The fifth annual Woodlands Stud combined Canterbury Awards ceremony was held in the Silks Lounge at Addington Raceway on Saturday 15 September 2018 with just over 220 in attendance. These awards saw branches of the Canterbury Horsemans’, Breeders and 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 race caller extraordinaire – 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.
Prominent owners and breeders Philip and Glenys Kennard again subsidised attendance of Junior drivers/stable hands/cadets.
The evening consisted of an introductory drink and platters followed by a superb buffet dinner, interspersed with the presentation of around a dozen Awards.
The Outstanding Contribution to Canterbury Harness Racing Award for 2018 went to Colin Hair.
A full list of Award winners follows :
Canterbury Owners Association Trotting Owner of Year (presented by Barry Creagh) : ALLAN AND IAN NEUMANN
The owner/part owners of the winners of seven trotting races last season, Ashburton owner Allan Neumann is heavily involved in the industry together with brother Ian and other family members.
Valloria was the winner of three from the Dunn stable including Orari Challenge Stakes at Geraldine and the Neumann’s Tyres sponsored Hambletonian Trotters Classic (T1:58.2) at Ashburton. Consistent four year mare Bonnie Highlander was a winner at Ashburton, Nelson (one of three for Neumanns on same day) and Addington and finished third in the Group Three 4/5yo Trotters Championship. Loveyoutodit won in the New Year at Waterlea Raceway, Blenheim after earlier forming a quinella pairing with stablemate Valloria at Nelson.
Pacing winners during the season included The Brooklyn Brawler on NZ Cup Day and Tyron Bettors Ella (three). Allan Neumann is a Past President of the Ashburton TC, having been on the committee for 27 years.
Canterbury Breeders Association Pacing Breeder of Year (presented by Dennis Bennett) : SPREYDON LODGE
With an overall thirty two seasonal winners in NZ last season, all but a couple being pacers, Spreydon Lodge continued to build on an impressive record especially with use of the “Franco” label in their horses names. Whilst no Group One winners were involved, several won multiple races – Franco Tai (four – NZYSS Aged Pace, Timaru Cup); Franco Santino (four – 1:52.0); Franco Huntingdon (three); Nemera Franco, Franco Calph, Franco Nate, Franco Rebel – all two wins.
Canterbury Horsemans’ Association Junior Driver’s Award (presented by Stevie Golding) : JOHN MORRISON
With twenty winners in the 2017/18 season, fifth on NZ premiership and leading JD based in Canterbury, John basically doubled his previous best seasonal tally (2 winners to 14 September 2018 from 41 drives in 2018/19 season). To date in a little over three seasons of driving he has had thirty nine winning drives.
As well as having spent time working at Spreydon Lodge, shoeing horses, he has branched out into the training ranks (yet to produce a winner from thirteen starts to date. His biggest win to date has been with Seaswift Joy in the Geraldine Cup, one of two wins with her.
Canterbury Owners Association Pacing Owner of Year (presented by Barry Dent) : CHRISSIE DALGETY
Chrissie Daley shared in the ownership of the winners of eighteen pacing races last season. An owner and a breeder Chrissie provides able support to her husband well known trainer Cran. Son Carter looks likely to follow in the family footsteps (grandfather’s Jim Dalgety and Murray Butt), Chrissy being a daughter of the late Murray Butt.
Principal winner for Chrissie this season was outstanding three year old filly Bettor Joy, winner of six from twelve NZ starts (1:54.6, Ladyship Stakes, NZYSS – 3f) and two from three in Australia (1:55.8, Breeders Crown heat/semi, fourth 2yo fillies final). Other winners included Hundie (five), Buzinga (two), Sezana (one), Master Moonlite (two NZ, Breeders Crown – 2c heat) while her trotter Donegal Bettorgretch won during the season.
Canterbury Breeders Association Pacing Broodmare of the Year (presented by Dennis Bennett) : JEN MARIE
Bred by Harness Racing New Zealand Board Chairman Ken Spicer and his wife Ann Marie, this 2007 race winning (won her first ever race) daughter of Christian Cullen/Inspiring Dash, is the dam of six foals, three to race (all sub two minutes), all winners in 2017/8 season. They included NZ Derby winner Sheriff (1:53.6, $165,594), whose five wins from eleven starts saw wins at Auckland (one), Invercargill (one) and Addington (three), second in the 3yo Jewels Emerald and third in GN Derby. Other winners for Jen Marie were Real Dash (1) and Wrangler (3), giving the mare nine wins for the season.
Canterbury Horsemans’ Association Driver’s Award – no award made
Canterbury Owners Association Owner of Year (presented by Janis Hartley) : TREVOR CASEY
One of New Zealand’s major owners and breeders in recent years, Trevor continued his high success rate during the past season. As one of the co-owners of Lazarus prior to his sale to North America, Trevor Casey enjoyed Laz’s successes in both NZ and Australia in 2017/18 – Group One’s : NZ Cup, ID Pacing Grand Final, Hunter Cup plus ID heat, Canterbury Classic, Ashburton Flying Stakes and Kaikoura Cup. For the season – from thirteen Australasian starts an amazing eight wins, three seconds and a third – three Group 1’s, four Group 2’s.
