The sixth annual Woodlands Stud combined Canterbury Awards ceremony was held in the Silks Lounge at Addington Raceway on Saturday 21 September 2019 with just over 200 in attendance. Other sponsors included TAB, Stevie Golding (Harcourts Hornby Real Estate) and Matt Golding (Team Hammock). These awards saw branches of the Canterbury Trainers and Drivers, 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 Matt Cross. 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 major Awards.
The Outstanding Contribution to Canterbury Harness Racing Award for 2019 went to Barry Dent.
A full list of Award winners follows :
Merit Awards – winners presented with a framed certificate. Certificates were presented to the breeders, owners and trainer of each recipient. The criteria for these awards are :
The Breeder, Owner or Trainer does not have to be a member of the relevant Association.
* The “Breeder” Award winner must be Canterbury based.
* The “Owner” Award winner must be Canterbury based. If a syndicate, the manager must be Canterbury based.
* The “Trainer” Award winner must be Canterbury based.
The horse for the above awards 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.
Pacing :
2yo filly – SPELLBOUND : Breeders, Stephen Bell and Donna Williamson; Owners, Westview Racing No 19 Syndicate, Witches of Westview No 2 Syndicate; Trainer, Robert Dunn
2yo colt – FLYING EVEN BETTOR : Breeders, Heather and Lex Williams; Owners, Phil and Glenys Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, Kerri and Gary Woodham, Jim and Anne Gibbs; Trainers, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen
3yo filly – PRESSED FOR TIME : Breeder, Brian Cowley; Owners, Brian Cowley, Susan Ruffell, Louise Ashworth, Kaye Sanders, Anne Challis, Garry Sharpe; Trainer, Tom Bagrie
3yo colt – GRAN CHICO : Breeders, Martin and Shirley Cummings; Owners, Grant and Colin Eynon; Trainer, Nigel McGrath
4yo and older mare – DIBABA : Breeder, Aidan Johnstone; Owners, Colin Tennant, Ray Seebeck; Trainers Glenys and Terry Chimel
4yo and older gelding – CRUZ BROMAC : Breeder, Bromac Lodge; Owners, Danny Zavitsanos, Peter and Zilla O’Shea, Joanna Zavitsanos, Warren Viney; Trainers, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen
Trotting :
2yo filly – no award made
2yo colt – BOLT FOR BRILLIANCE : Breeder Brad Reid; Owners, Suzanne Herlihy, Doug Donaldson, Peter Hailes, Stan Mathews; Trainer, Tony Herlihy MNZM
3yo filly – CHEERFUL : Breeders, Sue Grainger, Studholme Bloodstock; Owners : Braedon and Caroline Whitelock; Trainer, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen
3yo colt – ENHANCE YOUR CALM : Breeder Sara Famularo; Owners, Danny and Joanna Zavitsanos; Trainer, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen
4yo and older mare – no award made
4yo and older gelding – MARCOOLA : Breeders, Ken and Dianne Ford, Amanda and Mark Tomlinson; Owners, Ken and Clint Ford; Trainer, Ken Ford
Canterbury Owners’ Association Awards :
Canterbury Owners Association Pacing Owner of Year (presented by Barry Dent) : GAVIN DOUGLAS
Gavin Douglas shared in the ownership of leading three year old pacer of the 2018/19 season, Ultimate Sniper with long time ownership partners Phil and Glenys Kennard, Phil and Margaret Creighton and Kevin Riseley. A member of the All Stars Stable, Ultimate Sniper was nearly unbeatable during a seasonal run of eight wins, one second and once unplaced from ten starts.
His wins included GN/NZ Derby, NZSS – 3c (heat/final), Alabar Classic and NZYSS Open, with a best mile rate of 1:52.9 for leading seasons stake earnings of $493,692. The Moonshadow (1:57.9; thirds in NZSS heat, Sophomore Classic; two Alexandra Park/Addington wins) was a five race winner for Gavin Douglas and the same ownership team during the season. Gavin Douglas previously shared with the same ownership team the racing career of Ultimate Snipers full brother Ultimate Machete.
