New Zealand Harness Awards Magic Night for Andersons

Todd and Fleur Anderson had a night to remember at the NZB Standardbred Harness Racing Awards tonight.

Not only did they win the prestigious Breeder of the Year award, their mare Imaginary Bet was crowned Pacing Broodmare of the Year.

Two of the progeny of Imaginary Bet also won awards.

Merlin (Art Major) was named Four Year Old Pacer of the Year and Pacer of the Year, and Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) won Two Year Old Pacing Filly of the Year.

The awards ceremony capped off a great twelve months for the Central Southland couple.

On Show Day at Addington, both Merlin and Captains Mistress won Group One races.

The Christchurch NZB Yearling Sale in ten days time will be the next significant event for the Andersons.

Under the Taffy brand, eight youngsters are being prepared by Laura Smith.

The draft is headlined by a Captaintreacherous colt out of Imaginary Bet who’s a full brother to Captains Mistress and a half-brother to Merlin.

The couple have two other colts by Captaintreacherous entered. One is out of De Lovely which makes it closely related to Catch a Wave and the other is out of The Best Of Me.

Two Bettor’s Delight colts feature in their draft – one out of Tandias Bromac and the other out of Imagine Me.

At the last three sales the couple have sold four yearlings for $200,000 or more. Magician sold for $200,000 in 2022, Holy Moley for $230,000 in 2023 and last year Palladium sold for $200,000 and War Chief for $220,000.

Other Southern horses, owners, trainers and drivers were recognised for their achievements at the ceremony.

Captain’s Mistress trained by Nathan Williamson – Next Gen Two Year Old Pacing Filly of the Year.

Aroha Kenny owned by Bev Williamson and trained by her husband Phil – Garrards Horse & Hound Four Year Old Trotting Mare of the Year.

One More Moment – owned by Kenny and Jo Baynes – NZ Horse Ambulance Trust Five Year Old and Older Trotting Mare of the Year.

Republican Party – bred by John and Katrina Price – Bettor’s Delight Five Year Old and Older Pacing Entire or Gelding of the Year.

Georgia Goodman – Southland Junior Driver – Runner up in the Betcha Cadet of the Year.

Ginger Woodhouse – Central Otago horseman – Harness Racing New Zealand Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing.

Graham Sinnamon – Central Otago Trotting Club – HRNZ Club Merit Award.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink

AWARD WINNERS 2024 SEASON

Emblems New Zealand Ltd 2YO Trotting Filly Of The Year- Habibti Pat

Next Gen 2YO Pacing Filly Of The Year-Captains Mistress

Clarkson Signs 2YO Trotting Colt or Gelding Of The Year- Meant To Be

Tyre General 2YO Pacing Colt or Gelding Of The Year-Marketplace

Harnesslink 3YO Trotting Filly Of The Year-Keayang Zahara

Tom Bamford Racing Stables 3YO Pacing Filly Of The Year- Duchess Megxit

Dunstan Horse Feeds 3YO Trotting Colt or Gelding Of The Year- Father Time

Harness Life 3YO Pacing Colt or Gelding Of The Year-Chase A Dream

Garrards Horse & Hound 4YO Trotting Mare Of The Year-Aroha Kenny

Breckon Farms 4YO Pacing Mare Of The Year-Mantra Blue

Sport Nation 4YO Trotting Entire or Gelding Of The Year-Bet N Win

hrnz.co.nz 4YO Pacing Entire or Gelding Of The Year-Merlin

NZ Horse Ambulance Trust 5YO & Older Trotting Mare Of The Year-One More Moment

Downbytheseaside 5YO & Older Pacing Mare Of The Year-Princess Meritaten

Haras Des Trotteurs 5YO & Older Trotting Entire or Gelding Of The Year-Just Believe

Bettor’s Delight 5YO & Older Pacing Entire or Gelding Of The Year-Republican Party

The Breeders Trotting Broodmare Of The Year-Liberty City

The Breeders Pacing Broodmare Of The Year-Imaginary Bet

Majestic Horse Floats Trotting Stallion Of The Year-Majestic Son and Volstead

Auckland Trotting Club Pacing Stallion Of The Year-Captaintreacherous

The Breeders Breeder Of The Year-Taffy Limited

Addington Raceway Owner Of The Year-Montana Park Pty Ltd

Southern Harness Leading Junior Driver-Carter Dalgety

Raceform Leading Driver-Blair Orange

The Commodore Hotel Leading Trainer-Robert & Jenna Dunn

Woodlands Stud Trotter Of The Year-Just Believe

Diamond Racing Pacer Of The Year-Merlin

HERO Outstanding Contribution to Life After Racing-Rena Johnsen

Stevie Golding & Maree Smolenski at Harcourts Best Moment Of The Season- Sam Ottley becoming the first female driver to drive 100 winners in a 12 month season

NZB Standardbred Horse Of The Year-Just Believe

Gavelhouse Newcomer to Training-Tom Bamford

Future Wealth Stablehand Of The Year-Darnika Williams

HRNZ- Unsung Heroes- Richard and Sheena Cole, Jay Abernethy

Betcha Cadet of the Year-Lukus Johnston

Betcha Cadet of the Year Runner Up-Georgia Goodman

Harness Racing NZ Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing- Ginger Woodhouse

HRNZ Club Merit Awards-John McDonald, Peter Larkin, Jenette Storrier, Janice Van Tongeren, Graham Sinnamon, Mary Colman, Dan Lynch