The 32nd Southland Harness Racing Awards with major sponsors Southern Harness Inc and Racing Industry Transition Agency were held at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill on Sunday 11 August 2019. The support of those who advertise in the Southland Harness Racing Directory was gratefully acknowledged. Following pre dinner drinks and dinner, awards were presented. Harness Racing New Zealand’s Communications and Ownership Co – Ordinator Jess Smith was this year’s MC.
The major Southland Award winners on the night were :
Broodmare of Year : Christian Dreamer
Horse of Year : U May Cullect
Achievement of Year : Ross Wilson
Added to the Elite Broodmares Honours Board was WINTER ROSE (In The Pocket/Bella Chip), owned by John and Judy Stiven. A one race winner (2:00.3, $10,560) at Addington, she is the dam of thirteen foals to date, eleven to have raced with nine being winners of fifty seven NZ/AUS races for in excess of $1.6m in stakes.
Major winners have included Bettor’s Strike (16, $890,201, 1:55.7AUS), Southwind Arden (9, $150,127, 1:58.4), Arden’s Choice (7, $282,296, 1:55.1) and Rocknroll Arden (6, $172,154, 1:54.8). Winter Rose was winner of 2012 Southland Broodmare of the Year Award and 2014-2015 NZ Broodmare of Excellence Award. Her fillies are breeding on Bella Arden (Bella Veloce, Franklin Country Cup), South Wind Arden (South Beach Arden) and Arden Caviar (Pearl Harbour).
A special broodmare award was made to owners Charlie and Ailsa Smaill in respect of their prolific broodmare JANINE JACCKA (Sundon/Spiritual Powers), unraced dam of the winners of forty six races to date ($528,168). The dam of eight foals to date, seven qualified and winners and all have won races – Jaccka Jack (14, $138,746, T2:00.8), Jaccka Justy (13, $235,467, T2:02.7), Jess Jaccka (5, $35,835, T2:01.9), Jocy Jaccka (3, $14,399, T2:03.9), Jen Jaccka (9, $81,473, T2:01.3), Jaccka Josh (1, $13,279, T2:02.3), Jaccka Jeorge (1, $8,970, T2:05.9).
The Major award winners on the night were :
- Washington VC – Bryleigh Lodge Southern Standardbred Breeders Broodmare of Year Award : CHRISTIAN DREAMER
Christian Dreamer (2007 Christian Cullen/Dreamy Atom, unraced) – bred and owned by Vin and Daphne Devery. Dam of six foals, four to start for four winners including (Lets) Chase The Dream 1:49.9 (Menangle), half millionaire, multiple group race winner in NZ/Australia and now winner in North America (20 wins, $560,036). This seasons performers for the mare were : four year old Catch The Dream (Mach Three gelding), 1:59.8, $19,920, two race winner for Brent Mangos at Alexandra Park and Manawatu Raceway; three year old Art Major gelding Dream Major, two starts for one win at Alexandra Park and star performer two year old Bettors Delight filly, Amazing Dream, 1:54.9, $205,467, winner of three from nine starts for the All Stars Stable and Jean Feiss including NZSS 2f heat at Addington (second in final), Caduceus Club Fillies Classic and NZYSS – 2f plus thirds in Delightful Lady Classic and Jewels Diamond.
Other nominees with seasonal highlights listed were –
Touch of Rose (2006 Mach Three/Rose Sands, 2:00.1, $69,756, four wins) – bred by Caron Goodwin and owned by Kelvin Reed. Dam of six foals, four to race for three winners including Fiery Ferret (Mister Big), the winner of nine races, 1:58.3, $63,124 with two of them from twenty seven starts in a busy 2018/9 season for trainers Geoff and Jude Knight at Waikouaiti and Gore. Four year old mare Ferrits Sister (Bettors Delight), 1:56.9, $42,925 (four wins), three time winner during the season, at Oamaru for Geoff and Jude Knight and twice at Alexandra Park for trainer Cambridge Nicola Chilcott. She race placed in 1:55.8 at Central Southland Raceway, Winton. Two year old American Ideal gelding The Ideal Touch (2:01.9, $13,885) won at Invercargill before placing fourth in the Jewels Emerald at Addington after which he was exported to Western Australia.
Chicago Blues (Christian Cullen/Bluejeanbabyqueen, 1:59.1, $27,263, three wins) – regular nominee (2015/6 and winner in 2016/7 of Broodmare Award was bred Aidan Johnstone of Christchurch and is owned by Roger and Helen, John and Katrina Price. Dam of four foals, three to race, winners include Chicago Bull (Bettors Delight gelding) her first foal, the winner of forty three races (thirty eight Gloucester Park/forty WA and three NZ), $1,744,430, 1:51.6. This season Chicago Bull returned after injury to record eight wins in eleven starts (Navy/Stratton Cups Group 2) as well as a second in Victoria Cup (to Tiger Tara) at Melton. Four year old mare Rockabilly Blues (Rock N Roll Heaven) won three during the season , 1:55.6 at Wyndham (fifth in 1:53.3) while two year old Perfect Stride (Bettors Delight colt) won three, all at Alexandra Park (1:56.1, fourth in Cardigan Bay Stakes).