Other major winners owned/part owned by Trevor Casey during 2017/18 were five win 3yo trotter Winterfell (GN Trotters Derby, Harness Jewels Ruby, NZSS – 3T prelude/final; second in NZ Trotters Derby) and 2yo pacing filly Dracarys (Leonard Memorial). A total of five pacing and nineteen trotting winners during the 2017/18 season.
Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Association Trotting Breeder of Year (presented by Dennis Bennett) : GRAEME AND BEV HULSTON
The breeders of Group One winning trotter Temporale (2012g Monarchy/Whosinthenest) are Graeme (Pup) and Bev Hulston from West Melton. The winner of four races during the past season these included the Group One National Trot, Group Two Lyell Creek Stakes and Group Three Te Awamutu Flying Stakes. Major placings were achieved in the Rowe Cup (third to Speeding Spur) and seconds in his two Australian starts in the Group One’s – Great Southern Star and Dullard Cup. His stellar season saw him race on eleven occasions for four wins, three seconds and a third, T1:57.5 (1700m).
A little dual gaited, the Hulston’s have interests in the gallopers as well although staunchly Standardbred biased.
Canterbury Horsemans’ Association Trainer’s Award (presented by Peter Cook) : MICHAEL HOUSE
With fifty seven winners in the 2017/18 season, almost double his previous best of thirty, Prebbleton trainer Michael House’s UDR rating was .3136, with stakes of $413k. His spectacularly successful strategy of taking large teams of Canterbury horses up to the Manawatu for other owners and trainers provided a significant number of winners for his stable (43 Training successes) at the Palmerston North venue. Whilst there were no standout stars, a good number of his horses won on multiple occasions especially at Manawatu.
Canterbury Breeders Association Trotting Broodmare of the Year (presented by Dennis Bennett) : TEN TO ONE (Gaby and Julie Maghzai)
The 1993 Sundon/Ten Four mare was bred by Dick and Alison Petrie. After breeding her first foal Ten Too, ownership of Ten To One passed to Gaby Maghzai who bred two foals in his own name and five jointly with Julie Maghzai. Included amongst those latter five foals are four winners all by Love You – Lothario and three Group One performers : Habibti (ten NZ/six AUS wins, T1:56.5, NZ Trotting Stakes- 2T, NZ/VIC/NSW Trotters Oaks, NZ/NSW Trotters Derbies, Dullard/Canterbury Park Trotting Cups), Habibi Ivy (nine wins, T1:58.4, NZ Trotters Oaks, 4/5YO Championship, ANZAC/Banks Peninsula Trotting Cups) and Habibi Inta (eight wins, T1:56.5, NZ Trotting Stakes – 2T, NZSS Aged Trotters Classic, Jewels Ruby – 4T), five wins from eight starts last season.
Overall record of Ten To One (six wins, T2:03.3), dam of eight foals, six to race all winners; others being Ten Too and Releven Dream; progeny have won fifty races between them.
Rising Star (presented by Matt Golding) : SAMUEL (Sam) THORNLEY
The winning Canterbury representative in the 2018 edition of the Lizzie of Rosslands Kidz Kartz Rising Stars Drivers Series held at Cambridge Raceway and Alexandra Park in April 2018 was 16 year old Sam Thornley. In the first round of heats at Cambridge where ponies of similar abilities were provided by the Northern Kidz Kartz clubs, he recorded a win, third and eighth placings to be positioned second leading into the final heats in Auckland. A continuation of consistent placings carried him through to become the 2018 winner of this prestigious series. Currently with a drivers trials licence, Sam is aiming for a juniors drivers licence as soon as he turns seventeen.
As winner of the Rising Star Award, Sam receives $1,500 towards costs of industry study in either New Zealand or Australia.
Merit Awards – a new set of awards (winners presented with a framed certificate) this year subject to the conditions listed below:
• To horses whose connections, be it breeder, owner, or trainer, must reside in the Canterbury region,
• the horse in question must have been placed 1st or 2nd in a Group 1 race, won a Group 2 race, or won a race with a stake equivalent to a Group 2 race or greater,
• The intention is that the winner of each award to be a horse or person who would not necessarily be a recipient at that years HRNZ National Awards, however with that function being held subsequent to ours, we are unable to guarantee that this is so,
• Every category does not have to be awarded each year, and
• If more than one horse meets the above criteria, the Canterbury Harness Awards Dinner Committee shall decide the winner.
Certificates were presented to the breeders; owners and trainer of each recipient.
