Southland Harness Awards

The Southland Harness Racing Awards will be held at the Waikiwi Rugby Club rooms on Saturday 1st March and will provide an opportunity for the region to celebrate what has been an exceptional year.

Nathan Williamson is once again the leading Southland trainer with 38 wins, from Kirstin Barclay on 34 and Brett Gray on 31 while Williamson won the regional drivers’ championship with 64 wins from Craig Ferguson 48 and Brent Barclay 39.

It is Williamson’s sixteenth win in the Southland Drivers Premiership. His tally equals Henry Skinners – 16 premiership wins each.

Hayden Douglas is the leading junior driver in the province with 13 wins.

The leading Southland stake earners are Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) $209,515, Tact McLeod (Sweet Lou) $118,752 and Dreams Are Free (Captaintreacherous) $82,170.

The leading trotters in the province are Fiery Bandito (Majestic Son) $79,182, Bring On The Muscle (Majestic Son) $78,755 and Rata (Muscle Mass) $72,068.

There have been plenty of other highlights. Southern breeders Todd and Fleur Anderson experienced a career high on Show Day when Merlin (Art Major) and Captains Mistress, both out of their mare Imaginary Bet, won Group One races.

This feat has only been achieved once before.

John and Katrina Price bred Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) which won two Group One races in the season under review – the Invercargill and Auckland Cups.

Nathan Williamson trained his first Group One winner Captains Mistress, whilst Craig Ferguson drove his first Group One winner – Marketplace, (Bettor’s Delight) which won the Sires’ Stakes Two Year Old Final on Cup Day. He drove two more G1 winners before seasons end in Marketplace and We Walk By Faith (Bettor’s Delight).

Join the Harness Racing community in the south to celebrate a great season.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink