The fourth annual Woodlands Stud combined Canterbury Awards ceremony was held in the Silks Lounge at Addington Raceway on Saturday 9 September 2017 with just over 200 in attendance. These awards saw branches of the Canterbury Trainers and Drivers, Standardbred Breeders and Trotting Owners Associations join forces to honour many of the local industry’s high achievers. The area covered is the South Island from the Waitaki River north.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening’s proceedings was acclaimed local resident race caller Mark McNamara. Unlike traditional Award ceremonies where the leading performers (those that topped premierships or amassed most stake earnings for the latest season) are rewarded, these awards focussed more on those who whose seasonal achievements merited recognition whilst not necessarily at the top of their respective category.
The evening consisted of superb buffet dinner, an introductory drink and antipasto
platters, interspersed with the presentation of around twelve Awards. Junior drivers/stable hands/cadets were subsidised by Philip and Glenys Kennard. Live band “Drive” entertained following the completion of the Awards.
The Outstanding Contribution to Canterbury Harness Racing Award for 2017 went to Reg Storer.
The opportunity was taken by NZMTC Chairperson Barry Dent to make a special presentation to Colin DeFilippi who the previous evening at Addington had completed his 2,000th winning drive in New Zealand with Izmok, co trained with wife Julie. Just the sixth driver to accomplish this achievement (Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry, Ricky May, David Butcher and Dexter Dunn being others), his first winner came on the West Coast (Greymouth) in October 1974 with Brother Eden driven for his father Rod DeFilippi.
The most memorable performers throughout his lengthy career would be Kyms Girl (NZ Cup), multiple Derby winner and unbeaten in first twenty four starts Courage Under Fire and twice Grand Circuit (Trotting Masters) trotting champion Stent.
A winner of the NZ Drivers Premiership in 2005/6 season (121 wins), he represented New Zealand in the 2007 World Drivers Championship held in Australia/New Zealand finishing second to Belgian Christophe Martens. Colin is an inductee in both the New Zealand Trotting Hall of Fame and Addington Harness Hall of Fame.
A full list of Award winners follows :
NZ Cup Week Golf Trotting Owner of Year (presented by Dave O’Connell) : KEN FORD
The owner of the winners of nine trotting races last season, West Melton owner/trainer/breeder Ken Ford was first licensed as a public trainer in 1993 and has trained 130 winners, 108 trotters, amassing almost $1.4 million in stakes in this time.
The elder statesman of a dynasty having a huge influence on harness racing today (Ford/Tomlinson families), he has supported the youth of the industry very strongly with significant support to Kidz Kartz.
Ken Ford is best known recently for the deeds on the track of trotters Marcoola (NZ/GN Trotters Derbies) and Amaretto Sun (Ordeal Trotting Cup).
Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Association Pacing Breeders of Year (presented by Dennis Bennett) : GAVIN CHIN AND STUDHOLME PARK (BRIAN WEST)
Standout achievement for Studholme principal Brian West and Gavin Chin was as breeders of Australasian Grand Circuit champion and multiple group one winning pacer Lazarus (2012 Bettors Delight/Bethany) – NZ Cup/FFA, Taylor Mile and NZ Messenger among nine victories and one placing from ten NZ starts ($762,700, 1:52.4) with three in NZ record time. NZR’s 1950mM (overall) 2:16.3, 3200m stand (overall) 3:53.1. In Australia, five starts, three wins, two placings, A$519,098, 1:49.0, Bonzana, Chariots of Fire, Victoria Cup.
For the season – from fifteen starts an amazing twelve wins, a second and two thirds – seven Group 1’s, four Group 2’s and one Group 3.