Pacing :
2yo filly – HAVTIME : Breeders, Chrissie Dalgety, Margaret and Phil Creighton, D Zame; Owners, Havtime Breeding Ltd, Malcolm and Sandra Little; Trainer, Barry Purdon
2yo colt – A BETTOR ACT : Breeder, Action Packed Syndicate; Owners, a Few Good Men; Syndicate; Trainers, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen
3yo filly – BETTOR JOY : Breeders, Miracle Lodge Ltd; Owners, Chrissie Dalgety, Brent Smith, K R Clark, G P Merlo, Mrs H M F Hanning, M P Hanning; Trainer, Cran Dalgety
3yo colt – SHERIFF : Breeders, Ken and Ann Marie Spicer; Owners, Deakins, Gillan, Masefield, Small Car World Ltd; Trainer, Nigel McGrath
4yo and older mare – no award made
4y0 and older gelding – AG’S WHITE SOCKS : Breeder, Pat Laboyrie; Owners, Greg Hope, Pat Laboyrie, Peter Baker, Mrs V Robertson, W & C Stewart, A & B Pullar; Trainers, Greg and Nina Hope
Merit Awards – Trotting :
2yo filly – no award made
2yo colt – ONE APOLLO : Breeders, Lex and Heather Williams; Owners, Lex Williams, P M Goodhew, Miss A M Henson, Mrs H A Stead, I W Rhodes, G J Preston; Trainer, Brent White
3yo filly – SHOW GAIT : Breeders, Dennis Bennett and Linda Joyce; Owner : Mrs Cheryl Rasmussen; Trainer, Regan Todd
3yo colt – MAJESTIC MAN : Breeders, Neil Bennett, LHR Syndicate; Owners, Griffith Syndicate; Trainer, Phil Williamson
4yo and older mare – no award made
4yo and older gelding – HABIBI INTA : Breeders, Gaby and Julie Maghzai; Owner, Julie Maghzai; Trainer, Paul Nairn
Woodlands Stud Female Racing Achievement Award 2017 (presented by Stacey Markham, Woodlands and FLAIR) : JESS SMITH
The current Communications and Ownership Co Ordinator with HRNZ, now in her second term of employment with the industry’s governing body, Jess spent several years working for Trackside as an on and off course presenter on the country’s racing channel. She was Trackside’s representative during the 2011 World Drivers Championships in USA (New York/New Jersey).
Since her return to HRNZ, the past twelve months have seen a frantic period of activity with Jess being responsible for a number of key industry marketing initiatives. These have included regular NZ Harness News items, Club News, Harness Half Hour podcasts, Owners nights (Alexandra Park and Addington to date) to foster new owners into the industry plus various other ownership initiatives available through the Marketing Department.
A one-time amateur driver with a novice licence, Jess was heavily involved with the Stand Up For Standardbreds promotion which raised $35k for feed for rehoused Standardbreds.
The next major events for Jess will be the fractional ownership seminars (“The Stable”) featuring Canadian harness racing trainer/driver, Anthony MacDonald over the next ten days followed by the annual HRNZ Awards evening, this year being held in Auckland.
Woodlands Stud Outstanding Contribution to Canterbury Harness Racing 2018 (accepted on his behalf by Barry Dent) : COLIN HAIR
The winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Canterbury Harness Racing, is Kaiapoi based enthusiast Colin Hair who has been involved in Harness Racing for many years. In his mid-sixties, he has a number of strings to his bow being a breeder, owner, Treasurer of the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Association, Canterbury branch committee member, NZSBA representative on HRNZ Executive Board (since August 2008) where he holds the position of finance chair and an Owners Association representative.
Currently breeding from two broodmares, Hair started breeding in 1996 from the Pernod Eden trotting mare Chiquita Dee (grand dam left Thriller Dee) that he purchased at the All Age Sales for $1,500 after she had left three foals. The first foal for Hair was Stardon born in 1997 (more on her later). He bred a further five foals from Chiquita Dee, the last of which was Uncas, the best horse he has owned and raced. The winner of ten in NZ and a further six in Australia (T1:57.9), with his best performance on Miracle Mile night 2017 when placed third to Dead Cat Bounce in the Group One Australian Pacing Gold Trotters Cup at Menangle won in T1:54.1 for the mile.
The Bevan Heron (Rangiora) trained Stardon won the first of her three races for Hair at Nelson in June 2002 followed by later wins at Blenheim and Addington. She has left six foals, two of whom are winners, the latest being fifth foal Sundees Son, a winner of two races at both two and three from the Robert Dunn stable and placed third in the GN Trotting Derby.
Colin Hair and Sundees Son
Woodstone is another winner for Colin Hair who bred the now five year son of The Pres, the second foal from his Monarchy mare Gemstone. He races him from Robert Dunn’s stable – one win at three and last season six victories, a total of seven from just twenty starts (T1:58.6, four at Alexandra Park).
A well run and enjoyable evening of Awards came to a conclusion following the presentation to Colin Hair
Peter Craig
16 September 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
