New Zealand Racing

[my miss storm cat]

Good enough.

[_ed_]

Awards nominees for 2008-09:

Stallion of the year: No nominees - I think they just choose the one with the best record.

Broodmare of the year:
Escada
Gussy Godiva
Label Basher
Shynzi

I think Label Basher will get this. She's the dam of Dezigna (G1 Captain Cook Stakes) and Izonit (G2 Manawatu Classic).

Breeder of the year:
I think Garry Chittick (Waikato Stud) will get this. Daffodil, Vision And Power and Metal Bender are three of that stud's major winners this season.

Filly of the year:
Daffodil (it's done on a points system during the season)

Media:
No nominees. I don't know who will get this, no one's really impressed me that much this season!

Jumps jockey:
Tommy Hazlett
Isaac Lupton
Jo Rathbone
Jonathon Riddell

Those four are pretty even. Maybe Lupton.

Apprentice jockey:
James McDonald

Jockey of the year:
Michael Coleman
James McDonald
Sam Spratt

It'll be between McDonald and Spratt. With two weeks left in the season, McDonald has 119 wins and Spratt has 110, but Spratt has won $3.3 million, $1.2 million more than McDonald, and also more G1 races. I don't know.

Trainer of the year:
Murray & Bjorn Baker
Kevin Gray
Mark Walker

Mark Walker has 102 wins, 30 more than the 2nd-placed trainer, and has won $3.7 million. He will win this.

People's Choice Award:
I voted for Culminate. Daffodil and a brave old handicapper called Bulginbaah have the most votes at the moment.

Champion Jumper:
Counter Punch
Just A Swagger
Hypnotize
Just Not Cricket

I think it'll be Hypnotize.

Now the big ones...

Champion 2yo:
Kaaptan
Seven Schillings
King's Ransom
The Heckler

This will go to The Heckler (G1 Sires' Produce Stakes and Karaka Million). I don't think any of these will be major factors in the 3yo season though.

Champion 3yo:
Court Ruler
Daffodil
Down The Road
Harris Tweed
Tell A Tale

I think it has to be Tell A Tale. He won the 2000 Guineas and 3 other stakes races and was 3rd in the NZ Derby. None of the others had that consistency.

Champion Sprinter:
Fritzy Boy
Jacowils
Mufhasa
Ruud Van Slaats

Mufhasa. Next!

Champion Middle Distance Horse:
Culminate
MacO'Reilly
Mufhasa
Princess Coup
Sir Slick

This covers the distance range 1500-2100m. MacO'Reilly and Princess Coup are the only ones to have won two G1s in that distance range. Princess Coup was the better horse, and one of her wins was the Kelt, so she should get this.

Champion Stayer:
Capecover
Mr Tipsy
Nom Du Jeu
Six O'Clock News
Spin Around

This is the hardest one to pick. None of these horses really performed consistently well all season. Maybe Mr Tipsy - he was 2nd in the Auckland Cup and then 3rd in the Sydney Cup.

Horse of the Year:
Should be Mufhasa.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Champion Stayer:
Capecover
Mr Tipsy
Nom Du Jeu
Six O'Clock News
Spin Around

This is the hardest one to pick. None of these horses really performed consistently well all season. Maybe Mr Tipsy - he was 2nd in the Auckland Cup and then 3rd in the Sydney Cup.

I hope it's Nom de Jeu.

* * *

(... nice to see Sir Slick's name in one category).

[_ed_]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I hope it's Nom de Jeu.

And it is!

Results:
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/Documents/...%20RESULTS.pdf

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Horse of the Year:
Should be Mufhasa.

(Hooray for Nom de Jeu).