Sundees Son first trotter to claim NZ HOY double

The 2022 Harness Racing New Zealand Awards were presented tonight (Mar. 4) at Addington Raceway in Christchurch, with nearly 300 of the sport’s highest achievers, including drivers, trainers, owners, and breeders at the function MC’d by Box Seat host and well-known racing identity Greg O’Connor and Trackside presenter Nicole Sims.

The top horse honours on the night went the way of the recently retired champion trotter, Sundees Son (Majestic Son), with the Robert and Jenna Dunn trained superstar claiming his second successive New Zealand Horse of the Year honours, becoming the first trotter to ever receive the accolade twice and the ninth in total.

Self Assured claimed his first ever Pacer of the Year honours for his excellent season.

Below is a full list of award winners for the 2022 HRNZ Awards:

Horses Of The Year

• Horse of the Year: Sundees Son (Majestic Son – Stardon)
• Pacer of the Year: Self Assured (Bettor’s Delight – Star Of Venus)
• Trotter of the Year: Sundees Son (Majestic Son – Stardon)

2YO Awards

• 2YO Trotting Filly of the Year | High Energy (Father Patrick – High Gait) 
• 2YO Pacing Filly of the Year | Millwood Nike (Captainreacherous – Alberqueque)
• 2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year | Confessional (Father Patrick – Habibti)
• 2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year | Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight – Start Dreaming)

3YO Awards

• 3YO Trotting Filly of the Year | Con Grazia Love (Love You – Grazia)
• 3YO Pacing Filly of the Year | True Fantasy (Bettor’s Delight – Secret Notion)
• 3YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year | Highgrove (Love You – Focus On Me)
• 3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year Akuta (Bettor’s Delight – Adore To Our Dreams)

4YO Awards

• 4YO Trotting Mare of the Year | Resolve (Love You – Habibti)
• 4YO Pacing Mare of the Year | Allamericanlover (American Ideal – Goodlookingirl)
• 4YO Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year | Five Wise Men (Muscle Hill – Harriet Hughes)
• 4YO Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year | B D Joe (Roll With Joe – Tact Aunty)

5YO+ Awards

• 5YO+ Trotting Mare of the Year | Gold Chain (Muscle Hill – Gold Card)
• 5YO+ Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year | Need You Now (Bettor’s Delight – Lady Antebellum)
• 5YO+ Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year | Sundees Son (Majestic Son – Stardon)
• 5YO+ Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year | Self Assured (Bettor’s Delight – Star Of Venus)

Breeding Awards

• Trotting Broodmare of the Year: Habibti (Love You – Ten To One)
• Pacing Broodmare of the Year: Lively Nights (Live Or Die – White Nights)
• Breeder of the Year: Lex and Est of Heather Williams
• Trotting Stallion of the Year: Muscle Hill
• Pacing Stallion of the Year: Bettor’s Delight

Participant & Licenseholder Awards

• Outstanding contribution to Life After Racing: Stable To Stirrup
• Cadet Of The Year: Thomas Bamford
• Cadet Of The Year Runner Up: Carter Dalgety
• Owner of the Year: Jean Feiss
• Leading Junior Driver of the Year: Sarah O’Reilly
• Leading Driver of the Year: Blair Orange
• Leading Trainer of the Year: Steve & Amanda Telfer
• Leading UDR Junior Driver:  Olivia Thornley
• Newcomer to Training Award: Zachary Butcher
• Stablehand of the Year:  Penny Boyle

Other Awards

• Best Moment of the Year Award: Sundees Son 2022 Dominion Trot

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink