The 2020/21 season annual awards ceremony was held on Saturday 5 March 2022 in the Christian Cullen/Terror To Love Lounges at Addington Raceway with Greg O’Connor and Richard Bromley as Masters of Ceremonies.
There were thirty-two horse/people awards made on the night with two pods of approximately seventy persons in attendance spread over two floors with applicable video links.
Congratulations to all the award winners on the night.
Note – NZ stats to 31 July 2021; AUS stats to 30 September 2021
Philip and Glenys Kennard 2YO Pacing Filly : TRUE FANTASY (Bettors Delight/Secret Notion); owner : Mrs Jean Feiss; trainers : Hayden Cullen; seasonal record : six starts, three wins, three placings, $162,263, 1:56.1 (1700mM), Caduceus Club Classic, NZSS – 2f
Other contenders : A Bettor You, Cover Girl, Montana Glory
Tyre General 2YO Pacing Colt or Gelding : AKUTA (Bettors Delight/Adore To Our Dreams); owners : Cullen Breeding Ltd, Mark Purdon; trainer : Hayden Cullen; seasonal record : five starts, four wins, one placing, $245,330, 1:54.7, NZSS – 2c, Harness Jewels – 2c, NZB Harness Millions – 2c, Kindergarten Stakes
Other contenders : Cosmic Major, Major Perry, Montana DJ
Hanley Formula 2YO Trotting Filly : DOUBLE DELIGHT (Captain Treacherous/Dreamy Delight); owners : Mrs Suzanne Herlihy, S W Waters, D I Donaldson, Mrs L D Donaldson; trainer : Tony Herlihy; seasonal record : three starts, three wins, $61,000, NZR (fillies) one mileM, T1:58.4, Harness Jewels – 2T
Other contenders : Ellaria Sand, Emma Joy, Rakero Blaze
Gavelhouse.com 2YO Trotting Colt or Gelding : HIGHGROVE (Love You/Focus On Me); owners : Alan D Neumann, Ian M Neumann, V R L Neumann, Mrs E J Hintz, B W Clarke; trainer : Robert Dunn; seasonal record : NZ – eight starts, five wins, T1:57.1 (1700mM), $76,186, NZR (2yo colts & geldings) 1700mM, NZ Trotting Stakes – 2T, NZB Harness Millions – 2T
Other contenders : Mr Love, Magic Max, Wy Fi
Captain Crunch 3YO Pacing Filly : BETTOR TWIST (Bettors Delight/Twist And Twirl); owners/lessees : Breckon Farms-Take Ten Syndicate; trainer : Hayden Cullen; seasonal record : sixteen starts, eleven wins, three placings, 1:52.1, $478,725, GN/NZ Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Harness Jewels – 3f, Ladyship Stakes
Other contenders : Darling Me, Enjoy Me, La Rosa, Off N Gone
Garrards Horse and Hound 3YO Pacing Colt or Gelding : KRUG (Bettors Delight/Champagne Princess); owners : Chrissie Dalgety, M P Hanning, McKerrow Bloodstock Limited, G P Merlo, Phil & Margaret Creighton, Grant Dickey, K J Cummings; trainers : Cran & Chrissie Dalgety; seasonal record : NZ fifteen starts, eight wins, six placings, $432,052, 1:54.2 (1980mM), AUS three starts, one win, one placing, $35,070, 1:54.4, GN/NZ/Redcliffe Derbies, Flying Stakes
Other contenders : American Dealer, B D Joe, Its All About Faith
Harness Racing NZ 3YO Trotting Filly : TIME UP THE HILL (Muscle Hill/Majestic Time); owners : J M Ward, Mrs P L Ward, Miss S L Ward, C M Ward; trainer : Michael Ward; seasonal record : fifteen starts, three, five placings, $77,088, T2:00.9 (1980mM), NZR (fillies) 2200m stand, T2:48.6, NI Trotters Oaks
Other contenders : Aldebaran Floss, Mexicana, Wanna Play With Me
Dunstan Horse Feeds 3YO Trotting Colt or Gelding : FIVE WISE MEN (Muscle Hill/Harriet Hughes); owners : J P Baker, Ivan W McNicholl, Five Wise Men Syndicate, The Grove Syndicate, First Time Trotters Syndicate, L H Chan; trainer : Craig & Aimee Edmonds; eleven starts, nine wins, $229,809, T1:57.6, GN/NZ Trotters Derbies, Harness Jewels – 3T, NZSS – 3T, Hambletonian
Other contenders : Leaf Stride, Mufasa Metro, Outamyway, Son Of Patrick
Breckon Farms 4YO Pacing Mare : AMAZING DREAM (Bettors Delight/Lady Cullen); owners : Mark J Hanover, Gordon L Banks, R S Gutnick, T J Pontone, J A Lozito Jr; trainer : Hayden Cullen; NZ seasonal record : sixteen starts, eight wins, five placings, $315,961, 1:54.0 (1980mM), AUS three starts, two wins, one placing, $301,500, 1:53.3; NZR (mares) 1980mM, 2:20,3, Nevele R Fillies (run at four), Auckland Cup, Premier Mares Championship, GN Breeders Stakes, Easter FFA, Rising Sun, Blacks A Fake
Other contenders : Beyond Words, Need You Now, Plutonium Lady, Stylish Memphis, Watch Me Now
Brandwear 4YO Pacing Entire or Gelding : COPY THAT (American Ideal/Lively Nights); owners : Merv and Meg Butterworth; trainer : Ray Green; seasonal record : twelve starts : seven wins, four placings, $165,775, 1:54.9 (1980mM), AUS five starts, two wins, one placing, $131,955, 1:52.4; Taylor Mile, NZ Messenger, Ashburton Flying Stales, Waikato Flying Mile, City of Auckland FFA, Founders Cup, Holmes DG, Sunshine Sprint, Wondais Mate
Other contenders : Bad To The Bone, Pembrook Playboy, South Coast Arden
Summer At The Trots 4YO Trotting Mare : RAIN MIST AND MUSCLE (Muscle Hill/October Rain); owner : Aldebaran Lodge Pty Ltd; trainer : Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett; seasonal record : twenty starts, four Alexandra Park wins, three placings, $48,229, T2:02.5 (2200mM), second Northern Trotters Breeders Stakes
Other contenders : I Dream of Jeannie, Majestic Chick, Vacation Hill
HRNZ.co.nz 4YO Trotting Entire or Gelding : BOLT FOR BRILLIANCE (Muscle Hill/Toomuch To Do); owners : Mrs Suzanne Herlihy, D I Donaldson, P J Hailes, Est S H Mathews; trainer : Tony Herlihy; seasonal record : seventeen starts, nine wins, seven placings, $269,505, T1:56.4,, NZR’s (horses & geldings/overall) 2200m stand T2: 44.6, 2200Mm (4yo horses & geldings) T2:39.6, Harness Jewels – 4T, Trotters Classic
Other contenders : Cracker Hill, Midnight Dash, Muscle Mountain
HERO 5YO and older Pacing Mare : CHEEZEL (Betterthancheddar/Shesachristian); lessees :
T G Casey, Any Excuse Syndicate, The Dumpster Syndicate, R W Todd; Trainer : Regan Todd; seasonal record : twenty nine starts, three wins, eleven placings, $65,310, 1:56.3 (1980mM), Canterbury SBA Breeders Stakes, Uncut Gems Pacers Classic
Other contenders : Callies Delight, Enchantee, Folklore
Woodlands Stud 5YO and older Pacing Entire or Gelding : SELF ASSURED (Bettors Delight/Star Of Venus); owner : Mrs Jean Feiss; trainer : Hayden Cullen; NZ seasonal record : twelve starts, six wins, five placings, $437,800, 1:55.7 (1980mM), NZ/Easter Cups, Canterbury/Rangiora Classics, Superstars, Maurice Holmes Vase,
Other contenders : Classie Brigade, Spankem, Thefixer
What The Hill 5YO and older Trotting Mare : DARK HORSE (Bacardi Lindy/Juliana); lessees Griffins Syndicate, Seafield Trotting Syndicate; trainer Nathan Williamson; seasonal record : ten starts, five wins, three placings, $54,075, T1:57.4 (1 MileM), 1980mM T2:24.7 (equal mares record), SECOND Southern Lights
Other contenders : Emma Frost, Gold Chain, Silver Power, She Reigns, Time In A Bottle
Cambridge Raceway 5YO and older Trotting Entire or Gelding : SUNDEES SON (Majestic Son/Stardon); owners : Colin & Nancy Hair; trainer : Robert Dunn; seasonal record : eleven starts, seven wins, two placings, $415,792, T1:56.4 (2200mM), NZR’s 3200m stand (overall) T4:00.5, 2200mM (overall), T2:39.1, 2700mM T3:20.3, Dominion Hcp, ANZAC/Rowe Cups, National Trot, Lyell Creek, Ordeal/Canterbury Park Trotting Cups
Other contenders : Heavyweight Hero, Majestic Man, Temporale
Harness Racing New Zealand Outstanding Contribution to Life After Racing – CLARE MADDEN
Harness Racing “Unhinged” Best Moment of Season (Peoples Choice) : JOHN MORRISON This was for his emotional 50th race win which he dedicated to his number one fan, nine-year-old Charlotte McLeod who just days earlier had lost her battle with cancer. Morrison flourished his whip as he crossed the line and proudly showed off his helmet, which carried the brave youngster’s name.
Other contenders : Watch Me Now winning the Group 1 Breeders Stakes for Kirstin Barclay and Tank Ellis; Take After Me winning at Methven a few days after former trainer Glenn Scott passed away; Ben Hope winning his first Group 1 race aboard Muscle Mountain
The Breeders Pacing Broodmare of Year : TWIST AND TWIRL (family of Jesse Pepper, U4; dam of Bettor Twist, King Of Swing), bred by Breckon Bloodstock Ltd and owned by Breckon Farms
Other contenders : Christian Dreamer, Star Of Venus,
The Breeders Trotting Broodmare of Year : STARDON (family of Brown Beard U310), dam of Sundees Son, Hey Yo), bred and owned by Colin Hair
Other contenders : Harriet Hughes, Too Much Too Do
The Breeders Breeder of Year : Breckon Farms
Other contenders : Colin Hair, Woodlands Stud
Auckland Trotting Club Pacing Stallion of Year : BETTORS DELIGHT (198 winners, 396 wins, $7,354,622)
Other contenders : American Ideal, Art Major
Majestic Horsefloats Trotting Stallion of Year : MUSCLE HILL (31 winners, 101 wins, $1,759,217)
Other contenders : Majestic Son, Love You
Addington Raceway Owner of Year : JEAN FEISS : Self Assured, True Fantasy
Other contenders : Ken & Karen Breckon, Phil & Glenys Kennard, Stonewall Stud
Tom Bagrie Leading Driver of Year : BLAIR ORANGE (186 wins, $2,218,574, UDR : .2710)
Southern Harness Leading Junior Driver of Year – UDR : DEVON VAN TIL (7 wins from 57 starts, UDR : .2320)
Cruickshank Family Leading Junior Driver : JOHN MORRISON (59 wins, $694,067, UDR : .1684)
Lone Star Spitfire Leading Trainer of Year : ROBERT DUNN 124 wins, $ 2,164,465, UDR : .2753)
Diamond Racing Pacer of Year : BETTOR TWIST
SENZ Trotter of Year : SUNDEES SON
IRT Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing – TONY ABELL. Successful breeder/owner under “Kotare” banner and leading administrator for over half a century. Heavily involved with the establishment of the Standardbred Breeders Association with Peter Binnie, involved in establishment of Sires Stakes Board Chair of NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, Chair Interdominion Harness Racing Council, integral figure in reshaping of the racing calendar last year are just a few of his achievements. . In 2005 he was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit.
NZB Standardbred Horse of Year : SUNDEES SON
Peter Craig
7 March 2022
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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