The 33rd Southland Harness Racing Awards due to be held on Saturday 26 September 2020 at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill, were cancelled due to the implications of COVID-19.
The Level 2 restrictions applying in mid-September would have meant the awards event being halved in size (maximum 100 attendees) not allowing the spectacle to be presented in the manner it deserved. With Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern not prepared to make an announcement on lifting restriction levels to level one for areas other than Auckland until Monday 21 September, this did not leave sufficient time to confirm the Awards night.
Instead the Awards committee partnered with Southern Harness through their Facebook page to deliver the winners of this year’s awards on an online platform.
The Major Southland award winners for 2020 are (stats as at 31 July 2020) :
- Southland Harness Awards Broodmare of Year : DELCOLA
Delcola (2001 Chiola Cola/Aron Del, T2:03.1, $39,693, six wins) – bred and owned by Ian Hunter. Dam of seven live foals, four to race, all winners including latest seasons star for mare in Splash Cola, an eleven race winner (T1:57.9, $100,117), two last season as a nine year old including T1:57.9, Summer Trotting FFA, last four wins all at Addington; Delson, five wins from sixteen starts, two in latest season at Cambridge, T2:05.4, $44,853; Andy Hall, winner of first two starts at Wyndham, four starts in total last season, T2:07.4, $11,210 while Delestic (retired) , three wins, T2:10.7, $15,913, dam of one foal.
Other nominees with seasonal highlights listed were –
Holmezy (2002 Holmes Hanover/Stampezy, 1:58.5, $83,421, seven wins) – bred by Garnie Cowie and owned by Garnie Cowie and John Cowie. Dam of six foals, three to start, all winners including Holm Three, two NZ wins, 2:00.6 and successful on thirteen occasions in NSW, 1:55.2AUS, $113,192; Raffy Roo, three wins, 1:59.8, $22,430 and 2019/2020 performer for the mare in (Our) Alfie Romeo, with six WA wins including Norms Daughter Classic (fourth Robin Dundee) and previous seasons two wins in NZ and a further twelve in WA (2018/19) including WA Breeders Stakes, The Lewis for twenty wins in total (11 at Gloucester Park), $303,471, 1:55.3AUS.
Ardens Darlin (2005 Bettors Delight/Achieve A Dream, 1:57.2, $245,829, five wins, NZYSS – 2f, 2yo filly pacer of year) – bred by Noreen and John Stiven and owned by John Stiven. Dam of six live foals, three to race with two winners : Celestial Arden, five NZ wins, 1:59.6; nine NSW wins at Menangle, 1:52.3AUS, NSW Watts Memorial, second Sunshine Sprint, fifth Len Smith Mile; two North American wins (2019/20), 1:51.2US, $176,466 and Arden Voyager, two NZ wins, 2:00.7; eleven VIC wins (eight last season), 1:54.3, $96,540, third SA Derby at three.
Their Excuse (2005 Falcon Seelster/Last Excuse, 1:59.00TT, $2,080, one win) – bred by Janet Larsen, Ricky Larsen, Ollie Haines, Irene Haines. Dam of five foals , two winners (bred by Ben and Karen Calder) from three starters plus qualifier: dam of Bettor Enforce (Bettors Delight filly), winner of five in NZ, 1:56.6, $51,689 and ten (now eleven) NSW wins (six, now seven at Menangle), 1:48.9AUS, Jan 2020, total earnings $250,589, Dubbo Red Ochre Mares Classic, two Menangle FFA’s and second Ladyship Mile; The Paua Diver (Live Or Die gelding), two wins, one in 1:56.0 at Alexandra Park over a mile in latest season.
- Southland Harness Awards Horse of the Year : FRANCO SANTINO
Franco Santino (2014h Christian Cullen/San Rafaella, 1:52.0, $79,399, eight wins) – bred by Spreydon Lodge Ltd, owned by Neville Cleaver and trained by Nathan Williamson. Three of his eight race day successes came in the latest season aged five, including Northern Southland Summer Cup and earlier in the season at Gore and Winton. Franco Santino placed
second in the Invercargill Cup and fourth in 4/5yo Superstars’ at Addington. A winner at four and earlier on four occasions at three including a career best 1:52 mile at Central Southland Raceway, Winton (Wairio meeting). Another Nathan Williamson nominee for 2020 NZ Cup contention.
