The Lyell Creek Lounge at Auckland Trotting Club’s Alexandra Park headquarters provided the venue for this year’s Always B Miki North Island Awards night, held on Saturday 2 September 2017.
The North Island Harness Racing Awards are a registered charitable trust which acts as an umbrella fundraising body for the kindred bodies :
- Auckland Trotting Owners Association
- North Island Standardbred Breeders Association Inc
- NZ Harness Racing Trainers and Drivers Association (Northern Branch) Inc
Nominees for the various awards are selected by the kindred bodies using their own set criteria which promote merit and North Island racing.
The evening commenced with pre dinner drinks in the Tasman Room before moving to the Lyell Creek Lounge for a three course dinner and awards ceremony followed by a live band “Split Second”. Masters of Ceremonies for this evening of celebration were the well-respected industry duo of Greg O’Connor and Mark McNamara.
Among the major award winners were :
The NI Racing Achievement Award went to trainer/driver Steven Reid.
The NI Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing Award went to breeder Tony Dickinson.
A full listing of winners from the 2017 Always B Miki North Island Harness Racing Awards follows :
Dexion North Island Amateur Driver of the Year – Sheryl Wigg
Kahukuri Bloodstock Hollis & Robertson North Island Groom of the Year – Yvette Hughes
Other finalists : Taitlyn Henara, Christopher Morrison, Sheridan Rapley, Danielle Rowden
Magness Video Ltd/ Vid-Com Ltd North Island Licence to Train/Owner – Trainer of the Year –Tim Vince (25 winners, six were trotters) –
Other finalists : Ray Darby, Dave Iremonger, Rod MacKenzie, Fred Mitchell
Mitavite North Island Junior Driver of the Year – Dylan Ferguson (22 winners, $182k in stakes, fourth on NZ JD Premiership table) –
Other finalists : Robert Argue, Ben Butcher, Tony Cameron, Jack MacKinnon
PGG Wrightson North Island 2 year old Colt or Gelding of the Year – Mach Shard (Mach Three/Sly Shard); owners : Katrina Purdon, Kevin Riseley, Mrs C Nausbaum, Trevor Casey; trainer : Barry Purdon; seasonal record : 7 starts, 3 wins, 1 placing, $79,878, 1:55.2 –
Other finalists : Alta Maestro, Culpeka, South Beach Arden
PGG Wrightson North Island 2 year old Filly of the Year – New York Rain (American Ideal/Ohoka Moon); owners : John Dickie, Ms LA German ; trainers : John and Joshua Dickie; seasonal record : 6 starts, 1 win, 2 placings $51,476, 2:00.4 –
Other finalists : Caitlyn Clarke, Dontstopbelievin, Purest Silk, Spandau Ballet
Breckon Farms North Island 2 year old Trotter of the Year – Paramount King (Love You/Paramount Star); owners : Ben and Karen Calder, Loyal Owners Syndicate, Graham Neems, Philip Kelly, David Turner, Mrs Jenny Sutherland and Jonathan Hope; trainers : John Dickie & Josh Dickie; seasonal record : eight starts, four wins, one placing, $64,982, T1:58.0 –
Other finalists : More Shades Of Gold, Star Of Olesya, Stress Factor
Breckon Farms North Island 3 year old Trotter of the Year – CK Spur (Pegasus Spur/Jazmin Alicia); owners : Mrs K J De Jongh-Kennedy, Est C Kennedy, K J Foley, Mrs C D Foley; trainers : John and Joshua Dickie; seasonal record : 16 starts, three wins, six placings, $49,652, T2:04.4 –
Other finalists : Heavyweight Hero, Kissmeimloaded, Sertorius
Dunstan North Island 3 year old Colt or Gelding of the Year – Jacks Legend (Bettors Delight/Larissa Rose); owners : Katrina Purdon, Terry Henderson, R M Baker, Clear View Racing Syndicate No 1, Solid Gold Standardbreds, Mrs C Nausbaum ; trainer : Barry Purdon; seasonal record : 14 starts, four wins, five placings, $148,394, 1:51.8; Australia two starts, one win A$14,400, 1:55.0 –
Other finalists : Alta Intrigue, More The Better, Star Galleria
