News

Australian-Bred Success Awarded in NZ

10th Aug 2009

Aushorse - Press Release - Monday, 10 August 2009

AUSTRALIAN-BRED horses featured prominently at the 2009 Mercedes Thoroughbred Racing Awards on Friday night reflecting their dominance at New Zealand’s top level of racing last season.

The Heckler (Lucky Owners-Comedy Cafe, by Rory’s Jester) was named Champion Two-Year-Old of the Year. A winner of New Zealand’s richest juvenile race - the Karaka Million - in January, The Heckler trained on to also land the Group 1 Ford Sires Produce Stakes later in the season.

The Heckler was sold by Amarina Farm for just $26,000 at the 2007 Inglis Australian Select Weanling Sale.

Another Australian-bred, reigning NZ Horse of the Year Princess Coup, was crowned New Zealand’s Champion Middle Distance Horse of the Year on Friday night. This accolade followed a season highlighted by wins in the Group 1 Stoney Bridge and Kelt Capital Stakes.

From the Sovereign Red mare Stoneyfell Road, the daughter of Encosta De Lago won a total of 12 races and more than $NZ4million in prizemoney.

Princess Coup (2nd) and The Heckler (4th) secured Australian-bred horses two of the top four spots in voting for New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.

Australian-bred horses won 27% of the Group 1 races on offer in New Zealand during 2008-09 and it was only fitting that the Aussie brand should be recognised at the major awards evening.

Other Australian-breds that rated mentions during the evening were G1 2000 Guineas winner Tell A Tale (Tale Of The Cat-Cheeky Veronika, by Sir Tristram), which finished runner-up in the Champion 3YO category, and G1 Auckland Cup winner Spin Around (Spinning World-Be Yourself, by Noalcoholic), was runner-up in the Stayer’s award.

In addition to the aforementioned quartet, Coniston Bluebird (Scenic-Turbo Lady, by Bellotto) also flew the flag for Australian-breds in New Zealand Group 1 races last season, taking out the G1 $NZ2.2M New Zealand Derby.