Canterbury Owners Association Trotting Owner of Year (presented by Barry Dent) : KEN FORD
Winner of the same award in 2017, Ken Ford is a long standing successful breeder of trotters. The elder statesman of a dynasty having a huge influence on harness racing today (Ford/Tomlinson families), having 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, Amaretto Sun and Zsa Zoe who all contributed to his seasonal tally during the 2018/19 season. Marcoola continued on his winning way with four wins (Ordeal Trotting Cup, Ashburton Flying Mile in T1:54.5 equalling Stent and Cyclone U Bolt’s NZR, Dominion Hcp, Lyell Creek Stakes), Zsa Zoe (three), Rocknpop (two) and former Dominion Hcp winner Amaretto Sun (one, Methven Green Mile in T2:02.0 on grass).
The owner/part owner of the winners of eleven trotting races last season, West Melton owner/trainer/breeder Ken Ford was first licensed as a public trainer in 1993 and has trained 149 winners, 126 trotters, amassing almost two million in stakes to date.
Canterbury Owners Association Owner of Year (presented by Barry Dent) : TREVOR CASEY
One of New Zealand’s major owners and breeders in recent years and last years Owner of Year, Trevor has continued his high success rate during the past season. Major winners owned/part owned by Trevor Casey during 2017/18 were unbeaten two year old colt One Change (five wins, 1:53.4; Welcome Stakes, NZSS heat/final, NZYSS, Jewels Emerald); five win trotter Kings Landing (T2:00.9; won both days Cup meeting; second Southern Lights; third NZ Trotting Championship); provincial Cups king Funatthebeach (1:54.4, four Cups, Geraldine/Ashburton/Central Otago and Invercargill; third Northern Southland Cup; fifth 4/5yo Superstars); former 2yo Jewels Ruby winning trotter Missandei (two) and Show Day winner Anthem (fourth Kaikoura Cup) subsequently sold to North America.
These five horses alone accounted for seventeen of Trevor Casey’s 2018/19 season winners.
Canterbury Breeders’ Association Awards :
Canterbury Breeders Association Pacing Breeder of Year (presented by Colin Hair) : ROBIN AND GLENDA WAH
Robin Wah is a leader in his field of Accountancy being a partner in the Christchurch firm of PKF Goldsmith Fox, a global leader in Accounting and Business Management. Robin’s interests other than harness racing include golf and wife Gwenda is an avid tennis player and fan.
This year’s Pacing Breeders of the Year Robin and Glenda Wah bred Spankem who had an outstanding four year old season throughout Australasia. The winner of three from seven starts in NZ (1:53.4, Kaikoura Cup, Taylor Mile, Messenger) and five from eight starts in Australia (1:47.7, Miracle Mile and prelude [Cordina], two ID heats/fourth final), Spankem’s combined earnings (A$1 = NZ $1) were $838,450 from his eight wins and four placings for the 2018/19 season. Has career record stands at thirteen wins, $1,077,582, 1:47.7, 2yo colt pacer of year.
Spankem’s dam Crushem (1:58.5) has left the Wah’s as breeders a number of winners – from nine foals, she has left six winners from six to race, among them Thumpem (three NZ/thirteen AUS/eight North American wins, 1:52.3US, $449,837); Sunday Girl (one NZ/four AUS wins, 1:56.5AUS, $46,368); Smokem (one AUS win, 2:02.4, $4,220); Sluggem (four NZ wins/twelve AUS wins/ winner in NA, 1:51.1, $134,827); Stompem (four NZ/three AUS wins (all 2018/19), 1:53.7AUS, $64,904. Crushem has been stationed at David Shadbolt’s Broadfield Lodge property for the majority of her breeding career (commenced at Wai Eyre Farm).
Crushem’s progeny were the winners of eleven races during the 2018/9 season for breeders Robin and Glenda Wah.
Canterbury Breeders Association Pacing Broodmare of the Year (presented by Colin Hair) : REALITY CHECK
Bred by Father Dan and estate of John Cummings of Tuapeka Lodge fame, this 2003 four time race winning daughter of Armbro Operative/Maureen’s Dream, is the dam of nine foals, three to race (all sub two minutes), two of them winners in 2018/9 season. They included GN/NZ Derby and NZSS – 3c winner Ultimate Sniper (1:52.9, $493,692), whose eight wins from ten starts saw wins at Auckland (three) and Addington (five), second in the GN Derby prelude and once unplaced. These wins included four Group Ones, two Group Two’s and leading pacing/overall stake earner of year.
Reality Check’s other seasonal winner was Major Reality, 1:50.9 at Menangle (30 October 2018, only win in 2018/9 season following purchase by Harvey Kaplan for breeding purposes). Major Reality is the winner of twenty three races in Australia (twenty two WA [from first forty three starts], fourteen Gloucester Park; one NSW at Menangle) 1:50.9, $434,455, WA Oaks. Ultimate Sniper’s full brother Ultimate Machete (ten NZ/three AUS wins, 1:51.9, $ 823,896, multiple Group One winner), stood his first stud season at Alabar, NZ during 2018/9 breeding season.
Reality Check’s progeny were the winners of nine races during the 2018/9 season.
Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Association Trotting Breeder of Year (presented by Grant Beckett) : COLIN AND NANCY HAIR
Breeders of horses for nearly twenty five years, the Hair’s have to date bred thirty nine horses, eighteen to have qualified with eight being the winners of sixty six races. Thirty one have been trotters and of the eight pacers none have saluted the judge.
Breeding mainly to race, the Hair’s did sell Sunana Asset (full brother to Uncas), the winner of twenty two races in Australia through the yearling sales.
The three standout horses they have bred are :
- UNCAS – winner of ten races in NZ (T2:02.0) and six in Australia (T1:57.9, Melton), $176,598. His major placings included a second in five year old Jewels Ruby and third in Menangle Trotters Cup. Since his retirement from racing in Australia, he is living out a happy retirement at the Hair’s
- WOODSTONE – in three seasons of racing has won nine races (T1:58.6, $97,197) and placed second in the NZ Trotting FFA during the most recent season
Colin and Nancy Hair and Sundees Son
- SUNDEES SON, the five year old who won twelve races over the past three seasons (T1:58.0, $329,604) including three Group Ones in 2018/19 season – ANZAC Cup, Rowe Cup and the four year old Jewels Ruby and who started off the current season with his thirteenth and fourteenth wins at Addington recently (Ordeal Trotting Cup). Australasian Grand Circuit (Trotting Masters) Champion for 2018/19 and also Trotting Stake Earner of the Year in NZ
Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Association Trotting Broodmare of the Year (presented by Grant Beckett) : STARDON (Coin and Nancy Hair)
Stardon is the dam of six foals, two to race for two winners
SUNDEES SON, whose eight wins last season form the major part of his fourteen wins to date including three Group One races, for stakes in 2018/19 of $245k. Major placings have been second in NZ Trotting Championship and third in GN Trotters Derby
LATENT, two wins, fifteen placings (T2:06.8, $21,853)
and Stardon is the grand dam of Valley Star (four wins and seven placings, T2:05.3, $33,595).
As a racehorse Stardon was the winner of three races, placed on two occasions from just twenty one starts (T2:09.3, $11,776). She was the Hair’s first winner as breeders and owners, winning at Nelson in June 2002, trained by Bevan Heron, driven by David Butt and surviving a protest to win. Now twenty two years of age, Stardon is in foal to Majestic Sun for what is intended to be her final foal.
Canterbury Horsemans’ Association Awards :
Canterbury Horsemans’ Association Junior Driver’s Award (presented by Stevie Golding) : KIMBERLEY BUTT
During the 2018/19 season, Kimberley Butt achieved her highest number of winners in one season with twenty seven victories (surpassing previous bests of twenty twice), won stakes of just under a quarter of a million dollars and finished fifth on the Junior Drivers Premiership. She brought up her one hundredth career win on Imran Khan at Forbury Park on 20 June 2019, in the presence of her grandmother Jenny. Her season included multiple wins with Didjabringthebeers/The Kaik (four), Imran Khan (three) and Jungle Gem, Quaestor and Mad Dog Maddy (two).
