The 2022 season annual awards ceremony was held on Saturday 4 March 2023 in the Christian Cullen Lounge at Addington Raceway with Greg O’Connor and Nicole Sims as Masters of Ceremonies.
There were thirty-six horse/people awards made on the night with nearly three hundred persons in attendance.
Congratulations to all the award winners on the night.
Supreme award winners included Trotter and Harness Horse of Year the recently retired Sundees Son. His second consecutive Horse of the Year title is the first ever by a trotter. Among his feats during the 2022 season were a third consecutive Dominion Hcp victory (also voted “Best Moment of Year”), one of nine victories from fourteen starts which saw him attain millionaire status.
Jean Feiss owned pacer Self Assured was voted Pacer of the Year on the back of eight victories form seventeen starts including NZFFA, Auckland Cup and The Race by Grins.
A full list of Award winners follows :
Philip and Glenys Kennard 2YO Pacing Filly : MIKEWOOD NIKE (Captain Treacherous/Albuqeurque); owners : Steve Byrne, Steve Thompson, Bruce Irvine, Frank M Endacott ONZM, Shane Endacott; trainers : Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen; seasonal record : eight starts, eight wins, $328,841, 1:52.7 (1700mM), NZR’s 2:20.3 (1980mM), 1:59.1 (1700mM), Ace of Diamonds, Caduceus Club Classic, NZSS – 2f
Other contenders : Aardiebytheseaside, Forever Me, Kahlua Flybye
Tyre General 2YO Pacing Colt or Gelding : DON’T STOP DREAMING (Bettors Delight/Start Dreaming); owners : Ian Dobson, Dennis Dunford, Mark Dunford; trainer : Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen; seasonal record : seven starts, six wins, one placing, $260,325, 1:53.4 (1980mM), NZSS – 2c, Ace of Spades, Welcome/Kindergarten Stakes, Diamond Creek Farm Classic
Other contenders : Merlin, Sherlock, Vinke B
Emblems 2YO Trotting Filly : HIGH ENERGY (Father Patrick/High Gait); lessees : Breckon Farms Super Six Syndicate; trainers : Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen; seasonal record : five starts, five wins, $107,400, T1:58.6, NZR (fillies) 1980mM, T2:26.0, Ace Of Hearts, NZSS, NZ Trotting Stakes
Other contenders : Shez Bella, Show No Fear, The Ivy League
www.hrnz.co.nz 2YO Trotting Colt or Gelding : CONFESSIONAL (Father Patrick/Habibti); owners : Birchbrook Breeding Ltd, Bolty Paterson, Mrs Lynne Paterson; trainer : Paul Nairn; seasonal record : NZ – eight starts, three wins, two places, T1:58.2 (1980mM), $72,289, Ace of Clubs
Other contenders : Gold Bullion, Southern Diamond, Tectonic
Vincent 3YO Pacing Filly : TRUE FANTASY (Bettors Delight/Secret Notion); owner : Studholme Bloodstock Limited; trainer : Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen; seasonal record : nine starts, four wins, three placings, 1:54.4 (1980mM), $276,158, GN Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, NZSS – 3f
Other contenders : Aardies Express, Cover Girl, No Matter Wat
Renwick Farms 3YO Pacing Colt or Gelding : AKUTA (Bettors Delight/Adore To Our Dreams); owners : Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon; trainers : Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen; seasonal record : NZ thirteen starts, seven wins, three placings, $454,550, 1:51.8, GN/NZ Derbies, Flying Stakes, Alabar Classic, Hannon Memorial
Other contenders : Magic Four, Republican Party, Sand Wave
Commodore Hotel 3YO Trotting Filly : CON GRAZIA LOVE (Love You/Con Grazia); lessees : Johnny Taylor, Mrs S G Taylor, B Cobb, Miss H P Trebes, Mrs L Trebes, A Learmonth, W J C Godfrey, Mrs H R Webber, Mrs T Knudsen; trainer : Sean McCaffrey; seasonal record : fifteen starts, four wins, six placings, $101,018, T1:58.2 (1980mM), NZ Trotters Oaks
Other contenders : Double Delight, Hidden Talent, Paramount Empress
