Dundeel named Horse Of The Year
Dundeel named Horse Of The Year
Champion galloper Dundeel has defeated a quality field of equine talent to secure the title of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Horse of the Year for season 2013/14.
A spectacular season that was highlighted by the lowering of the hitherto unbeaten Atlantic Jewel’s colours when winning the Underwood Stakes and victory in the A$4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, saw the son of High Chaparral take the coveted title at the expense of high-class mare Silent Achiever.
The connections of Dundeel received the award at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s glittering Horse of the Year Awards, held in Hamilton on Thursday night. Part owner Murray Andersen spoke on behalf of the syndicate and admitted the award was a “dream come true”.
“He has been a sensational horse, great for New Zealand and this is the pinnacle,” he said.
“I think the win over Atlantic Jewel was the highlight of a career of which there have been many.
“I know Coolmore Stud thought she was unbeatable that day so for the New Zealand industry, this was one for us.”
Dundeel had earlier taken out the Champion Middle Distance Award, again over Silent Achiever, and secured the top title with 28 of the 46 total votes cast with Silent Achiever receiving the remaining 18.
Prepared by the Cambridge duo of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Dundeel retired to Arrowfield Stud this season having finished his racing career with a record of 10 wins, including six Group Ones, from 19 starts and A$6.33m in total stakes earnings.
Silent Achiever secured the Champion Stayer award courtesy of a breathtaking victory over Dundeel and Fiorente in The BMW (2400m) at Randwick, on top of Group One victories over the middle distance of 2000m in both the New Zealand Stakes and Ranvet Stakes.
The deeds of Silent Achiever and brilliant juvenile Vespa, who took out the Champion Two-Year-Old title, provided the catalyst for Valachi Downs principal Kevin Hickman to win the coveted Breeder of the Year crown.
The prestigious award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing was presented to David Walsh, who in April overtook Lance O’Sullivan’s long-standing record for the most wins as a jockey in New Zealand after a long and distinguished career that has continued in the new season.
Other notable winners on the evening included Bounding, who was named Sprinter of the Year, Puccini who took the Three-Year-Old of the Year title, while Rangatira was named Jumper of the Year for his breathtaking wins in both the Great Northern and Wellington Steeplechase.
Waikato Stud’s remarkable sire O’Reilly swept all three of the stallion awards – the Grosvenor, Dewar and Centaine Awards – for the second year running.
2013-14 NZTR Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Award Winners
HORSE OF THE YEAR | DUNDEEL
(28) Silent Achiever (18) |
CHAMPION STAYER
(2101m+) | SILENT
ACHIEVER (43) Who Shot Thebarman (3) Graphic (0) More Than Sacred (0) |
CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE HORSE (1501m-2100m) | DUNDEEL
(38) Silent Achiever (9) Nashville (0) Ransomed (0) Shuka (0) Viadana (0) |
CHAMPION SPRINTER
(-1500m) | BOUNDING
(37) Viadana (8) Irish Fling (1) Veyron (1) Survived (0) |
CHAMPION 3YO | PUCCINI (28) Rising Romance (10) Bounding (5) Kirramosa (4) Costa Viva (0) Recite (0) |
CHAMPION 2YO | VESPA (46) Lady Royale (0) O’Marylin (0) Steel Rose (0) |
CHAMPION JUMPER | RANGATIRA
(30) Sea King (17) Just Got Home (0) Palemo (0) |
NZB FILLY OF THE YEAR | COSTA VIVA |
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO RACING | DAVID WALSH |
JOCKEY OF THE YEAR | MATTHEW CAMERON (38)
(Premiership winner) Mark Du Plessis (8) (Most Group & Listed wins & most stakes money) Johnathon Parkes (0) (Nominated by the NZJA) |
MCBEATH APPRENTICE JOCKEY OF THE YEAR | RORY HUTCHINGS |
JUMPS JOCKEY OF THE YEAR | MATHEW GILLIES (45)
(Premiership winner, most stakes money won,
joint most Prestige Jump Race wins) Kayla Veenendaal (1) (Joint most Prestige Jump Race wins) |
TRAINER OF THE YEAR | LISA LATTA (39)
(Premiership winner & most stake money won) Tony Pike and Mark Donoghue (6) (Most Group & Listed race wins) Kevin Myers (0) (Nominated by NZTA) |
OWNER OF THE YEAR | KEVIN HICKMAN (38)
(Silent Achiever, Sir Elmo &
Vaporetto) The Oaks Stud (7) (Recite, Spring Clear, Cryptic & Innovation) Easdon No 4 Racing Syndicate (1) (Viadana) Monovale Holdings (1) (Puccini, Flying Orca) Sir Peter Vela (0) (Atacama, Mahanadi, Revolutionary & Ebullient) |
MEDIA AWARD | PETER EARLEY |
BREEDER OF THE YEAR | KEVIN HICKMAN (Breeder of Silent Achiever & Vespa) |
BROODMARE OF THE YEAR | STAREEL (Dam of Dundeel) |
GROSVENOR AWARD (Earnings in NZ) | O’REILLY |
DEWAR AWARD (Earnings in Australasia) | O’REILLY |
CENTAINE AWARD (Earnings Worldwide) | O’REILLY |
JOCKEY PREMIERSHIP WINNER | MATTHEW CAMERON |
TRAINER PREMIERSHIP WINNER | LISA LATTA |
OWNER PREMIERSHIP WINNER | SIR PETER VELA |
ENDS