Canterbury Horsemans’ Association Driver’s Award (presented by Peter Cook) : TIM WILLIAMS
By finishing third in the Drivers premiership last season with a total of ninety wins, Tim Williams exactly doubled his previous best seasonal tally (2014/5 – 45) with his charges winning $1.4million in stakes, much courtesy of his driving horses from the all-powerful All Stars barn. His current lifetime winning drives total stands at 442 (19 September 2019). Notable wins during the 2018/9 season included Group one success with Dream About Me (Queen of Hearts, NZ Breeders Stakes), Group Two Kaikoura Cup (Spankem), Diamond Creek 2yo Classic (Virgil) and Group Three successes in Hannon Memorial/Canterbury Classic/Northern Breeders Stakes (Dream About Me), Canterbury Park Trotting Cup (Harriet Of Mot; co trained by partner Aimee Edmonds), Summer Cup (Ashley Locaz), Central Otago/Invercargill Trotting Cups (Funatthebeach), Sapling Stakes (Smooth Deal).
Canterbury Horsemans’ Association Trainer’s Award (presented by Ken Barron) : REGAN TODD
Regan attained a new seasonal record of training successes in 2018/19 of twenty seven, one more than that of 2017/18 (26) for stakes of $278k. This placed him sixteenth equal on the national trainer’s premiership. In addition, he had the satisfaction of taking young trotter Show Gait to the August 2018 Victorian Breeders Crown carnival where she won the 3yo Trotting Fillies Breeders Crown (two from two in Australia, one win each at Menangle and Melton).
Southland born and bred and from a legendary Southland harness racing family, Regan Todd’s NZ training successes currently tally 104 (19 September 2019), his hundredth winner coming early in the 2019/20 season with King Of Heroes at Forbury Park.
Rising Star (presented by Matt Golding) : NICOLE THOMAS
Nicole commenced working at Wai Eyre Farm in March 2012 after moving from Nelson. During her seven and a half years with Wai Eyre, she has worked at the stud as well as with Mike Brown’s race horses. Nicole is experienced in all aspects of stud and track work, and is one of Wai Eyre’s most valued, trusted and long serving staff members.
Her passion, dedication and loyalty saw her take up the position of Stud Manager in May 2018. She is responsible for overseeing the day to day management of the broodmares (foaling and breeding) as well as the care and wellbeing of horse’s agisting on the stud property. Nicole is also a successful race horse owner and breeder.
Volunteer Award (presented by Grant Beckett) : ROSS RENNIE
This year the committee introduced a new award, the Volunteer Award. This is to recognise those in the industry who do, and give so much and receive no financial recompense, so it actually costs them time and money.
The inaugural winner this year is described by his “Peers” as a committed, compassionate, enthusiastic, honest, forward thinking and respectful team player who is an all-round good guy. He is a club person who has confidently guided his club through the many challenges that clubs face these days. His forward thinking club, support all facets of the industry, not only putting on a great race day with fantastic stakes. They also pay the Breeder of each winner, providing that they are members of the Breeders Assn a Breeders Bonus, one of only a few clubs who do. The time that he puts into the industry has been noted by many, hence he was a standout for this year’s award.
President of the Amberley Trotting Club’s (from 2013 to date; Vice President 2010 – 2012) annual one day a season grass track meeting at Rangiora on Waitangi Day which features breeders bonuses of $500; members jackpot draw of $50; Punters Club; Summer Festival entertainment; Kidz Kartz pony racing; losing ticket and other prizes for adults; Kids Go Racing …. the list goes on. Always going the extra mile to “look after” owners, sponsors and families that attend their Waitangi Day meeting on the Grass at Rangiora. Rennie is also a member of the Rangiora Trotting Club.