Stevie Golding’s Junior Driver’s Award (presented by Stevie Golding) : SHEREE TOMLINSON
With twenty four winners in the 2016/17 season, Sheree Tomlinson placed third amongst juniors drivers in NZ in just her second season as a junior driver. Her biggest win was with Amaretto Sun in the Anthony Shearer/Prime Panels NZ Ordeal Trotting Cup in September 2016 which qualified her to drive him in the Dominion Handicap finishing fourteenth
NZ Cup Week Golf Pacing Owner of Year (presented by Barry Dent) : TERRY MCDONALD
Terry McDonald owned the winners of eight pacing races last season. An owner, a breeder and a seller at the Yearling sales, Terry is a wonderful supporter of the industry through significant sponsorships and massive support for our youth. He is involved in the standing of stallions Terror To Love and Stunin Cullen.
From a family background with two uncles involved in harness racing, Terry played hockey, rugby and cricket whilst at school in Christchurch. Terry is the owner of three time NZ Cup winner and double millionaire Terror to Love (Auckland/Easter/Cranbourne Cups, Taylor Mile, Harness Jewels Emerald – 4, 1:51.0).
Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Association Pacing Broodmare of the Year (presented by Dennis Bennett) : BACK IN THE USSR
Bred by Norwegian Wood Breeding Ltd (Don Bates), this 2005 daughter of Presidential Ball/Paperback Writer, was dam of three foals to race, all winners in 2016/7 season including Jewels Diamond winner at just her fourth start in Dizzy Miss Lizzy (1:53.6, $165,594), three wins from four starts, Caduceus Club Southland and Yearling Sales Series 2yo Fillies, together with Hard Days Night (3) and Lady Madonna (2), giving the mare eight wins for season.
Trainers and Drivers Association Driver’s Award (presented by Peter Cook) : DEXTER DUNN
While it is traditional for awards to be handed out on this night to recognise those in the Industry who, for whatever reason, may not win a National Premiership, the Organising Committee felt that this season, an exception to that criteria should be made for a truly exceptional performance.
World Drivers Champion in 2015, breaking his own seasonal record by driving 228 winners in just ten months, winning his tenth straight Drivers premiership and achieving the milestone of 2,000 career wins more than ten seasons quicker than any other driver (mark achieved in just eleven seasons) is remarkable.
Then again, there is only one Dexter Dunn, a worthy recipient of this year’s Drivers Award.
NZ Cup Week Golf Owner of Year (presented by Barry Creagh) : GREG HOPE
First licensed as a public trainer in 1987, Greg Hope trains at Woodend Beach where he was the owner of the winners of eleven races during the past season. He has been in a training partnership with wife Nina since 2001 and has trained 622 winners and amassed over $6.1 million in stakes.
He is best known currently for his involvement in the ownership of current Trotter of Year in Monbet winner of last season’s Dominion Hcp/NZ Trotting FFA and Three Year Trotter of Year Enghien (NZ/GN Trotting Derbies, Harness Jewels Ruby).
Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Association Trotting Breeder of Year (presented by Dennis Bennett) : DARRYL BROWN
The breeder of Group One winning trotter Eyre I Come (2010 Majestic Son/Landoras Special) was Darryl Brown. The winner of Group One Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Championship and Group Three Summer Trotting FFA together with a third in Group One Anzac Cup, his stellar season saw him race on fourteen occasions for six wins, two seconds and a third, $94,702, T1:57.3.
Natalie Rasmussen & Mark Purdon Trainer’s Award (presented by Ken Barron) : BRAD MOWBRAY
With twenty one winners in the 2016/7 season, more than double his previous best of nine, Russley trainer Brad Mowbray’s UDR rating was .2734, with stakes of $235k. He qualified four horses for the Harness Jewels, with Ultimate Desire (third; three wins, 1:52.6), Delishka (sixth; four wins, 1:55.1) and Tiger Thompson (thirteenth; three wins, 1:56.4), proving the stars of his small team. These successes followed on from a win with Pemberton Shard in the Group 2 Garrands Horse and Hound Premier Mares Championship the previous season.
Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Association Trotting Broodmare of the Year (presented by Dennis Bennett) : JULIANNA
The 2001 Sundon/Janettas Pride mare is the dam of eight foals including boom Southland four year old trotter Dark Horse (T1:59.9, $57,200), winner of six from ten starts including Uncut Gems, Southland record holder over 2400mM with a placed time of T1:56.1 in Jewels Ruby. In addition, other progeny successful during the past season were Sarah Palin (3), Father Christmas (2) and Monty Python, two wins in Southern Lights Trot and Central Otago Trotting FFA, yielding thirteen seasonal wins for this mare.
In accepting this award Bevan Grice quipped that he and his brother Keith were breeding from twelve trotting mares and one pacing mare. Why?? If you can’t beat Mark Purdon, best go with the trotters.
Woodlands Stud Female Racing Achievement Award 2017 (presented by Steffi Cornwall and FLAIR) : JULIE DEFILIPPI
Wife of outstanding horseman Colin DeFilippi, Julie has trained in partnership with her husband since 1999 producing 258 winners together to date (Colin has trained 535 winners in total and driven 2,000 winners in NZ with Australian winners as well). Among those trained by the DeFilippi’s have been Kyms Girl (NZ Cup, NZ Breeders Stakes twice, Treuer Memorial) and Stent (Anzac Trotters Cup, NZ Trotting FFA, NZ Trotting Championship, Rowe Cup, Aust Trotting Grand Prix twice, Great Southern Star heats (2)/Final, Knight Pistol Trotters Cup, ANZ Grand Circuit Champion twice, NZ/Australian Trotter of Year).
Julie is a NZSBA Ambassador of Life After Racing. This entails involvement with the showing of Standardbreds (in Hand and Ridden) throughout New Zealand at various Agricultural and Pastoral Shows culminating in the Horse of the Year Show that this year was held in the Hawkes Bay. Life After Racing provides horses with another career after racing with options of competitive showing, dressage, show jumping, pony club or pleasure riding.
Julie still competes herself in the show ring having started out wit her first pony ride aged four as well as judging. Competing can involve as many as twelve different shows leading up to Hose Of Year. Her judging assignments started after her children had started riding.
This accomplished horsewoman has an enviable record of one drive for one win – this came at the Motukarara workouts where in a field of five she sat back and worked past husband Colin to record a notable victory and bragging rights with her one hundred percent record.
Woodlands Stud Outstanding Contribution to Canterbury Harness Racing 2017 (presented by Steve Cornwall, Woodlands) : REG STORER
The winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Canterbury Harness Racing, Reg Storer has been involved in Harness Racing for many years. There would not be many meetings that he would not attend.
Reg has been a long time sponsor in many areas, especially at Addington and in many other segments of the industry including Kidz Kartz and budding junior drivers. He has helped many young people with sponsorship and support by having a horse trained in the stable so that they get a drive
Reg is proprietor of Storer Motors in New Brighton providing a full range of mechanical services and new and used vehicles. He was a member of the first XI football team and swimming team member at Papanui High.
He has raced at least twenty one horses with his first winner being Premium Reserve (Holmes Hanover/Tilla gelding) who won a CO Pace at Addington on 28 July 2000. Some of the horses owned or part owned by Reg are : Astro Boy, Bella Jones, Blackjacky, Cable Beach, Chattanoogachoochoo, Code Red, Enter Sandman, Franco Harrison, Highview Jimmy, Letspendanitetogetha, Lovemetwotimes, McCloud, Monumental, Premium Reserve, Ringaringarozie, Ross The Boss, The Governor, Thunderball, Western Art, Whisper’s VC, Windfall.
Reg has had a long association with horseman Peter Bagrie and this years Pacing Owner of Year Terry McDonald.
A well run and enjoyable evening of Awards came to a conclusion following the presentation to Reg Storer. For those inclined, live band “Drive” entertained following the completion of the Awards.
Peter Craig
10 September 2017
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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