Dunstan Horse Feeds 3YO Trotting Colt or Gelding : HIGHGROVE (Love You/Focus On Me); owners : Alan Neumann, Ian Neumann, V R L Neumann, Mrs E J Hintz, B W Clarke; trainer : Robert and Jenna Dunn; thirteen starts, five wins, four placings $147,496, T1:58.1 (1980mM), NZR (3yo), T2:25,4 (1980mM), GN Trotters Derby, NZB Harness Millions – 3T
Other contenders : Masterly, Mystic Max, Nazareth
Breckon Farms 4YO Pacing Mare : ALLAMERICANLOVER (American Ideal/Goodlookingbabe); owners : Stonewall Stud Ltd, AllAmericanLover Syndicate; trainer : Steve and Amanda Telfer; NZ seasonal record : thirteen starts, six wins, four placings, $137,275, 1:53.0, Queen of Hearts, Hororata/Nelson/Timaru Cups
Other contenders : Bettor Talk Art, Darling Me, Manhattan
Brandwear 4YO Pacing Entire or Gelding : B D JOE (Roll With Joe/Tact Aunty); owners : Stonewall Stud Ltd, B D Joe Syndicate; trainers : Steve and Amanda Telfer; seasonal record : fourteen starts : five wins, five placings, $130,100, 1:52.5 (1980mM), Ashburton Flying Stales, Canterbury Classic, Summer Cup (NZMTC)
Other contenders : Alta Wiseguy, Hot And Treacherous, Krug, Old Town Road
Garrards Horse & Hound 4YO Trotting Mare : RESOLVE (Andover Hall/Habibti); lessee : Birchbrook Breeding Ltd; trainer : Paul Nairn; seasonal record : nineteen starts, five wins, six placings, $99,081, T2:02.4 (2600mM), NZ Trotting Mares Hcp, Green Lane Cup
Other contenders : Peregrine, Simone Lindenny, Time Up The Hill
Team Teal 4YO Trotting Entire or Gelding : FIVE WISE MEN (Muscle Hill/Harriet Hughes); owners : Ivan McNicholl, J P Baker, L H Chan, The Grove Syndicate, Five Wise Men Syndicate, First Time Trotters Syndicate, C G Giannotti; trainers : Craig and Aimee Edmonds; seasonal record : fourteen starts, four placings, $62,000, non-winner, placed third Dominion Hcp, Ashburton Trotters Mile, NZ Trotting Championship
Other contenders : Aardiebythehill, Love N The Port, Outamyway
Blue September 5YO and older Pacing Mare : NEED YOU NOW ((Bettors Delight/Lady Antebellum); owner : Woodlands Stud (NZ) Ltd; trainer : Robert and Jenna Dunn; seasonal record : NZ two starts, one win, one placing, $43,000, 1:55.1 (1980mM), AUS -five starts, one win, $6,660, 1:54.6, NZ Premier Mares Championship
Other contenders : Belle Of Montana, Callies Delight, Harder Than Diamonds, Mimi E Coco, Stylish Memphis
Woodlands Stud 5YO and older Pacing Entire or Gelding : SELF ASSURED (Bettors Delight/Star Of Venus); owner : Mrs Jean Feiss; trainer : Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen; NZ seasonal record : seventeen starts, eight wins, seven placings, $912,975, 1:53.4 (1700mM), Auckland/Founders Cups, NZFFA, The Race, Roy Purdon Memorial, Harness Sprint Classic
What The Hill 5YO and older Trotting Mare : GOLD CHAIN (Muscle Hill/Gold Card); owners Robin and Jackie Butt; trainer Bob Butt; seasonal record : eight starts, two wins, five placings, $55,144, T2:04.4 (2700mM), GN/Waikato Breeders Stakes
Other contenders : I Dream Of Jeannie, Ruby Ridge, The Bloss
Hotel Montreal 5YO and older Trotting Entire or Gelding : SUNDEES SON (Majestic Son/Stardon); owners : Colin & Nancy Hair; trainer : Robert and Jenna Dunn; seasonal record : fourteen starts, nine wins, three placings, $436,831, T1:56.9 (2700mM), NZR’s 26000m mobile (overall) T3:10.4, 2400m stand, T2:59.4, 2700mM T3:16.3, Dominion Hcp, ANZAC Cup, National Trot, NZ Trotting Championship, Central Otago FFA, Southern Lights, Kaikoura South Bay Cup, Easter Trotters Classic
Other contenders : Bolt For Brilliance, Muscle Mountain
HERO Outstanding Contribution to Life After Racing – STABLE TO STIRRUP
Steve Golding at Harcourts Best Moment of Season (Peoples Choice) : SUNDEES SON winning the 2022 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot.