Dunstan North Island 3 year old Filly of the Year – American Empress (American Ideal/Star Empress); owners : Hazel van Opzeeland, K G Moore, P F Curran, Zinnycef Syndicate; trainer : Jeremy Young ; seasonal record : 19 starts, one win, 8 placings, $56,796, 1:58.1 –
Other finalists : Gotta Go Dali Queen, Juice Brogden, Step Up
Merv and Meg Butterworth North Island Female Racing Accomplishment Award : Arna Donnelly –
Other finalists : Nicola Chilcott, Gayleen MacKinnon, Michelle Wallis
Garrards Horse and Hound North Island Owners of the Year – Bernie Lim –
Other finalists : Breckon Bloodstock, Stonewall Stud, Tim Vince
Caduceus Club North Island Filly/Mare of the Year – The Orange Agent (American Ideal/Lady Fingers); owners : Mrs P C Green, J P Green, Mrs M E Green, P C Bult; trainer : Brian Hughes; seasonal record : four NZ starts, two wins, two placings, $85,150, 1:55.9 (2600m), three Australian starts, three wins, A$99,098, 1:53.7 –
Other finalists : Better B Amazed, Dream About Me, Rocknroll Princess, Yagunnakissmeornot
NI Standardbred Breeders Assn North Island Breeder of the Year – Woodlands Stud
Other finalists : Breckon Farms, Charles Roberts, Kahukuri Bloodstock, Stonewall Stud
IRT North Island Driver of the Year – David Butcher (80 winners, $880k, 4th overall in NZ, 2,246 NZ lifetime winners). Major Australasian win last season with Sunny Ruby (Lyell Creek Stakes) –
Other finalists : Salish Abernethy, Zac Butcher, Josh Dickie, Andre Poutama
Veterinary Associates Equine and Farm North Island Trainer of the Year – John & Josh Dickie (38 wins, $434k, 10th NZ Premiership, co trained 148 winners). Major seasonal victories with Paramount King –
Other finalists : Arna Donnelly, Tony Herlihy, Barry Purdon, Steve Telfer & Chris Garlick
Veterinary Associates Equine and Farm North Island Broodmare of the Year – Splendid Dreams (Dream Away/Scuse Me), dam of Dream About Me, Christen Me, Hands Christian, Aliante, grand dam of Maxim/Splendour
Other finalists : Alta Camilla, Galleons Supreme, Lady Fingers
Woodlands Stud North Island Stallion of the Year – Bettor’s Delight (leading sire world-wide, in excess of 2,000 winners)
Other finalists : American Ideal, Art Major, Majestic Son, Pegasus Spur
Harness Racing New Zealand North Island Trotter of the Year – Temporale (Monarchy/Whosinthenest); owners : Dene Biddlecombe, Doug Donaldson, Suzanne Herlihy, Kevin Riseley; trainer : Tony Herlihy; seasonal record : seven NZ starts, two wins, two placings, $107,175, T2:04.6 (3200 std), three Australian starts, three placings, A$15,838 –
Other finalists : Gentleman Sir, King Of The Roses, Princess Mackendon, Temporale
Auckland Trotting Club North Island Aged Pacer of the Year – Dream About Me (Bettors Delight/Splendid Dreams; owners/lessees : Charlie Roberts, Estate June Roberts, Paul Kenny, Mary Kenny; trainer : Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen; seasonal record : six starts, five wins, $231,050, 1:57.2 (2200m) –
Other finalists : Better B Amazed, Hug The Wind, Maxim, The Orange Agent
Sir Lincoln at Lincoln Farms North Island Racing Achievement Award – Steven Reid (driver of 207 winners and member of 1,000+ trainers club with 1,013 winners trained individually and in partnerships with Les Purdon, Tremain Thorby, Graeme Rogerson and Steven McMullan)
Always B Miki/Alabar/Nevele R Stud North Island Award for Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing – Tony Dickinson (Alta Breeding Company, breeder of likes of Alta Serena [Nevele R Fillies, Easter Cup, Queen of Hearts, two NI Breeders Stakes, one of better examples)
As was promised, a fabulous night of fun and entertainment was enjoyed by all. The evening was again superably organised for the eleventh time by the “Fab Four” of Suzanne Herlihy, Karen Blanchard, Janene Cole and Raelene Balle.
A collection of items relating to the first Awards in 1993 follow below.
Peter Craig
4 September 2017
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