Other nominees with seasonal highlights listed were –
Pembrook Playboy (2016h Bettors Delight/Dudinka’s Star, 1:59.8, $34,500, four wins from nine three year old starts) – bred by Pembrook Park Ltd, owned by Chris Alcock of Invercargill , trained by Nathan Williamson. A leading three year old colt in Southland during the past season, he recorded all four wins at Ascot Park, Invercargill over the space of four months. Earlier as a two year old Pembrook Playboy finished fourth in the Gp 2 Diamond Creek 2yo Classic. Already an impressive winner from his one start at four at Winton in early September 2020, Pembrook Playboy in an early nominee for the 2020 NZ Cup.
See Ya Write (2016g Sportswriter/Lucasta Midfrew, 1:56.4, $26,180, four wins) – bred by John and Rebecca Mooney and owned by The Test Syndicate, trained by Des Baynes. Three year old gelding See Ya Write won four races during the 2019/20 season on each occasion at Ascot Park, Invercargill including consecutive wins in his final three seasonal and NZ career starts. His best mile rate of 1:56.4 was run over 1700mM. Since exported to Western Australia following seasons end.
Vintage Cheddar (2014g Betterthancheddar/Howfarnow, 1:55.0, $95,610, eight wins) – bred and owned by Lindsay and Ian Thomson, trained by Alister Black. The winner of the Wairio Cup (1:58.5MR, 2400mM) first up at five with thirds in NZMTC Summer Cup, Northern Southland Cup and a fifth in 4/5yo Superstars’ in an interrupted five start only season. At four, second in the Southern Country Cups series to Sagwitch, Vintage Cheddar recorded five wins in Country Cup races at Central Southland Raceway (Wyndham) and Invercargill, with a further Invercargill win and two at Addington (Winter Cup, career best 1:55.0). Another likely 2020 NZ Cup contender.
Robyn’s Playboy (2015g Shadow Play/Robyn Maree, 1:56.0, $100,964, nine 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 (Invercargill Autumn Cup, Northern Southland and Winton Nugget Finals). Winner of three at four (2019/2020) including Tuapeka Cup and third in Riverton Cup. Best mile rate of 1:56.0 (2400m, 3yo and all comers Southland record at Wyndham). 2019 Southland 3YO Colt or Gelding award winner. Already winner of two races at five and likely 2020 NZ Cup contender.
- Southland Harness Awards Achievement of Year: ELLE BARRON (Junior driver, Teal appeal, Ricky May incident) :
Southland’s leading junior driver for the second consecutive year in just her third season (2019/20) with fourteen wins ($161,522, UDR .1286) from 279 starts (39 wins in career to 31 July) and second leading Southland reins woman to Kirsten Barclay.
Ellie Barron was again Southland Ambassador for the Women’s Cancer Fundraiser Team Teal; she received an Excellence Award for her involvement in the 2019 Team Teal campaign at the Southland Awards as well as an HRNZ/Flair sponsored female drivers Contribution to the Teal Pants Campaign Award. Again heavily involved in the 2020 Team Teal fundraiser.
When Ricky May suffered a medical event, slumping in his sulky and falling to the track when driving A G’s White Socks in the Central Otago Cup at Omakau in early January, Barron was among the first to May’s side after he fell. She began giving CPR on the reins man with the help of another driver, Lawrence McCormick. Barron is a trained physiotherapist who has worked with the Southland rugby team. Barron was hailed a hero by many who witnessed the incident from which Ricky May made a full recovery and is back driving again in winning style.
Other nominees with seasonal highlights listed were :
Shard Farm (Breeding and Sales) : Debbie and Mark Smith have been preparing yearlings for the National Sales since around 2000. The Smiths have been in Southland for twenty two years on a small holding at Myross Road just out of Invercargill that started off as a ten acre lot. Both Smiths mix the breeding with regular jobs – Debbie is a Senior Technical Manager at Silver Ferns Deer Plant and Mark has a bread run.
