Chief Stipe Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards finalists announced for 2023-24 No images? Click here Champion Kiwi galloper Imperatriz has a final accolade in her sights Matamata’s marvelous mare brings unique credentials to this year’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards – sponsored by SENZ. Retired from racing following her autumn campaign, Imperatriz is amongst the standout contenders within the list of finalists for the 2023-24 Awards. After taking runner-up honours in 2023, the $6.6 million mare is likely a key contender for the sprinter-miler category this year, with obvious prospects for the major award. Campaigned by Te Akau Racing, the five-year-old mare is the first New Zealand-trained horse to win five Group I races in Australia in a single season since the introduction of the Australian group classification system, in the 1978-79 season. Group 1 Trackside NZ Derby winner Orchestral is the only horse this year to find herself in two categories. After her Australian campaign in the Group 1 Vinery Stakes over 2000m, the outstanding daughter of Savabeel cemented herself as a contender in both the three-year-old and staying categories. Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Orchestral had five wins and two seconds from her eight starts as a three-year-old and earned more than $2 million in stakes. Six horses, including four fillies, will contest the three-year-old section. Five were Group I winners and are joined by Antrim Coast, the runner-up to Orchestral in the Trackside NZ Derby and a Group II winner in Melbourne at his next start. The other male candidate is the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Crocetti who was the standout domestic performer in the spring. Crocetti and Orchestral never met in competition but between them they recorded 11 wins and three placings from 15 starts in the 2023-24 season and grossed close to $3 million in stakes. Their efforts also ensured that their owners – Daniel Nakhle (Crocetti) and Colin and Helen Litt (Orchestral) – are finalists for Owner of the Year. Jockey of the Year will be contested between six contenders including premiership winner Warren Kennedy, Opie Bosson who won five Group I races in Australia to go with his three in NZ while Grylls, McNab, Spratt and Doyle all had big seasons as well. The New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year results will be announced at the Awards dinner, at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton, on September 8. New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year finalists: Champion Two-Year-Old: Bellatrix Star, Captured By Love, Move To Strike, Velocious. Champion Three-Year-Old: Antrim Coast, Crocetti, Molly Bloom, Orchestral, Pulchritudinous, Quintessa. Champion Sprinter-Miler (Up to and including 1600m): Bonny Lass, Desert Lightning, Imperatriz, La Crique. Champion Middle Distance Horse (1601m-2200m): Campionessa, El Vencedor, Ladies Man, Legarto. Champion Stayer: (2201m & further): Asterix, Mahrajaan, Mark Twain, Mary Louise, Orchestral. Champion Jumper: Berry The Cash, Nedwin, The Cossack, West Coast. Trainer of the Year: Robbie Patterson, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson Partnership. Jockey of the Year: Opie Bosson, Joe Doyle, Craig Grylls, Warren Kennedy, Michael McNab, Sam Spratt. Jumps Jockey of the Year: Shaun Fannin, Portia Matthews, Hamish McNeill. Owner of the Year: Barneswood Farm, Denise Bassett and John Elstob, Eddie Bourke, Gerry Harvey, Ben Kwok, Brendan and Jo Lindsay Partnership, Colin and Helen Litt, Daniel Nakhle, The Oaks Stud, Kelvin and Vanessa Tyler, Waikato Stud. Purchase your tickets here 2022-23 HOTY Voting Rules_FINAL.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 39 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Champion Two-Year-Old: Bellatrix Star, Captured By Love, Move To Strike, Velocious. Champion Three-Year-Old: Antrim Coast, Crocetti, Molly Bloom, Orchestral, Pulchritudinous, Quintessa. Who is going to win each of these categories? The most consistent high level performers or the Karaka Millions listed winners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 32 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Who is going to win each of these categories? The most consistent high level performers or the Karaka Millions listed winners? It would be a travesty and pretty much the end of the pattern if awards go to restricted listed winners ahead of Group race winners. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Who is going to win each of these categories? The most consistent high level performers or the Karaka Millions listed winners? Com'on Chief . why don't ya put it up as a comp and take some entries ? You still have a Bag of coffee prize don't ya ? or a nice Racing Book from your library would be great ? I feel like a good read . bit limited on NZ racing. Shane Dye was good ? 🤣 lovin' Mickey Dee too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 38 minutes ago, curious said: It would be a travesty and pretty much the end of the pattern if awards go to restricted listed winners ahead of Group race winners. Should they apply a points system like they do for the Owners award as follows: First Second Third Group One 12 8 6 Group Two 10 6 4 Group Three 9 5 3 Listed 8 4 2 PJR 8 4 2 Open Hdcp 6 R85 4 R75 3 R65 2 Maiden 1 Or even the NZB Filly of the Year Points system: Points Available RACE TYPE FIRST SECOND THIRD Group 1 12 7 3.5 Group 2 8 4 2 Group 3 6 3 1.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 Not a bad idea though it would take away the anticipation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 48 minutes ago, curious said: Not a bad idea though it would take away the anticipation. Then what criteria do the voters use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 You'd have to ask them wouldn't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 4 hours ago, curious said: It would be a travesty and pretty much the end of the pattern if awards go to restricted listed winners ahead of Group race winners. They did last year. Champion 2yo to a restricted race winner who didn't fire a shot as a 3yo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 11 minutes ago, Doomed said: They did last year. Champion 2yo to a restricted race winner who didn't fire a shot as a 3yo. Yes but they didn't judge what Tokyo Tycoon was going to do the following season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 19 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Yes but they didn't judge what Tokyo Tycoon was going to do the following season. But they did judge his 2yo career based on a sweepstake race. What are the chances of Storm Boy being voted top Aussie 2yo? His biggest win was a sweepstake, but at least he managed a Group 2 win as well. I suspect the Aussies have more adherence to the pattern than we do. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 4 minutes ago, Doomed said: But they did judge his 2yo career based on a sweepstake race. What are the chances of Storm Boy being voted top Aussie 2yo? His biggest win was a sweepstake, but at least he managed a Group 2 win as well. I suspect the Aussies have more adherence to the pattern than we do. He did win a Grp 3 and a listed race. Would have been unbeaten but for the DQ in the Grp 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 26 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: He did win a Grp 3 and a listed race. Would have been unbeaten but for the DQ in the Grp 1. Bit of a worry becoming champion 2yo winning a group 3 and a listed. Pointless me debating this because I'm just philosophically opposed to a horse winning such as award by winning a sweepstake. I was really quite shocked at the numbers of votes he got from people who I thought would have known better. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 4 minutes ago, Doomed said: Bit of a worry becoming champion 2yo winning a group 3 and a listed. Pointless me debating this because I'm just philosophically opposed to a horse winning such as award by winning a sweepstake. I was really quite shocked at the numbers of votes he got from people who I thought would have known better. Then based on that criteria of ignoring the KM which 2yr old wins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 I suppose you could argue that Tokyo Tycoon would get some credit for his G1 Sistema performance despite ultimately losing the race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 3 hours ago, curious said: I suppose you could argue that Tokyo Tycoon would get some credit for his G1 Sistema performance despite ultimately losing the race. Well he would have been unbeaten for the season. Practically he was unbeaten except for a the stable mishap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 I was thinking that the 3yr old pattern wasn't screwed but it possibly is. Orchestral has probably done enough to win the 3yr old title with it's Group wins here and in OZ. However both the KM 3yr old race AND the NZ Filly of the Year series favour milers to middle distance horses. With regard to the 2yr old pattern if you are not eligible for the KM then to claim HOTY you have to travel a lot further on the road and the track than those that focus on the KM and the Sistema over 1200m. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLB2.0 Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Why have 5 jockeys nominated for top jockey? Just to make them feel included? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Do you remember when Lisa Cropp was the premiership leader...but couldn't be awarded top jockey award.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Just now, Freda said: Do you remember when Lisa Cropp was the premiership leader? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLB2.0 Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Unless Warren Kennedy is doing meth, he should have it in the bag. You could argue big race wins for Opie, but the rest...no chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 45 minutes ago, SLB2.0 said: Why have 5 jockeys nominated for top jockey? Just to make them feel included? 13. JOCKEY OF THE YEAR* Managed by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Finalists: a. The jockey whose mounts in the season under review have won most Group and Listed races in NZ b. The jockey whose mounts in the season under review have won most stake money in NZ c. The NZ Jockeys’ Premiership winner in the season under review d. Not more than two nominees nominated by the NZJA from outside of the above finalists Finalists must have been domiciled in New Zealand for more than half of the season under review. Selection of winner: Each member of the Voting Panel nominates one finalist. The winner is the Jockey with the highest number of total votes submitted to the Auditor by the Voting Panel before the prescribed deadline (see Voting Paper) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 23 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Should they apply a points system like they do for the Owners award as follows: First Second Third Group One 12 8 6 Group Two 10 6 4 Group Three 9 5 3 Listed 8 4 2 PJR 8 4 2 Open Hdcp 6 R85 4 R75 3 R65 2 Maiden 1 Or even the NZB Filly of the Year Points system: Points Available RACE TYPE FIRST SECOND THIRD Group 1 12 7 3.5 Group 2 8 4 2 Group 3 6 3 1.5 I could disagree re a 2nd in G1 being the same as a Listed w.. But, I think the risk of awarding on points could negate the actual 'best horse' winning. In that x horse could have a great season winning and placing well in various G1's etc v y horse puts in a couple of Massive runs to win a couple and is clearly the Best for that season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 31 Author Share Posted July 31 34 minutes ago, SLB2.0 said: Unless Warren Kennedy is doing meth, he should have it in the bag. You could argue big race wins for Opie, but the rest...no chance. Perhaps they should deduct points for bad rides? What about strike rate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 31 Author Share Posted July 31 6 minutes ago, Murray Fish said: I could disagree re a 2nd in G1 being the same as a Listed w.. In the NZB Filly of the Year series a Grp 1 second is worth 1 more pointed than a Listed win. Then again should a restricted Listed win be worth anything? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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