The New Zealand thoroughbred breeding fraternity came together on Saturday night to celebrate a stellar season of elite-level achievements at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro.

New Zealand breeders produced 35 individual Group One winners across Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand over the past 12 months.

Powerhouse breeders Waikato Stud were awarded the Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan New Zealand Breeder of the Year title for a phenomenal ninth time, but there was a diverse and broad range of breeders that contributed the overwhelming success of the Kiwi-breds this season.

The Seton Otway Horse of the Year was Lucky Sweynesse, with the Hong Kong superstar the highest-rated sprinter in the world. Bred by Paul Dombroski, Luigi Muollo’s Explosive Breeding Ltd and Allan Sharrock, Lucky Sweynesse’ dam Madonna Mia was voted the Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year.

Rich Hill Stud’s boom sire Proisir, who was responsible for five individual Group One winners this season — Legarto, Prowess, Levante, Pier and Dark Destroyer — claimed his first Grosvenor Award as Champion New Zealand Sire.

The mighty Savabeel claimed his eighth Centaine Award for worldwide progeny earnings and seventh Dewar Award for combined Australian and New Zealand progeny earnings.

The headline act for Savabeel this season was outstanding sprinter I Wish I Win, who sports the colours of Waikato Stud and typified the underdog theme of the night.

The four-year-old gelding was born with a well-documented severe knock-kneed deformity that meant he was never a candidate for the commercial sales ring, but he has gone on to be judged by his deeds on the racetrack.

Major Beel, Atishu and Icebath were other top-flight winners this season bred by the Matamata nursery and Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick acknowledged it was the result of a massive team effort while flanked by members of his family on stage.  

“Waikato Stud is a big family and a big group. It takes a whole community to run it and to get the results like we do. I’d love to have everyone (from the stud) up here on stage. It is such an incredible night,” Chittick said.

“Everybody puts in a huge effort and we appreciate it immensely.

“It has been a great year and a great night and when we see the outstanding results of these horse on the big screen, and there are horses from all over the country and breeders from all over the country, it is very heartening.

“I know how much we enjoy and get carried away about winning any race, let alone Group One races and I hope everybody else is as proud breeding horses like that as we certainly are.

“Seeing New Zealand breds winning Doncasters, Derbys and Oaks as well as Group One winning two-year-olds and sprints, man New Zealand is bloody good at it (breeding thoroughbred racehorses) and we should be really, really proud.

“I reckon the equivalent night in Australia might be a pretty short night, because all of the Australian Group One races are up on that big screen.”

The New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year, which is restricted to those with a broodmare band of five or less, was taken out by Tauranga’s Warwick Jeffries, who bred both Legarto and Dark Destroyer.

A sheep and beef farmer, Jeffries was loath to reveal too many of his secrets, but credited his family background operating a Romney Sheep Stud with providing transferable skills to the thoroughbred breeding game, while also paying homage to his wife and children who share his racing and breeding passion.

“We were Romney breeders for 30 years, but the old fashion way,” Jeffries said. “Each ewe had a card with her family tree on. 700 ewes would take four days to put in their breeding mobs and Dad would do it all and we learned. I think back to Dad and what he taught us.”

The victory of Legarto in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in March was a clear highlight for Jeffries, watching the Proisir filly get off the canvas from a near impossible position.

“Just like Ken Kelso (trainer), we were really proud of her and thought she’d run a good race, couldn’t get out and she was going to be running fourth or fifth. That last 100m was just holy heck. My heart was racing. I don’t know how she did it but she’s outstanding,” he said.

Jeffries said Saturday afternoons involved sitting in front of Trackside TV watching the races with his early adulthood children.

“The old man’s got the pedigree pages sitting in front of him watching on Saturday afternoon, there is no doubt about that and everybody’s got to shut up,” he said.

Novara Park’s Luigi Muollo couldn’t attend the awards as he is in the United States at present, but was represented by Don Edwards who accepted Group One breeder trophies for both Explosive Jack and Lucky Sweynesse, with the latter voted Horse of the Year.

“Luigi would have loved to have been here tonight,” Edwards said. “This is what he is trying to achieve and he has got there so it is onwards and upwards for him.

“Madonna Mia is in foal to Sweynesse and then she is going to Savabeel.”

One of the more memorable speeches on the night came from Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson, who is also the President of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

The affable Thompson was voted the Entain NZTBA Personality of the Year and lived up to the criteria, regaling the audience with his misadventures working in the United States as a young thoroughbreds enthusiast with long-standing friend and well-known fellow breeder Gordon Cunningham.

Brad Molander, the Yearling Manager for Wentwood Grange, was also recognised as the Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever on a memorable night for the New Zealand breeding industry.

Awards 2022/23 Season

STALLION AWARDS

Centaine Award

Savabeel

Dewar Award

Savabeel

Grosvenor Award

Proisir

SPECIAL AWARDS

Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year

Sponsor Arion Pedigrees

MADONNA MIA (NZ)

2009 Bay Mare By Red Clubs – Hill Of Hope. Dam of Gr.1 winner Lucky Sweynesse

Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever

Sponsor LOVERACING.NZ

Brad Molander

NZTBA Personality of the Year

Sponsor Entain AU and NZ

John Thompson

New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year

Sponsor Luigi Muollo

Warwick Jeffries

Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan New Zealand Breeder of the Year Sponsor Dunstan Horsefeeds

Waikato Stud

Seton Otway Horse of the Year

Sponsor Property Brokers

Lucky Sweynesse

Group One Winners

Affaire A Suivre 3f

Astern – Laurelling (Highest Honor) Bred by C P & Mrs M J A Howells Australasian Oaks (2000m)

Sponsored by Brighthill Farm

Atishu 5m

Savabeel – Posy (No Excuse Needed) Bred by Waikato Stud Ltd

Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m)

Sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight

Belclare 5m

Per Incanto – Miss Rhythmic (O’Reilly) Bred by D K Woodhouse

NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m)

Sponsored by HGT Bloodstock

Callsign Mav 6g

Atlante – Raadisi (Volksraad) Bred by Windsor Park Stud

Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m)

Sponsored by Mapperley Stud

Dark Destroyer 4g

Proisir – All Can Party (All American) Bred by WE Jefferies Ltd

Tarzino Trophy (1400m)

Sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance

Defibrillate 8g

Shocking – Our Chickaroonie (Groom Dancer)

Bred by McInteer Family Syndicate & G N Richardson Zabeel Classic (2050m)

Sponsored by Rich Hill Stud

Dunkel 3g

Dundeel – Kudamm (Cape Cross)

Bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd South Australian Derby (2500m)

Sponsored by Windsor Park Stud

Explosive Jack 5g

Jakkalberry – Extra Explosive (Ekraar) Bred by Explosive Breeding Ltd Sydney Cup (3200m)

Sponsored by Cambridge Equine Hospital

He’s A Doozy 5g

Zacinto – The Dewdrop (O’Reilly) Bred by A G, K J, M C & P R Dennis Thorndon Mile (1600m)

Sponsored by Milan Park

I Wish I Win 4g

Savabeel – Make A Wish (Pins) Bred by Waikato Stud Ltd

TJ Smith Stakes (1200m)

Sponsored by Hallmark Stud

Icebath 6m

Sacred Falls – Fabulist (Savabeel) Bred by Waikato Stud Ltd Empire Rose Stakes (1600m)

Sponsored by Inglis

I’m Thunderstruck 5g

Shocking – Primadonna Girl (Edenwold) Bred by T Forlong & Ms J Jones Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m)

Sponsored by The Oaks Stud

Kovalica 3g

Ocean Park – Vitesse (Makfi) Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd Queensland Derby (2400m)

Sponsored by Curraghmore

La Crique 4m

Vadamos – Destiny Cove (Dubai Destination) Bred by J & M Cassin Family Trust Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m)