Robyn Maree (2004 Holmes Hanover/Maree Robyn, non-winning pacer, $763) – bred by Graeme Edgar and owned by Ross Wilson. Dam of three foals, all winners; Robyn’s Bad Boy (Badlands Hanover gelding), winner of eight in NZ, 1:56.7, $55,504 and two NSW wins, 1:56.6AUS, total earnings $80,294 (retired); Rake (Santanna Blue Chip gelding), 2:00.1, $30,651, three wins latest season at Forbury Park (two) and Manawatu Raceway; three year old Shadow Play gelding Robyns Playboy, 1:56.0 (Young Quinn Raceway), $73,219, three wins at Invercargill including Autumn Cup and Northern Southland Nugget Final, two at Winton including Winton Nugget Final and Wyndham. Significant placings : third Jewels Emerald (Gp1) to Jesse Duke and fifth in Southland Supremacy Final (Gp2).
- Night N’ Day : Southland Harness Awards Horse of the Year : U MAY CULLECT
U May Cullect (2013g Gotta Go Cullen/Ides Of May, 1:52.1, $70,150, seven wins) – bred by Alabar NZ, owned by Tom Kilkelly, trained by Kristen Barclay and Paul Ellis. The latest pacing sensation out of Southland, undefeated in seven career starts over three month span in 2018/9 season. Wins recorded at Invercargill (3), Central Southland Raceway, Winton (2, including 1:52.1 at just his second start, track and Southland record and 1:53.1) and Addington (1:55.9 and 1:56.7 over 1980m). Only once recording a mile rate greater than two minutes (2700m at Invercargill, 2:00.5) with a collective winning margin of 32 lengths over seven starts. Key wins : Bluff Cup, Uncut Gems Entire/Geldings Pacers Classic (Listed race).
Other nominees with seasonal highlights listed were –
Get Lucky (2015g Lucky Chucky/Bree, T2:01.8, $85,090, four wins) – bred by Studholme Bloodstock Limited/Kahukuri Bloodstock Limited and owned by Lindsay and Ian Thomson, trained by Alister Black. Three year old trotter Get Lucky won four races during the 2018/9 season including NZYSS – 3T (T2:01.8, 1980m) and one other race at Addington, together with victories in a Gold Cup final at Gore and at Oamaru. Get Lucky finished second in the Super Gold Chip at Young Quinn Raceway (Winton). Get Lucky had a sequence of seventh placings in the Hambletonian, NZ Trotters Derby and Jewels Ruby – 3T.
Vintage Cheddar (2014g Betterthancheddar/Howfarnow, 1:55.0, $79,210, seven wins) – bred and owned by Lindsay and Ian Thomson, trained by Alister Black. Second in the Southern Country Cups series to another nominee in Sagwitch, Vintage Cheddar recorded five wins in his four year old season. These came in Country Cup races at Central Southland Raceway (Wyndham) and Invercargill, with a further Invercargill win and two at Addington (Winter Cup, 1:55.0). Vintage Cheddar gained additional Southland Country Cup placings with seconds in Invercargill Autumn/Winton Cups and a third in the Wyndham Cup.
I’mallaboutthebase (2014m Shadow Play/Soleli D’Or, 1:59.0, $64,898, four wins) – bred and owned by Steve (trainer) and Carol Baucke. Three of her four race day successes came in the latest season aged four, including a season’s end victory in the Uncut Gems Mares Pacers Classic at Addington in mid-June (1:59.2, 2600m). I’mallabouthebase’s other wins came at Young Quinn Raceway (Wyndham, 1:59.0, 2400m) and Invercargill (Northern Southland, 1:59.0, 2200m). She was race timed in 1:54.8 placing fifth at Central Southland Raceway (Winton).
Sagwitch (2013g Lis Mara/Shoshoni Sunrise, 1:58.5, $67,078, eight wins) – bred by Big Stone Lodge Ltd, owned by Paul/Nancy Matheson and Syd Breen (trainer). The winner of eight races, three during the 2018/9 season in a Cups trifecta at Invercargill (Northland Southland Summer Cup, 1:58.5MR), Young Quinn Raceway (Wyndham Cup) and Central Southland Raceway (Winton Cup). In addition, Sagwitch recorded seconds on the grass in the Gore and Waikouaiti Cups as well as a fourth in Riverton Cup and fifth in Wairio Cup. Victory in the Winton Cup clinched him the Southern Country Cups series ahead of Vintage Cheddar to grab the $6,000 bonus prize.
