The stars of the turf were recognised on both sides of the Tasman at the weekend with glamorous Horse of the Year Awards held in Auckland and Melbourne to honour the past season's top achievers.
Outstanding middle distance specialist Vosne Romanee (Electronic Zone x Madison Avenue) was named New Zealand Horse of the Year for the 2009/10 season at the annual Mercedes Thoroughbred Racing Awards held at the Ellerslie on Friday night.
The Jeff Lynds trained Karaka Select Sale graduate earned the title after claiming three Group 1 wins last season (Zabeel Classic, New Zealand S. and Kelt Capital S.) for proud owners Ian and Alana Smart. Vosne Romanee was also named Champion Middle Distance Horse on the night.
Fellow Karaka graduate Red Ruler (Viking Ruler x Ransom Bay) may have run second to Vosne Romanee in the Zabeel Classic in December, however his three subsequent Group wins secured him the coveted title of Champion Stayer at the awards.
With earnings in excess of $1.1 million, the six-year-old has proven to be a savvy investment for trainer and co-owner John Sargent who purchased Red Ruler at the Premier Yearling Sale from Trelawney Stud for $60,000.
Hallmark Stud enjoyed an outstanding evening on Friday with exceptional dam Miss Jessie Jay named Broodmare of the Year, while her two daughters Katie Lee (Pins) and Banchee (Oratorio) were awarded Champion Three-Year-Old and Champion Two-Year-Old respectively.
Both graduates of the Karaka Premier Sale, New Zealand 1000 and 2000 Guineas winner Katie Lee was purchased in 2008 from Hallmark Stud by Sir Patrick Hogan for $340,000, while Breeders' Stakes winner Banchee was bought the following year for $375,000 for Hastings owner Sam Kelt. Banchee now races in the colours of Pencarrow Stud for Peter and Phillip Vela.
The celebrations continued into the following day for Hallmark Stud and co-breeder Trevor Hurley with Miss Jessie Jay delivering a full-sister to Katie Lee on Saturday morning.
"She's a lovely, strong filly and the mare will be going back to Pins - it's a cross that has obviously worked," studmaster Mark Baker said.
Katie Lee's predetermined New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year award and owners' bonus of $30,000 was presented to Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan on the night, with her trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson and breeders Hallmark Stud and Trevor Hurley each receiving $10,000.
In what was a stellar evening for Cambridge Stud, Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan also won Owner of the Year, while Zabeel was crowned Dewar Stallion of the Year (Australasian earnings) for the 14th time and landed his first Centaine award (global earnings). Meanwhile Tavistock, who is covering his first book of mares at Cambridge Stud this season, claimed Sprinter of the Year.
The prestigious Breeder of the Year went to Windsor Park Stud for the third time due to top performers Monaco Consul, Military Move, Beauty Flash, Gold Onyx and Casabella Lane all hailing from the Cambridge farm. Windsor Park resident stallion Volksraad claimed a remarkable eighth Grosvenor Stallion of the Year award (New Zealand earnings).
The glittering Australian Racehorse of the Year and Hall of Fame Awards were held at Melbourne's Crown Palladium on Sunday night, with Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom) crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year after a brilliant four-year-old season that included four Group 1 wins.
The other finalists for the top honour were High Chaparral colt So You Think, AJC Derby winner Shoot Out, who is another of High Chaparral's top class progeny, and Melbourne Cup champion Shocking.
Cox Plate hero and New Zealand Bloodstock graduate So You Think did secure the Australian Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding award on the night while the New Zealand Bloodstock sponsored Champion Three-Year-Old Filly went to Crown Oaks winner Faint Perfume (Shamardal).
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