Other contenders : John Dickie winning with That’s What We Do just after good friend and owner Richard Bright passed away; Robbie Close winning his first Group 1 race aboard Bettor Talk Art in the NZ Breeders Stakes; Carter Dalgety winning his first Group 1 race aboard Krug in the Invercargill Cup;
The Breeders Pacing Broodmare of Year : LIVELY NIGHTS (family of Lady Clare, N41; dam of current NZ Cup winner Copy That), bred by Charlie Blackwell and owned by Woodlands Stud (NZ) Ltd
Other contenders : Lady Antebellum; Adore Me; Miss Elsie
The Breeders Trotting Broodmare of Year : HABIBTI (family of Campbells Mambrino King mare, N47), dam of Confessional, Resolve), bred Gaby and Julie Maghzal and owned by Birchbrook Breeding Ltd, R J Paterson, Mrs L A Paterson
Other contenders : Ugly Betty; Toomuch To Do; Countessa Galleon
The Breeders Breeder of Year : LEX WILLIAMS, ESTATE OF HEATHER WILLIAMS
Other contenders : Mrs K J Carville; Breckon Farms Ltd; P I Renwick, Mrs P M Renwick
Auckland Trotting Club Pacing Stallion of Year : BETTORS DELIGHT (165 winners, 308 wins, $6,696,211)
Other contenders : Captaintreacherous; American Ideal; Always B Miki
Majestic Horsefloats Trotting Stallion of Year : MUSCLE HILL (25 winners, 64 wins, $1,340,372)
Other contenders : Majestic Son; Father Patrick; Love You; Royal Aspirations
Addington Raceway Owner of Year : JEAN FEISS : Self Assured
Other contenders : Montana Park Pty Ltd; M Tanev; Charles Joseph Limited
SENZ Leading Driver of Year : BLAIR ORANGE (186 wins, $2,529,627, UDR : .2505)
Southern Harness Leading Junior Driver of Year : SARAH O’REILLY (70 wins, $722,432, UDR : .2106)
Cruickshank Family Leading Junior Driver – UDR : OLIVIA THORNLEY (19 wins from 95 starts, UDR : .3006)
Harnesslink Leading Trainer of Year : STEVE & AMANDA TELFER (98 wins, $1,594,773, UDR : .3300)
SENZ Cadet of Year : THOMAS BEDFORD
SENZ Cadet Runner – Up : CARTER DALGETY
Gavelhouse Newcomer To Training Award : ZACHARY BUTCHER (Auckland), seven from 40 starts, UDR 0.3639, $100,106; Call Me Trouble, Zarias
Nominees : Kim Butt (Canterbury); Ben Hope (Canterbury); Tyler Dewe (Southland)
Future Wealth Stablehand of Year : PENNY BOYLE (nominated by Michael House)
Nominees : Scott Ramsay (nominated by Shannon Armour); Kevin Crozetiere (nominated by Dylan Ferguson); Zara Power (nominated by Paul Kerr);; Brett Gillan (nominated by Brad Mowbray)
Diamond Racing Pacer of Year : SELF ASSURED
IRT Trotter of Year : SUNDEES SON
Cup Industry Golf Unsung Heroes Awards :
LUK CHIN – Tamahere horseman Dr Chin has been involved in the sport for over four decades (since 1980), still works full-time as a medical professional at age eighty. He is the first person in NZ to breed, own, train and drive one hundred winners with open class trotting mare Fayanni his standout. With a family tradition of involvement in harness racing, brother Dr Onn Chin mainly with pacers e.g. Tartan Lady and father Chin Bing Foon’s involvement related to both owning and breeding standardbreds with Derek Jones as well as his two sons (foundation mare Dismiss; Disband, third ID Pacing Grand Final; Lady Caballo, NZ Trotters Derby; breeder of Black Duke), Luk has kept essentially to trotters only having never trained a pacing winner.
TONY THOMAS – harness racing trainer and administrator in the top half of the South Island
ANDREW MCKERROW – racetrack support chaplain employed by the Salvation Army helping hundreds of drivers, trainers and other participants every year
Service and Excellence Award : JOHN DENTON
John Denton is Addington Raceway’s Property and Facilities Manager as well as HRNZ’s Track and Venues Inspector.
NZB Airfreight Horse of Year : SUNDEES SON
Peter Craig
6 March 2023
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