Robyn’s Playboy (2015g Shadow Play/Robyn Maree, 1:56.9, $73,219, six wins) – bred, owned and trained by Ross Wilson. Placed at two and winner of six races and placed on four occasions during his three year old season. Three wins at Invercargill including Autumn Cup and Northern Southland Nugget Final; two at Winton including Winton Nugget Final (3yo track record for 2400m) and best mile rate of 1:56.0 (2400m, 3yo and all comers Southland record) recorded in other win at Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham. Significant placings : third Jewels Emerald (Gp1) to Jesse Duke and fifth in Southland Supremacy Final (Gp2).
NZB Standardbreds Southland Achievement of Year: ROSS WILSON
Ross Wilson : Whiterig (Gore) breeder/owner/trainer completed a memorable season in 2018/9 culminating in nominations for two of his horses – Robyn Maree, one of a number of mares being bred from (Southland Broodmare of Year) and Robyns Playboy (Southland Horse of Year) as well as his own for Southland Achievement of Year Award.
With an overall 113 training successes (all pacers; $1m+; three driving wins) to date over the past four decades, this latest season was his best ever with fifteen training wins – led by three year old star Robyns Playboy (see earlier, leading Southland stake earner) with six wins, Bridesdale Robyn (four, 1:55.7; including his one hundredth training success at Gore) and Annie Fitz (three, 1:58.0). Notable previous stable stars have included Robyn’s Cullen (nine wins, Riverton Cup) and Robyns Treasure (1:57.7, $152,245, NZ Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Equine Stakes).
Wilson has always provided junior drivers with opportunities and 58 of his 113 winners trained have been driven by junior drivers – Robin Swain (6), Craig Fergusson (20), Adam Sanderson (12), Dexter Dunn (7) among them.
Other nominees with seasonal highlights listed were :
Ellie Barron : Leading Southland junior driver in her second season (2018/19) with seventeen wins from 328 starts (25 in career) and second leading Southland reins woman to Kirsten Barclay. Barron was a member of winning team South in the Equine Feeds New Zealand Junior Driving Championship 2019 (late replacement for Ben Hope). One of three Team Teal Ambassadors (Samantha Ottley/Nicola Chilcott) representing the Southern Region for the Team Teal Pants Campaign.
Winner of HRNZ/Flair sponsored female drivers Contribution to the Teal Pants Campaign Award. Ellie received nominations for her work walking around with donation buckets, encouraging Kidz Kartz to be involved, Social Media posts, the Dash for Cash in costume (ran down the straight at Invercargill in costume to raise money for the campaign), and staying in her ambassador colours for the majority of the race meetings to help raise awareness. A presentation was made to her during a Timaru meeting.
Wayne (Syd) Breen : enjoyed a dream season with eighteen wins and twenty one placings for stakes of $144k having switched to being a public trainer early in the season. With his stable star Sagwitch nominated for Southland Horse of Year after his three wins in Southland Country Cup races (Northland Southland Summer Cup, Wyndham Cup quinella with stablemate Santanna’s Rocket, Winton Cup), he clinched the Southern Country Cups series that Sagwitch had finished second in 2017/18 season. Sagwitch only missed the Cromwell Cup during the Cups series.
Four race winners for the stable included Santanna’s Rocket. (1:53.7, Central Southland Raceway) and Mucho Macho Man; three wins to Lorretta Franco (1:55.4 Young Quinn Raceway) and two with The Night Hawk. Junior driver //mark Hurrell was associated with eleven of Breen’s wins whose seasonal strike rate was .2425. After training for a period during the 1990s (1992 -1998), Breen had a break from training resuming again in 2014. His career training tally now stands at thirty nine with his previous best season having been seven in 2016/7.
Kirsten Barclay and Paul Ellis : leading Southland Trainers during the 2018/19 season with 38 successes (nine trotters) from 258 starts placing them seventh on the national Trainers Premiership ($372,919, UDR .2735) in their first season in partnership. Barclay had previously trained fifty winners on her own (two seasons of 12 winners best) while Ellis had recorded seventy five training wins with a best of twelve in 2017/18. Barclay has 239 driving victories (21 in latest season), a large part due to stable star U May Cullect’s seven wins (see earlier) from seven starts.
Other good performers during the latest season were Wee Man Trouble (five, one at Addington), Paddyproudfoot (4, one at Addington), Betterthanbrie, Chuckles, Somethings Burning, Zenolas Art, Moniburns (2) and Shezacullengirl (Equine Stakes, 1:55.0). They geared up four winners on Diamonds Day.
Alister Black : with two nominations for Southland Horse of Year (Get Lucky and Vintage Cheddar), Branxholme trainer Alister Black celebrated a memorable season that included thirteen training successes (six trotting) equal with his previous best season in 2015/6.