Sponsored by Carlaw Park

Group One Winners

Legarto 3f

Proisir – Geordie Girl (Towkay) Bred by WE Jeffries

New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (1600m) Australian Guineas (1600m)

Sponsored by Highline Thoroughbreds

Levante 6m

Proisir – Island Doy (Doyoun) Bred by L Williams

Otaki WFA Stakes (1600m) Telegraph Stakes (1200m)

Sponsored by Jamieson Park

Little Brose 2c

Per Incanto – Mohegan Sky (Straight Man) Bred by David Wallace

Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m)

Sponsored by Little Avondale Stud

Lucky Sweynesse 4g

Sweynesse – Madonna Mia (Red Clubs)

Bred by P L Dombrowski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & S A Sharrock

Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) Chairmans Sprint Prize (1200m) Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m)

Sponsored by Woburn Farm

Major Beel 3g

Savabeel – Gram (O’Reilly) Bred by Waikato Stud Ltd Australian Derby (2400m)

Sponsored by Ohukia Lodge

Manzoice 3c

Almanzor – Choice (Mastercraftsman) Bred by Ms S Hole

Victoria Derby (2500m)

Sponsored by Wentwood Grange

Militarize 2c

Dundeel – Amerindia (Dubawi) Bred by GSA Bloodstock

ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) Champagne Stakes (1600m)

Sponsored by Riversley Park

Mr Brightside 5g

Bullbars – Lilahjay (Tavistock)

Bred by R I & Est late M A G Johnson Doncaster Mile (1600m)

Sponsored by Westbury Stud

Mustang Valley 4m

Vanbrugh – Cream of the Crop (New Approach) Bred by Windsor Park Stud

Livamol Classic (2040m)

Sponsored by White Robe Lodge

No Compromise 6g

Pins – Baggy Green (Galileo) Bred by G R Cunningham Metropolitan Handicap (2400m)

Sponsored by Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre

Pennyweka 3f

Satono Aladdin – Threepence (Pentire) Bred by J V & L D Wallace

New Zealand Oaks (2400m) Australian Oaks (2400m)

Sponsored by Elsdon Park

Pier 3g

Proisir – La Vitesse (Darci Brahma)

Bred by D R & Mrs L M Weatherley & B W P Wright New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (1600m)

Sponsored by Highview Stud

Group One Winners

Pignan 2f

Staphanos – Hirondelle (Sepoy) Bred by A O Burton & Mrs L A Hunt

Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m)

Sponsored by Westend Partnership

Prise De Fer 7g

Savabeel – Foiled (Snippets)

Bred by Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd Captain Cook Stakes (1600m)

Sponsored by Trelawney Stud

Prowess 3f

Proisir – Donna Marie (Don Eduardo) Bred by Hallmark Stud

Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m) Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m)

Sponsored by Pencarrow Stud

Roch ‘N’ Horse 6m

Per Incanto – Rochfort (Cecconi) Bred by Little Avondale Trust VRC Sprint Classic (1200m)

Sponsored by Waikato Stud

Romancing The Moon 3f

El Roca – Underthemoonlight (El Hermano) Bred by H G W & Mrs K L McQuade

Levin Classic (1600m)

Ruthless Dame 3f

Tavistock – Ruthless Lady (Keeper)

Bred by Go Bloodstock Australia Pty Ltd Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m)

Sponsored by Cambridge Stud

Sharp ‘N’ Smart 3g

Redwood – Queen Margaret (Swiss Ace) Bred by G Harvey

New Zealand Derby (2400m) Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)

Sponsored by Matamata Veterinary Services

Smokin’ Romans 6g

Ghibellines – Inferno (Yamanin Vital)

Bred by B J Anderton ONZM & Mrs L E Anderton Turnbull Stakes (2000m)

Sponsored by Nearco Stud

Ulanova 2f

Santos – The Fairy’s Kiss (Elusive Quality) Bred by Ancroft Stud Ltd

Sistema Stakes (1200m)

Sponsored by Kilgravin Lodge