New Zealand Harness Horse of The Year.

[Gammalite]

They've given the award to an Aussie Trotter.

Doesn't make sense ? 🤔 really as is Not a NZ horse, or NZ trained horses, or owned in NZ either. 

Marketplace was excellent , and looks to have an amazing future, maybe getting beat by the 'Choc's' of Dunn's in the Welcome Stakes stopped him getting the award.

Duchess Megxit with 3 or 4 group 1's could of got the title ? the narrow loss to Treacherous Baby in the NeveleR 3 yearold Fillies Final probably counted against her. 

Merlin beat the Aussies up in Grins Race rich Million slot and the NZ FFA. Probably needed the NZ Cup (4th) or AKLD Cup (2nd)  to take the award though ? 

Meant To Be was outstanding in both Islands winning feature Group 1's .

not a great idea giving it to the Aussie Raider though??  . Tiz Not a New Zealand horse.  

How will that promote harness racing in New Zealand?  still it's own country and not a state of Oz (yet 😉)

 

[Brodie]

28 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

They've given the award to an Aussie Trotter.

Doesn't make sense ? 🤔 really as is Not a NZ horse, or NZ trained horses, or owned in NZ either. 

Marketplace was excellent , and looks to have an amazing future, maybe getting beat by the 'Choc's' of Dunn's in the Welcome Stakes stopped him getting the award.

Duchess Megxit with 3 or 4 group 1's could of got the title ? the narrow loss to Treacherous Baby in the NeveleR 3 yearold Fillies Final probably counted against her. 

Merlin beat the Aussies up in Grins Race rich Million slot and the NZ FFA. Probably needed the NZ Cup (4th) or AKLD Cup (2nd)  to take the award though ? 

Meant To Be was outstanding in both Islands winning feature Group 1's .

not a great idea giving it to the Aussie Raider though??  . Tiz Not a New Zealand horse.  

How will that promote harness racing in New Zealand?  still it's own country and not a state of Oz (yet 😉)

 

Thought the same Gamma.

How an Ozzie horse could be given the NZ horse of the year award, not a great look for NZ.

Just Believe amazingly good horse but doesnt do much to promote us here.

Would highly doubt the Ozzies giving NZ anything?

[goldilocks]

Just Believe  was always the only contender  for horse of the year based on performance, won the Rowe cup, the Dominion,and the slot race at Cambridge.I suspect Keeyang Zahara would  have been  2nd placed.These were by far the best performers, I think that they are Australian is immaterial 

[Gammalite]

3 hours ago, goldilocks said:

Just Believe  was always the only contender  for horse of the year based on performance, won the Rowe cup, the Dominion,and the slot race at Cambridge.I suspect Keeyang Zahara would  have been  2nd placed.These were by far the best performers, I think that they are Australian is immaterial 

Fair enough I spose. You are very close neighbours and all , and just Love the International Competition.

and JUST BELIEVE did prove to be an International great. 

But it just sounded like it had/ should be a NZ horse.

Just had a quick Squizz at the Australian Harness horse of the Year. And both Lazarus and Smolda won the title in the past decade. So the Allstars pair from NZ  have replied ok and are great Aussies !! 👍😁

NOTE: There's been many multiple winners here in Oz , as when your'e good , you're always good lol. for Australian Harness Horse of the Year. 

First winner's in the 70's when they first ran the Horse of Year title were Paleface Adios and Maori's Idol . Maori's Idol still the 'Only Trotter' to take the title , nearly 50 years later.

3 time winners  King of Swing, Im ThemightyQuinn, Blacks A Fake, Westburn Grant  and Our Sir Vancelot. 

2 time winners  were  Village Kid, Gammalite, Beautide , Sokyola,  and I would think 'LEAP TO FAME' if he wins the Interdominion and NZ Cup this year could add a 2nd 'Horse of Year'  to the title he Won last year .

 

Swayzee with the Jump on him so far ? beating him in the Hunter Cup the other day.  

[Spatchcock]

Did you seriously mention Meant To Be in the same breath as Just Believe for Horse of the Year?

Why shouldn't the most dominant horse on our shores win the top award? 

Not awarding it that way would make a mockery of the whole thing.

Comparing him to those pacers, Gammalite, none of them had the dominance or credentials of Just Believe.

Anyway, winning the top award he is purely going head to head with the Pacer of the Year (Merlin).

And Merlin was the winner in an even field of pacers who all had good performances but suffered defeats.

 

[Gammalite]

2 hours ago, Spatchcock said:

Did you seriously mention Meant To Be in the same breath as Just Believe for Horse of the Year?

Why shouldn't the most dominant horse on our shores win the top award? 

I guess the words 'New Zealand Harness Horse' awards are what I was driving at. 

If it was 'Harness Racing Awards' like for Awards for Best Performance (s) like the the 'Oscars' have for best picture. It would be easier to understand and make more sense.  then 'Just Believe' certainly in the mix. 

But since they say New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year  , maybe they should give it to a New Zealand horse? . 

Meant To Be , the 2 year old , won the Group 1's of Sires Stakes and Harness Millions , as well as the Golden Gait and 'ACE of Clubs' races  to have a record breaking $1/4 million in stakemoney for a 2 year old trotter. An outstanding bit of training by Barry and Scott, and any horse setting a new record deserves some credit . Might be the next Just Believe? 😉.