Southland Harness Awards – 2022 season

The Southland Harness Racing Awards were held last night at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill, celebrating another very successful season.

The Macca Lodge Southland Broodmare of the Year was won by Democrat Party owned by John and Katrina Price.

Three of her foals won races in the season under review, led by Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) which won eight and $151,775. His major wins and placings including 2nd Group One New Zealand Derby, 1st Group Three Junior FFA, 1st Listed Sophomore Classic and 3rd Group One Flying Stakes.

Two other foals – Debutante Party (Bettor’s Delight) and Advance Party (Bettor’s Delight) also won races.

Sand Wave (Somebeachsomewhere) trained by Nathan Williamson and owned by Chris Alcock, Nine Three Syndicate, and Nude @ Ten Syndicate was named Southland Horse of the Year. He won six of his thirteen starts. He was the province’s leading stake earner, and his major wins and placings were 3rd in New Zealand Derby, 2nd in Listed Sophomore Classic, 1st in Listed Magnifique and 1st in Group Two Southern Supremacy Stakes.

Southland Achievement of the Year 2022 won by Robert and Sharyn Symon.

The Symons had another successful season as owners. They raced Rough and Ready (Somebeachsomewhere) which was trained by Arna Donnelly. His season record was 28-3-2-3 for $51,344. 

They also own Snow Robyn (Rock N Roll Heaven) 14-4-1-2 $41,405 and American Eyretime (Tintin In America) 7-4-2-0 $31,310 both trained by Craig Ferguson. Their most successful racehorse was Joes Rock (Racing Hill) 15-5-4-2 $52,135 which is trained by Brett Gray.

Contribution to Harness Racing won by MCC Syndicate and Allison Jackson.

The MCC Syndicate is one of the longest running harness racing syndicates in Southland and celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. The Makarewa Country Club Syndicate’s first winner was Kenwood Charmer (Smooth Fella) at Wyndham in March 1994. The syndicate has had thirty three winners. 

Allison Jackson has been running the foaling night shift for 27 years starting out at Jaccka Lodge and now at Macca Lodge. 

Sharing the Southland Trainers Premiership were Nathan Williamson and Brett Gray (36). This was the sixth time Williamson has won the trainers premiership while it’s the third time for Gray.

The Southland Driver Premiership was won by Nathan Williamson (65 wins). This is the fifteenth straight year Williamson has won the Southland Drivers Premiership. The late Henry Skinner holds the Southland record for the number of driver premierships won (16).

Mark Hurrell (42) was the leading Southland Junior Driver. The 2022 season was his best.

Caduceus Club of Southland Trotter of the Year was Port Pegasus (Pegasus Spur) who raced twenty nine times for four wins, seven seconds and four thirds, for $42,080. The four year old owned by Ian Hunter is trained by Brian Norman.

Leading Trainer of Trotters: Brett Gray (16).

SSBA Trophy for leading stake earning fillies and mares.

• Two Year Olds – Micaitlen Denario (Captaintreacherous) Owners: Mic & Dic Syndicate. Trainer Nathan Williamson. 

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  Three Year Olds – Hidden Talent (Bacardi Lindy) Owners: Griffins Syndicate. Trainer Nathan Williamson.

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  Aged – Peregrine (Pegasus Spur) Owners: Mrs P. A. Baynes and J. C. Baynes. Trainer: Brett Gray. 

SSBA – NZ Record Holders:

• Switch On (Bacardi Lindy) – Wyndham 6/11/2022 – 3-06.6 2400 metre stand Two Year Old Colts and Geldings. Owners: G.P. Bartlett, B.W. Croft, P.G. Rodgers, A.M. Nicol and A.J. Shirley. Trainer: Brent McIntyre.

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  Invitation Only (Bettor’s Delight) – Addington 23/12/2022 2-28.7 2000 metre stands Three Year Old Colts and Geldings. Owners: Mrs D.E. O’Reilly, S.W.R. Gillan, Mrs P.P. Gillan and D.P. Ryan. Trainers: Cran and Chrissie Dalgety.

SSBA – Fastest Winning Mile Rate for a Filly or Mare 

• Joes Rock (Racing Hill) – Wyndham 19/3/22 (1.53.5) Owners: R. S. Symon and Mrs S. F. Symon. Trainer: Brett Gray. 

Two Year Old Colt or Gelding of the Year:

• – Rakamurph (Captaintreacherous) Owners: B J Fahy, N. J. Fahy, Mrs R. A. Sinclair, Est S. M. Fahy and B. A. Fahy. Trainer: Nathan Williamson. 

Robin Dundee Club – Three Year Old Awards

• Three Year Old Filly – Joes Rock (Racing Hill) Owners: R. S. Symon and Mrs S. F. Symon. Trainer: Brett Gray. 

• Three Year Old Colt/Gelding – Sand Wave (Somebeachsomewhere) Owners: Nine Three Syndicate, C. C. Alcock and Nude @ Ten Syndicate. Trainer: Nathan Williamson.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink