The 2019/20 season annual awards ceremony was held on Monday 14 September 2020 in the Christian Cullen Lounge at Addington Raceway with Greg O/Connor Master of Ceremonies. With COVID 19 curtailing a significant part of the 2019/2020 season, HRNZ Board and Executive determined that this was not the time to be spending a lot of money on a traditional awards evening. In addition, level two requirements restricted the number of attendees to a maximum of one hundred (essentially award winners only).
There were thirty two horse/people awards made on the night although the ceremony was much lower key than in previous years.
Congratulations to all the award winners on the night.
2YO Pacing Filly : SHES NO LADY (Sweet Lou/Better Be A Lady); owners/lessees : Woodlands Partnership Syndicate, Kieran Read, Andy Ellis, Dave Hewett, Dick Tayler; trainers : Steven Reid & Simon McMullan; seasonal record : four starts, one win, one placing, $47,600, 1:57.3 (1700mM), Delightful Lady Fillies Classic
Other contenders : Passion And Power, Town Echo
NZ 2YO 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 Dalgety & Nathan; seasonal record : seven starts, five wins, one placing, $96,985, 1:56.0 (1700mM), Cardigan Bay & Sapling Stakes
Other contenders : First Class, It’s All About Faith
2YO 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 : four starts, two wins, $9,425, T2:00.9 (1980mM)
Other contenders : La Reina Del Sur, Wanna Play With Me
2YO Trotting Colt or Gelding : EUROKASH (Love You/Sunny Kash); owners : Richard Dellaca, Peter Baken, A R Pullar, W R Stewart, W G Hill, Mrs M J Garters, J S T Dellaca, J Yang, Greg Hope, The Boyz Syndicate; trainers : Greg and Nina Hope; seasonal record : NZ – three starts, two wins, T2:00.4 (1980mM), $9,182
Other contenders : Franco Jorik, Gaz Man, I See Fire, Love N The Port, Regal Attire
3YO Pacing Filly : AMAZING DREAM (Bettors Delight/Lady Cullen); owner : Jean Feiss; trainer : Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen; NZ seasonal record : nine starts, eight wins, one placing, $419,618, 1:55.7 (2200Mm); Ladyship Stakes, NZSS – 3f, GN Oaks/Derby, NZYSS – 3f; NZR (fillies/mares/overall), 2700mM, 3:16.2
Other contenders : Dr Susan, Stylish Memphis
3YO Pacing Colt or Gelding : ONE CHANGE (Bettors Delight/Changedown); owners : Allstars Racing Stables Ltd, Mike Woodlock, Trevor Casey; trainers : Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen; seasonal record : nine starts, three wins, six placings, $231,835, 1:54.6 (2200mM); NZSS 3yo open (heat/final), NZYSS – 3c; seconds Alabar Classic, Flying Stakes; third GN Stakes, GN Derby
and 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), Alabar Classic, GN Stakes, Flying Stakes; seconds Flying Even Bettor, Spirit Of St Louis NZSS – 3yo open, GN Derby
Other contenders : Spirit Of St Louis, Stylish Memphis
3YO Trotting Filly : VACATION HILL (Muscle Hill/Vacanza); owners/lessees : N C James; trainer : Kevin Townley; NZ seasonal record : thirteen starts, three wins, five placings, $46,298, T1:59.7 (1980mM), NZ Trotting Oaks, second Southland Trotters Oaks, third NZSS Classique Prelude, fourth Hambletonian
Other contenders : Chloe Rose, Tailored Elegance
3YO Trotting Colt or Gelding : CRACKER HILL (Muscle Hill/Juneamy Castleton); owners : G J Preston, Ms S J Preston, T G W Morris, M P Arnold, R L P Scott, Mrs P J Scott, Lex Williams, Mrs J M Rhodes; trainer : Brad Williamson; seasonal record : eight starts, six wins, two placings $54,058, T1:58.9, NZSS Prelude, Hambletonian; third Orari Challenge Stakes; NZR 1980m mobile (colts & geldings) T2:27.2
and ULTIMATE STRIDE (Love You/One Over Kenny) : owners Emilio and Mary Rosati (E&M Stride Ltd); trainer : Phil Williamson; seasonal record : two NZ starts, two wins, $10,450, T2:02.4 (2200m); three AUS starts, three wins, A$83,500, T2:00.5 (2190m), Redwood Classic
Other contenders : Midnight Dash, One Majic Kenny
4YO Pacing Mare : BELLE OF MONTANA (Bettors Delight/Lady Cullen); owner : Montana Park Pty Ltd; trainer : Barry Purdon; seasonal record NZ : five starts, three wins, one placing, $87,450, 1:57.5 (2200mM), Queen Of Hearts, GN Breeders Stakes; AUS : three starts, one win, one placing, A$75,600, 1:54.6 (1720mM), VIC Ladyship Cup, fourth Ladyship Mile
Other contenders : Princess Tiffany, Wainui Creek
4YO Pacing Entire or Gelding : ULTIMATE SNIPER (Bettors Delight/Reality Check); owners : Glenys Kennard, Phil Kennard, Gavin Douglas, Kevin Riseley, Phil Creighton, Margaret Creighton; trainers : Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen; NZ seasonal record : ten NZ starts, six wins, two placings, $439,100, 1:52.6 (1700mM), Junior FFA, ID Pacers Final and three heats; thirds Hannon Memorial, New Brighton Cup; NZR 2200m mobile (horses & geldings/overall) 2:35.4
Other contenders : Another Masterpiece, Self Assured
4YO Trotting Mare : OVERZEALOUS (Monkey Bones/Zealous Lady); owner : Miss Margo Nyhan, I’m A Believer Syndicate, Take A Good Look At Yourself Syndicate, Mrs R F Bateman; trainer : Margo Nyhan; seasonal record : twenty six starts, three wins, five placings, $37,052, T1:59.6 (1980m)
