Cover image courtesy of Waikato Stud
While the racing fraternity in Victoria converged to celebrate the 2023/24 achievements of its community, across the ditch, the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA) also celebrated its annual award ceremony.
The Thoroughbred Report recaps the winners across several categories in Monday’s edition.
All hail Savabeel!
What more can be said about the extraordinary Savabeel? The Waikato Stud-based stallion claimed his ninth Grosvenor Award, Dewar Award, and Centaine Award, respectively.
The Grosvenor Award is given to the Champion New Zealand-based sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand, while the Dewar Award is received by the stallion with the highest total progeny earnings within New Zealand and Australia. Finally, the Centaine Award is given to the Champion New Zealand-based sire by total progeny earnings worldwide.
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato
This season, Savabeel was represented on the track by four Group 1 winners. His daughters Atishu (NZ), Orchestral (NZ), and Skew Wiff (NZ) all saluted in elite company, while his champion son I Wish I Win (NZ) won the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup and was runner-up in The Everest.
Of those four, three were bred by Waikato Stud: Atishu, I Wish I Win, and Skew Wiff. Overall, the progeny of Savabeel earned over $23 million in prize money this season.
Savabeel is standing for NZ$100,000 (plus GST) this season.
Mr Brightside in lights
As we saw in Victoria with Bella Orfana (Star Witness) and Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), New Zealand also honoured a dam and her foal. The Tavistock (NZ) mare Lilahjay (NZ) was announced as the Arion Pedigrees Broodmare of the Year.
Owner Ed Sheather accepted the award, having purchased the mare for NZ$3000 from the Gavelhouse NZ 3 Feb Online Auction. Lilahjay was unraced and initially sold for NZ$1400 at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling, Broodmare, and Mixed Sale by RI Johnson. She was resold for NZ$500 to Suzi Phillips through the 2019 Gavelhouse NZ 29 April Online Auction before finally ending with Sheather.
Lilahjay (NZ)
Her first foal, Will Power (NZ) (Power {GB}), born in 2015, won eight races. He was followed by a second foal in 2016, Tickford (NZ) (He’s Remarkable {NZ}), who won three races. In 2017, Lilahjay foaled a colt by Bullbars, who later became Mr Brightside (NZ). Trained by Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, he has won 16 races, including the G1 Doncaster H. twice, the G1 Makybe Diva, the G1 Memsie S., the G1 CF Orr S., and the G1 Futurity S.
Mr Brightside is gearing up for the 2024 spring, aiming to add further to his prize money total of over $13 million.
Lilahjay returned to Power (GB), producing The Number One Son (NZ), who is also a winner, followed by the winning Betterbeyou (NZ) (What’s The Story {NZ}). Her filly by Darci Brahma (NZ), named Lady Brightside (NZ), is an unraced 2-year-old who was purchased for NZ$70,000 by Busuttin Racing and First Light Racing from the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
“Mr Brightside is gearing up for the 2024 spring, aiming to add further to his prize money total of over $13 million.”
The daughter of Tavistock (NZ) has a yearling by Darci Brahma and was served by Rich Hill Stud’s Satono Aladdin (Jpn).
Brightside Horse of the Year
Mr Brightside was crowned the Seton Horse of the Year, sponsored by Property Brokers. Bred by Ray Johnson, who also received the Small Breeder of the Year Award, sponsored by Luigi Muollo.
Johnson's interest in a racehorse grew into collecting a few broodmares. He purchased two weanlings by Tavistock (NZ) from Sir Patrick Hogan, one of which ended up being Mr Brightside’s dam, Lilahjay.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Johnson recounted the story to NZTBA: “She (Lilahjay) didn’t have the best legs, so I rang Marcus (Corban) and said, ‘What do I do?’ and he said, ‘Oh, well, put her to a stallion.’ I said, ‘She’s a 2-year-old,’ but Corban was adamant."
The first foal was Will Power, and two foals later, a mating with Bullbars produced Mr Brightside. During the early days of Mr Brightside’s life, Johnson’s wife, Martha, passed away, prompting him to sell Lilahjay. "I did the silly thing of selling his dam and a couple of others,” Johnson explained.
However, Mr Brightside and his dam have continued to bring rewards and pride to those involved, both past and present.
Jenni flies the flag for Trelawney Stud
Brent and Cherry Taylor’s Trelawney Stud were the proud recipients of the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan Breeders of the Year Award. With a band of under 40 broodmares, Trelawney continues to breed racetrack stars.
In 2023/24, Trelawney Stud was represented by the outstanding mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), who swept the G1 Empire Rose S. and the G1 Cantala S. during Cup week. In the autumn, she returned to claim the All-Star Mile and the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.
Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pride Of Jenni is the first foal from the Trelawney Stud resident Sancerre (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who won four races. Sancerre most recently foaled a filly by Per Incanto (USA) in 2022 and was served by Hello Youmzain (Fr).
Trelawney Stud also bred Singapore’s star runner Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec {NZ}), who won six races in 2023/24, including the Listed Singapore Gold Cup, Kranji Mile, and Raffles Cup—all of which carry local Group 1 status in Singapore.
The nursery was also responsible for a further 18 individual winners this season.
Ring crowned young gun
Matamata local Cameron Ring has been honoured with the Mary-Lynne Ryan Young Achiever Award, sponsored by loveracing.nz.
Ring comes from a family deeply rooted in the racing industry. His grandfather, Bill Ring, served as president of the Matamata Racing Club, while his great-grandfather, Calvin Ring, was well-regarded in the industry. Cameron began working in racing stables as a strapper and rider at the age of 15. After graduating from Matamata College, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Lincoln University on a Future Leaders Scholarship.
During university holidays, Ring worked at Waikato Stud and, upon completing his studies, took up a full-time role at the renowned nursery. He was awarded the Keith and Faith Taylor Equine Scholarship, allowing him to participate in the prestigious Irish National Stud Breeding program.
Upon his return to New Zealand, Ring worked for Trelawney Stud, who were also recognised on Saturday night, and had stints at Cambridge Stud and Waterford Bloodstock. Ring eventually returned to Cambridge Stud, where he has advanced to his current role as bloodstock manager.