They have presented approximately seventy yearlings for sale from their Shard Farm operation in the past two decades since their first yearling by then first season sire Live Or Die sold for $10,000.The proceeds of that first sale were used to buy Soky’s Atom mare Sly Soky and with her their breeding dynasty began. Her first foal was Sly Shard winner of four races. From the foals of Sly Shard and her daughters the Smiths have had a tremendous run of success starting with multiple Group winner Smiling Shard; Pemberton Shard; Mach Shard.
From small drafts of yearlings they have done exceptionally well. Pemberton Shard’s Bettors Delight filly sold for $280,000 at Christchurch earlier this year; Mach Shard (2019 ID runner up in Auckland) sold for $200,000 followed by $170,000 for The Shard, $160,000 for Christian Dreamer’s Art Major colt (sold on account of Deverys), quarter million earner Mister Presley ($105,000), Mighty Shard ($100,000) and Romeo Shard ($100,000). A number of others have sold for close to six figures.
Nathan Williamson (leading trainer, driver) :
A force to be reckoned with in Southland training and driving ranks over the past decade, Nathan was again leading Southland driver (50 victories, seventh equal nationally with David Butcher; 827 career wins to 31 July, unbroken run since 2009 as Southlands leading driver), leading trotting driver of year in Southland (14; career 310 wins to 31 July) and leading trainer from Southland (30, twelfth nationally; 249 career wins/126 trotters to 31 July). Nathan received an Award of Excellence at the 2016 Southland Awards. Whilst he has had two Group One winning drives (Jasmyns Gift – NZ Trotting FFA; Springbank Richard – Dominion Hcp), he has yet to crack the elusive Group One training success (a second and two thirds to date). He has two early nominees from his stable for the 2020 NZ Cup – Pembrook Playboy and Franco Santino (see earlier).
- Southland Harness Awards Contribution to Harness Racing : DAVE MCDONALD
The Awards committee would have dearly loved to celebrate the wonderful career and contribution of race caller Dave McDonald with attendees at the Awards. Dave was the long time tri code race caller for all Southland clubs (including Invercargill greyhounds) plus galloping and trotting trials. He made his first call at the Forbury Park trials as a 15 year old in 1970, then understudied George Hayward before commencing full time calling in the 1977/78 season. The other Southland caller at that time was Bill Cherry (1945 – 1975). Dave McDonald continued commentating and presenting on Trackside Radio/Television until the end of the 2020/21 season, four decades in all. So popular was Dave McDonald he even had a horse named after him, Phil and Bev Williamson”s three win trotter “Davey Mac”.
During Reon Murtha’s reign at Addington Raceway, the NZMTC conducted two race commentators’ nights in the mid-1980’s where each race was named in honor of the caller. Dave McDonald was one of those race callers at both the 18 January 1984 and 22 January 1985 meetings.
