News

Mongolian Khan NZ Horse of the Year

13th Aug 2015

Breednet - Friday, 14 August 2015

Star Cambridge galloper Mongolian Khan and his champion trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman headlined Thursday night’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards.

Their 2014-15 season’s achievements were acknowledged during an evening of glitz and glamour at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton.

Pin-up colt Mongolian Khan, the dual Group One winner of the New Zealand Derby and the ATC Australian Derby, was an overwhelming winner of the Horse of the Year, champion three-year-old and champion stayer awards.

He is raced by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry, who were also the Owners of the Year, while Sir Peter Vela claimed the Owners’ Premiership Award.

While Mongolian Khan was their flagship performer, Baker and Forsman enjoyed significant depth within the stable ranks and completed a record-breaking season to be duly crowned the Trainers of the Year.

They surpassed John Sargent’s 2011-12 mark of 111 when they rolled out 113 winners, including 17 at Group or Listed level, of $3,273,070.

Their strike rate of 4.83 was unmatched by any other trainer in the top 60 on the premiership.

"We had a terrific season and Andrew did a great job, he’s a fine horseman,” Baker said.

"It was a strong team effort with very good staff and we were blessed with good horses and loyal owners and that’s what counts.

"It all makes a difference and we were lucky to have two such good jockeys as Opie Bosson and Matt Cameron riding for us as well.”

Dual Group One winners Soriano and Sacred Star were the respective winners in the middle distance and sprinter categories with Marky Mark claiming champion two-year-old honours and Amanood Lad took the top jumper title.

New Zealand premiership winner Matt Cameron was the Jockey of the Year, Rory Hutchings the McBeath Apprentice of the Year, Michael Mitchell took the Jumps Jockey of the Year award and Trackside’s Brendan Popplewell the Media Award.

The Breeder of the Year was IDL Breeding Ltd (for Group One winners Volkstok’n’barrell and Sauvito), Parfore (dam of Group One winners Terravista and Tiger Tees) was the Broodmare of the Year and Waikato Stud again ruled in the stallion divisions.

Savabeel won the Grosvenor and Dewar Awards and the late O’Reilly claimed the Centaine Award.

New Zealand Oaks winner Platinum Witness was also honoured with the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year title.

The award for Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Racing was presented to the Dennis brothers Joe, Martin, Ray and Tony.

They have enjoyed outstanding success as breeders, owners, trainers and vendors with horses bred by the quartet having won numerous Group One races in New Zealand and Australia from Derbys, Oaks, cups and weight-for-age features, including the Cox Plate.

The brothers have been responsible for leading performers including The Phantom Chance, The Jewel, The Phantom, The Twinkle and The Diamond One and Broodmares of the Year The Pixie, The Fantasy and The Grin.

The inaugural winner on Thursday night of the NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement was James McDonald.

A champion apprentice, he is now based in Sydney and is acknowledged as one of the finest senior riders in the world. Throughout much of 2015 he has been jointly rated the Longines’ World’s Best Jockey and is currently second equal behind star French rider Maxime Guyon. – NZ Racing Desk.