The expectations on his club to perform have been met under his guidance with the Amberley club achieving the number one Summer Festival Club on two occasions while being placed in the top three every other year.
For twenty six seasons a public trainer (1993 – 2019) with eighty three training successes (twenty six trotters) and six driving victories (three with trotters), Ross Rennie has this season reduced his workload to that of stable hand.
Training and ownership successes throughout his involvement in harness racing have included seven race winner Mamalu (of nine in NZ and eleven overall); six race winners Miss Boomschukaluka, Galatos; five – Middle Legacy; four – Tessas Rocket, Clintons Cigar, Emmas Rocket, Canterbury Cam, Camouflage, Stratco; three – Explosive Turk, Aria Abbe (three of four wins) and stand out performer Special Ops.
Open class mare Special Ops was owned by the Haymakers Syndicate and trained for them by Ross Rennie. The daughter of Armbro 0perative/Middle Legacy (bred by Haymakers Syndicate) won on twelve occasions, placed on twenty from ninety five starts, 1:59.2 $276,049. Her major wins were Waimate Cup, Rangiora Classic (also rans included Monkey King, Canterbury Country Cups Championship and MZMTC Winter Cup. She placed fourth in Changeover’s NZ Cup, NZ Breeders Stakes, Premier Mares Championship; seconds in Westport/Ashburton/Cheviot (twice) Cups, Rangiora Classic and thirds in Amberley/Kurow/Marlborough Winter/New Brighton/Cheviot (twice)/Invercargill Cups.
Breeding : dam of eight foals, four to race for three winners : one hundred thousand plus winners, both sub 1:54 in Australia : The Charging Moa, Bettor Ops (1:51.0US) and Black Ops.
Woodlands Stud Awards :
Woodlands Stud Outstanding Contribution to Canterbury Harness Racing (presented by Stacey White) : BARRY DENT
A Southlander by birth, born of parents Charlie (Riverton) and Pearl (Youngman, Gore) from a family that includes Ross and Robyn Jones from Kina Craig Stud, Barry initially spent time at University. As a means of supporting himself through University, he turned his Volunteer Fire Fighter status to one that paid him for a living remaining with the Fire Service for thirty three years retiring in 2004.
A promotion to Christchurch in 1982 resulted in a transfer of his Forbury Park TC membership to that of the then three Addington clubs (Metropolitan, New Brighton, Canterbury Park) in 1983. Barry has been a Committee member of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club since 2004, a Director since 2007, Deputy Chairperson 2010 – 2013, Chairperson 2013 – 2018 making him the current immediate past head of the NZMTC Board.
Barry was the NZMTC Board appointee to the HRNZ Executive from July 2011 until September 2018. Among his responsibilities during this period he chaired the Rules and Regulations subcommittee, was a member of the HRNZ Audit and Finance subcommittee and the Owners Initiatives and Liaison subcommittee.
After leaving the Fire Service in 2004, he remained to run the Service’s superannuation fund which allowed him a day a week to concentrate on racing activities such as being President of both the Canterbury Trotting Owners Association and the Christchurch Trotting Club. In addition, Barry is a member of the Member of Institute of Directors and a Trustee/Director of a number of Canterbury organisations.
An owner and breeder since the mid-seventies, Barry has raced many horses with Dunedin fire fighters Ray Hansen (Forbury Park trainer) and Ken Campbell (stable hand) with the best being one of their first in trotter Liberty Vogue, an eleven race winner (T2:06.8, $50,640, five wins at Forbury Park, one Addington), bred by Bruce Stirling and trained by Ray Hansen. With his mother Pearl, Barry has been involved in numerous NZ Met syndicates and a number of other winning performers (often family ownership based) in recent years.
An outstanding contribution to harness racing by a prominent harness racing administrator, breeder and owner recognised suitably at the 2019 Combined Canterbury Associations Awards ceremony.
A well run and enjoyable evening of Awards came to a conclusion following the presentation to Barry Dent.
Peter Craig
23 September 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
