New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Awards: Ka Ying Rising’s influence

Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA) celebrated its annual award ceremony on Saturday night in a glittering ceremony which saw those connected with Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) take out several of the key awards for the night.

Stewart wins Young Achievers Award

The Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achievers Award honour a talented young person working in the thoroughbred industry, reflecting the dedication and passion of the late Waikato horsewoman Mary Lynne Ryan. The three finalists for 2024/25 were Waikato Stud’s Simon Lawson, Wentwood Grange Stud’s Richelle McMillan, and White Robe Lodge’s Jack Stewart who won the award.

The son of White Robe Lodge founder Brian Anderton’s daughter Karen Stewart and her husband Wayne, Jack Stewart wasn’t expecting to win against such strong competition. “It caught me on the hop a bit, it’s not often the southerners get the spoils and it was great to get the individual recognition. It’s not a true reflection of life, as it’s a team effort at the stud between Granddad, Mum, Dad and myself, and any accolades for me is really part of the whole of what we are doing here,” said Jack Stewart.

White Robe Lodge was founded in 1956 by Brian Anderton who received a New Zealand award for outstanding contribution to racing excellence in 1993 and he was inducted to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2012. This spring will be the 70th year that White Robe Lodge has stood stallions.

“It was a great night. I’m glad we came up. Granddad has all those Group 1 winners and has been recognised before. The night was a good chance to catch up with people, as all the racing people and breeders were there. We had a table with good friends, and even with a lot of awards to get through, it was a nicely streamlined evening.

“When you work with horses you keep your head down, and you don’t think about things like this. I’ll be back mucking out first thing tomorrow, back to reality!”

White Robe Lodge has an exciting future ahead with the announcement that Alflaila (GB), a multiple Group-winning son of Champion Sire Dark Angel (Ire), will join the stud this spring. “It’s an exciting spring coming up. The first crop of Ancient Spirit will be three and we will see them really hit their straps, and the new horse Alflaila has a lot of things happening around him. His sire Dark Angel was crowned Champion Sire after we announced him, and Harry Angel, another son of Dark Angel, has had three Group 1 winners in Australia. He’s getting good publicity and support.”

Steve Davis awarded Personality of the Year

Auctioneer Steve Davis won the 2024/25 Personality Of The Year Award, and was working as the event’s MC during the ceremony. “I was the MC for the night and had been informed that someone else was the winner, and then I was listening to the bio and I thought, I didn’t know he was born in the Hawke's Bay. And then they mentioned about being a teacher, and I was a little confused that someone else had also done that, but it soon became apparent it was me,” said Davis.

“We had a couple more awards to do after that too. It was a pleasant surprise, and nice to be recognised. The irony is that I’d hosted the Waikato Breeders’ day at the races a few weeks before, and I won the nomination to Mr Mozart, so I donated it to the Sunline Scholarship auction. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!”

The Ka Ying Rising influence

Connections of Hong Kong Horse Of The Year Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) took out three awards being the Broodmare Of The Year Award, which went to his dam Missy Moo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), the Small Breeder Of The Year, which went to his breeder Grandmoral Lodge, and the gelding also won Seton Otway Horse Of The Year.

The NZTBA Horse Of The Award goes to a “New Zealand-bred horse, bred by a NZ-based and NZTBA-member breeder, whose racing performance in the season under review most clearly reflects true merit at the highest level.”

Ka Ying Rising was unbeaten in eight starts in 2024/25, winning four Group 1 races and taking his earnings over HK$65.9 million (AU$12.8 million). Unfortunately, his dam Missy Moo died in 2021 after foaling Ka Ying Rising’s half-brother Ka Ying Glory (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) who is also racing in Hong Kong.

Per Incanto knocks Savabeel from the Centaine Award

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.

For the first time in nine seasons, Savabeel didn’t win the Centaine Award, which went to Little Avondale Stud’s Per Incanto (USA). Having risen from an initial fee of NZ$4000 plus GST to this season’s NZ$60,000 plus GST, Per Incanto’s victory marks a new era for the New Zealand industry.

Savabeel continued his success in the two domestic stallion awards, taking out the Grosvenor Award and Dewar Award for the 10th year in a row.

Breeder Of The Year is Waikato Stud

The Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan Breeder Of The Year Award goes to “the New Zealand breeder whose operation, in the season under review, most clearly reflects true breeding merit through the quality of racing performance, relative to its scale and location.” In 2024/25, the four finalists were Sir Brendon and Lady Jo Lindsay, Pencarrow Stud, Nearco Stud, and Waikato Stud.

Waikato Stud were awarded the victory, which was the eleventh time the farm has won the award. The farm’s highlights for the season include G1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), Group 2 winner Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci), and several Listed winners.