 2 placings, $162,908, T2:03.0 (2600m std)
Other contenders : Sheemon, Valmagne, Stent
The Breeders Pacing Broodmare of Year : SPLENDID DREAMS (family of Christen Me, Dream About Me, Aliante, Splendid Deal, Hands Christian etc)
The Breeders Trotting Broodmare of Year : DIEDRE DARLING (family of Monbet, [Sir] Donaldson, McConway)
The Breeders Breeder of Year : WOOD LANDS STUD
Lone Star Pacing Stallion of Year: BETTORS DELIGHT (201 winners, 376 wins, $6.4m)
HRNZ Media Trotting Stallion of Year : LOVE YOU (32 winners, 74 wins, $1.129m)
Addington’s Met Multiplier Owner of Year : Merv & Meg Butterworth/Butterworth Racing Syndicate (Australasian wide winners including Arden Rooney, Golden Goddess, Mr Mojito, GI Joe, Stroke of Luck, Itz Bettor to Win, Motu Premier, Didjamakem Bolt, Blackguards Corner etc)
Harnessed Leading Driver of Year : DEXTER DUNN (213 wins)
Dexter Dunn Leading Junior Driver of Year : BRAD WILLIAMSON (70 wins, new junior driver’s record)
Primary ITO Cadet of Year : ERIN ISHERWOOD (Northland)
Other finalists : John Morrison (Canterbury/2nd), Kim Blakemore (Canterbury), Chelsea Faithful (Southland)
McMillan Equine Feeds Leading Trainer of Year : MARK PURDON & NATALIE RASMUSSEN (131 wins)
Alabar Stud Pacer of Year : HAVE FAITH IN ME, votes also for Lazarus
Breckon Farms Trotter of Year : MONBET (unanimous)
NZ Racing Board Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing : GARY ALLEN, retiring Chair of HRNZ; breeder, owner, demonstrator starting out with Wellington Trotting Club
Harness Racing New Zealand Horse of Year : MONBET [15/27], Have Faith In Me [12/27],
Peter Craig
1 August 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