Over the past decade and a half, Black has trained 62 winners (15 trotting; $½m, 61 driving wins). Four year old Vintage Cheddar led the way with five wins followed by Get Lucky with four and Christmas Babe (two). Other stable winners have included Kilowatt kid (four, 1:56.7), Ossessione (six, 1:59.3), Six Diamonds (six, 1:59.9), Pulling The Strings (three. 1:58.8), The Jinja Ninja (three of four), New York Town (won four of six for Black, 1:51.4US), Close to fifty of his 62 training successes have been shared with Branxholme brother’s Lindsay and Ian Thomson.
A list of other Award winners follows :
Southern Standardbred Breeders Trophies (leading stake earners 2018-2019) :
- 3Y0 Filly: ALLABOUTDREAMS – Owner : Malcolm and Sandra Little; Trainer Brent Gray
- Aged race mare : I’MALLABOUTTHEBASE – Owner : Steve and Carol Baucke; Trainer : Steve Baucke
Southern Standardbred Breeders Fastest Mile Rate – Filly or mare 2018-2019 :
- SHEZACULLENGIRL 1-53.1 Wyndham HRC, 31 January 2019 – Owner: Malcolm and Sandra Little, Havtime Breeding Ltd; Trainer: Kirstin Barclay and Paul Ellis.
Southland Harness Awards :
- Two Year Old Colt/Gelding of the Year: CASSIUS BROMAC – Owner MCC Syndicate; Trainer: Brett Gray.
Robin Dundee Club Awards :
- 3YO Filly: SWIFT ROBYN – Owners : Ross Wilson, RR and Mrs HF Wilson; Trainer: Ross Wilson
- 3YO Colt or Gelding : ROBYNS PLAYBOY – Owner/Trainer : Ross Wilson
Caduceus Club of Southland Awards :
- Caduceus Club trotter : KING CASSIDY – Owner : Chris Gerken, TR Davies, Miss TL Ashton; Trainer: Chris Gerken
Southland Trainers and Drivers Association Awards :
- Leading Trainer: KIRISTEN BARCLAY AND PAUL ELLIS (38 Wins, $372,919, UDR 0.2735)
- Leading Driver: NATHAN WILLIAMSON (54 wins, $663,725, UDR 0.2105)
- Leading Junior Driver: ELLIE BARRON (17 wins, $190,440, UDR 0.1203)
- Leading Trotting Driver of Year : NATHAN WILLIAMSON (16 wins)
Southland Harness Awards : Contribution to Harness Racing : following persons were recognised for their long associations with their respective clubs and work behind the scenes –
- a) BRENDON FAHY : long time administrator and breeder
- b) KIDZ KARTZ SOUTHLAND : awarded for the fostering youth participation in the sport.
Southland Harness Racing Award of Excellence : ELLIE BARRON
Southland’s leading Junior Driver Ellie Barron received an Excellence Award for her involvement as an Ambassador in the Women’s Cancer Fundraiser Team Teal (see earlier).
Breeders Awards :
1:58 pins (trotters two minutes) for horses raced by members of the Southland Standardbred Breeders Association
- Better Galleon (CJ Murdoch, RE Wilson), 28/10/2018 Invercargill 57.8.
- English Rose (SWR Gillan), 14/09/2018 Auckland 57.8.
- Grace Burns (T Kilkelly), 08/09/2018 Winton 55.8.
- Honor And Glory (NJ & Mrs DC Cournane), 23/11/2018 Invercargill 57.3.
- Kilowatt Kid (LF Thomson, IG Thomson), 28/10/2018 Invercargill 56.7.
- Mach’s Back (MJ Little), 31/01/2019 Wyndham 52.5.
- Melina Lowe (P Duffy), 08/09/2018 Winton 56.4.
- Mossdale Art (AG Affleck), 16/12/2018 Winton 52.5.
- Mossdale Rose (AG Affleck), 22/10/2018 Ashburton 54.2.
- Mr Kiwi (BL & Mrs KE Calder), 23/11/2018 Invercargill 57.9.
- Rockabilly Blues (FJ & Mrs KV Price), 18/11/2018 Wyndham 55.6.
- Shezacullengirl (MJ Little), 16/12/2018 Winton 55.0.
- U May Cullect (T Kilkelly), 23/03/2019 Wairio 52.1.
- Vintage Cheddar (LF Thomson, IG Thomson), 17/05/2019 NZ Metro 55.0.
New Zealand Records :
- Please Shuddup – Tricode Racing Syndicate, Tricode Racing Syndicate No.2, Dolce Syndicate – 2400 metre mobile (4yo and older pacing horses and geldings) 16/12/2018 – Winton 2:53.3
- Melina Lowe – Paul and Brendan Duffy – 2400 metre mobile (4yo older pacing mares) 8/9/2018 – Winton 2:53.6
Peter Craig
12 August 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