A list of other Award winners follows :
- Two Year old Colt or Gelding of the Year: Major Punter – Owner : G J Anderson, B D Sceats; Trainer Tony Stratford
- Leading Two Year Old Stakes Earning Filly of the Year: Braeview Kelly – Owner : Braeview Ltd; Trainer Tony Stratford
- Leading Three Year Old Stakes Earning Filly of the Year: Watch Me Now – Owner : S H Sloan, Mrs C M Sloan, B R Sloan, Mrs J K Sloan, Mrs H A Gibb, A J Gibb; Trainer Kristen Barclay and Paul Ellis
- 3yo Filly : Renegade Rose – Owner : Braeview Ltd; Trainer Tony Stratford
- Three Year Old Colt or Gelding of the Year: See Ya Write – Owner : The Test Syndicate; Trainer Des Baynes
- Group Certificates: Amazing Dream (Vin and Daphne Devery) and Splash Cola (Ian Hunter)
- Leading All Age Mare of the Year: Crusher Collins – Lessee : Mrs C M Bond MNZM, Mrs A S Bond, Lyndon Bond; Trainer: Lyndon Bond
- Elite Broodmare Award: Chicago Blues
- Fastest Winning Mile Time in Southland: Watch Me Now – 1:53.3, Wyndham (Young Quinn Raceway), 16 January 2020; – Owner : S H Sloan, Mrs C M Sloan, B R Sloan, Mrs J K Sloan, Mrs H A Gibb, A J Gibb; Trainer Kristen Barclay and Paul Ellis
Caduceus Club of Southland Award :
- Caduceus Club trotter : CRUSHER COLLINS – Lessee : Mrs C M Bond MNZM, Mrs A S Bond, Lyndon Bond; Trainer: Lyndon Bond
Southland Trainers and Drivers Association Awards :
- Leading Trainer: NATHAN WILLIAMSON (30 Wins, $263,105, UDR 0.3398)
- Leading Driver: NATHAN WILLIAMSON (50 wins, $465,074, UDR 0.2542)
- Leading Junior Driver: ELLIE BARRON (14 wins, $161,522, UDR 0.1286)
- Leading Trotting Driver of Year : NATHAN WILLIAMSON (10 wins)
Breeders Awards :
1:58 pins (trotters two minutes) for horses raced by members of the Southland Standardbred Breeders Association
- Allaboutjoy (Malcolm and Sarndra Little), Central Southland Raceway, Winton, 21 December 2019, 1:56.4
- Arden’s Reality (The Slice Of Heaven Syndicate), Addington, 22 February 2020, 1:57.2
- Ball Of Art (Mrs Katrina Purdon, G R Sharpe, R E Johnson, T S A Sharpe, B K Parker, T J Ryder, Hunua Syndicate, S McCrea), Alexandra Park, 29 November 2019, 1:54.7
- Italian Lad (Allstars Racing Stables Limited, Peter Baken, S W R Gillan, N G Lancaster, Mrs M H Lancaster), Oamaru, 22 September 2019, 1:56.0
- Lagertha (John Dickie, Ben and Karen Calder, Ms L A German), Cambridge Raceway, 31 May 2020, 1:56.4
- Lite Percussion (Mrs L C Henshaw, Tom Kilkelly), Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham, 30 January 2020, 1:56.2
- Maidonthebeach (G J Cooney, Mrs J C Cooney, V B Nally, Centaurus Syndicate), Central Southland Raceway, Winton, 31 December 2019, 1:56.4
- Major Watson (Ben and Karen Calder, Nathan Williamson), Central Southland Raceway, Winton, 21 March 2020, 1:57.8
- Pearl Harbour
- The Paua Diver (Ben and Karen Calder, Alan Beck), Alexandra Park, 13 December (F J Price, Mrs K V Price), Ascot Park, Invercargill, 13 June 2020, 1:57.42019, 1:56.0
- Paramount King (Ben and Karen Calder, Loyal Owners Syndicate, G E Neems, P C Kelly, D M Turner, Mrs J E Sutherland, J J Hope), Alexandra Park, 29 November 2019, T1:57.3
- Splash Cola (Ian Hunter), Addington, 28 February 2020, T1:57.9
New Zealand Records set in Southland (2019/2020 season) :
- Ariella – Lesses : A G Fry, Hessell Syndicate, T W Shea, G J McConchie, Mrs C A Gourdie, Mrs D A Hurley, D and G Fry Syndicate, Wrinkles, Piggy & Noshi Bears Syndicate, Koziwi Syndicate, Mrs T M Berry – 2200 metre mobile (2yo pacing fillies) 7/3/2020 – Ascot Park, Invercargill 2:41.5
- Tailored Elegance – Lesses : Breckon Farms-The Savvy Six Syndicate – 2200 metre mobile (3yo trotting fillies) 7/3/2020 Ascot Park, Invercargill, T2:44.2
- Super Fast Pat – B G Woodhouse, N B Edge – 2400 metres mobile (4yo and older horses/geldings) 31/12/2019 – Winton, T2:56.6
Peter Craig
30 September 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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