Other contenders : Fanny Hill, Molly Bones, She Reigns
4YO Trotting Entire or Gelding : OSCAR BONAVENA (Majestic Son/Nows The Moment); owners : Roy Purdon, Chris Ryder; trainers : Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen; seasonal record : ten starts, eight wins, one placing, $113,695, T1:55.2, Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile, Cambridge Trotters Flying Stakes; third National Trot; AUS : two starts, A$13,500; NZR 2400m stand (horses & geldings/overall) T2:59.8
Other contenders : One Apollo, Resonate
5YO and older Pacing Mare : BETTORS HEART (Bettors Delight/Valiant Heart), owners : Peter and Ann Bagrie; trainer : Peter Bagrie; seasonal record : nine NZ starts, one win, four placings $53,220, 1:59.1 (2200mM), seconds Queen Of Hearts, NZ Breeders Stakes, premier Mares Championship; third GN Breeders Stakes; three AUS starts, one win, one placing, $127,500, 1:49.7, NSW Ladyship Mile; second Robin Dundee Stakes
Other contenders : Ivana Flybye, Step Up
5YO and older Pacing Entire or Gelding : CRUZ BROMAC (Falcon Seelster/Crown Defender); owners : Danny Zavitsanos, P M O’Shea, Mrs Z D O’Shea, Mrs J Zavitsanos, W R Viney; trainers : Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen; seasonal record : nine NZ starts, two wins, four placings, $470,160, 1:57.2 (2700mM); AUS two starts, one win, one placing, A$36,400, 1:56.6 (2180mM); NZ Cup, ID heat (two seconds, fourth Grand Final)); second Kaikoura Cup; third NZFFA, Victoria Cup; leading stake earner of year; second Australian Grand Circuit
Other contenders : Chase Auckland, Classie Brigade, Spankem
5YO and older Trotting Mare : PRETTY MAJESTIC (Majestic Son/Pretty Peggy Sue); owners : Yabby Dam Farms Pty Ltd; trainer : Robert Dunn; seasonal record : eight NZ starts, four wins, three placings, $65,325, T2:01.5 (2700mM), GN Breeders Stakes, Waikato Trotting Breeders Stakes; second Greenlane Cup; two AUS starts, one win, T2:00.0, A$6,600
Other contenders : Pres The Belle, Splash Cola, Sunny Glenis
5YO and older Trotting Entire or Gelding : WINTERFELL (Majestic Son/Una Bromac); owner Trevor Casey; trainers : Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen; seasonal record : thirteen starts, five wins, four placings, $188,005, T1:58.1 (2200mM), ID Trotters Grand Final and two heats, National Trot; second NZ Trotting Championship; third Cambridge Flying Stakes; third equal Australian Trotting Masters
Other contenders : Habibi Inta, Majestic Man, Tough Monarch
Outstanding Contribution to Life After Racing – MELISSA WHYTE
Moment of Season (Peoples Choice) : RICKY MAY’S FIRST WIN BACK ON RETURN TO RACING
Other contenders : Peter Bagrie’s Ladyship Mile win; Blair Orange Cup week; Blair Orange 2000th win; Sarah O’Reilly winning Australian Young Drivers Championship; Darren Least training double on Cup Day
Pacing Broodmare of Year : CHRISTIAN DREAMER (family of Kate by Highland Chief, U301; dam of Amazing Dream, Lets Chase The Dream), bred and owned by Vin and Daphne Devery
Other contenders : Reality Check, Star Of Venus
Trotting Broodmare of Year : UNA BROMAC (family of Pride Of Lincoln, N1; dam of Winterfell, Escapee, Caligula, Needle), bred by Glomach Holdings Ltd; current owners Stephen Bell and Donna Williamson, previous owners Trevor Casey, Norwegian Wood Breeding Ltd
Other contenders : Nows The Moment, Ten To One
Breeder of Year : TREVOR CASEY (Winterfell, Caligula, Dracarys, Spirit Of St Louis, etc during past season)
Other contenders : Lex and Heather Williams, Woodlands Stud
Pacing Stallion of Year : BETTORS DELIGHT (189 winners, 344 wins, $5,569,954)
Other contenders : Art Major, Mach Three
Trotting Stallion of Year : MAJESTIC SON (74 winners, 125 wins, $1,574,280)
Other contenders : Monarchy, Muscle Hill
Owner of Year : JEAN FEISS (Elle Mac, Self Assured, Amazing Dream, Virgil, Smooth Deal, Copperfield etc)
Other contenders : Chrissie Dalgety, Trevor Casey
Leading Driver of Year : BLAIR ORANGE (219 wins, $2,445,987, UDR : .3144)
Leading Junior Driver of Year – UDR : ZEV MEREDITH (5 wins from 30 starts, UDR : .2667)
Leading Junior Driver : JOHN MORRISON (35 wins, $355,884, UDR : .1277)
Leading Trainer of Year : ROBERT DUNN (95 wins, $1,356,697, UDR : .3016)
Pacer of Year : ULTIMATE SNIPER
Trotter of Year : WINTERFELL
Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing – SHARTIN – NZ bred history making mare, world’s fastest pacing mare 1:46.4US (Meadowlands 3 August 2019), only one under 1:47 and fastest NZ bred. Runner up Horse of Year North America in 2018 after million dollar plus season. Went one better in 2019 becoming the first mare and first horse bred outside North America to win Dan Patch Horse of Year Award (83 votes to next best and set a world mares ecord of 1:48.0 on 5/8ths track. Bred by Grant Crabbe
Standardbred Horse of Year : ULTIMATE SNIPER
Peter Craig
15 September 2020.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
