The Auckland Branch of the Thoroughbred Breeders held their annual awards dinner in Auckland last Friday night.
The event, sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance, recognises the achievements of Auckland-based breeders and stallions over the past season, and each year pays tribute to a member who has made an outstanding contribution to the industry in this region. This year the honour was bestowed upon Haunui Farm proprietor Ron Chitty.
Auckland branch members last season bred 14 group winners including six group one winners Il Quello Veloce, Fully Fledged, The Pooka, Prize Lady, Rockdale and Samantha Miss. Other group winners bred in the branch include Lady Alberton, Valpolicella, Nanjara, Storm Signal, Ista Kareem, Kosi Bay, Gallic, and Kaatoon. Farson a winner of two group one races in Macau received an International Achievement Award.
Westbury Stud's senior stallion Faltaat received the awards for Champion Auckland sire based on domestic stake earnings and Champion Auckland based sire on combined international and domestic stake earnings.
The Sybil Hayward Trophy for Broodmare of the Year was presented to Toonsie the dam of Kaatoon and the top performers Black Panther and Crossroads. She is owned by Peter Walker, who paid tribute to long time Auckland branch member Robert Dawe for purchasing this mare for him.
Breeder of the Year went to Westbury Stud who produced the Champion Two-Year-Old Il Quello Veloce, along with the stakes winners Nanjara and Storm Signal who were bred by partnerships based at the stud.
Around 140 guest were in attendance and were entertained by the repertoire of MC Peter Earley before being treated to an in depth interview with the "Two Bob's" – Bob Skelton and Bob Vance. Joined by former commentator and raconteur Keith Haub, the gentlemen relayed tales of past racing misdemeanours and talked about the top horses and riders they were associated with – in Bob Skelton's case Great Sensation, Showgate and Van der Hum and in Bobby Vance's case Uncle Remus, McGinty and The Phantom Chance.
A sale entry to the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sales was auctioned live and purchased by Soliloquy Lodge, while a number of interesting silent auction items sold to raise funds for the Sunline Trust which manages the International Management Scholarship promoted by the Auckland Branch.
The 2008 Award Recipients are:
Il Quello Veloce - Chestnut filly byCaptian Rio ex Nishaani, bred by Westbury Stud Ltd., winner of the Gr.1 Ford Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.
Fully Fledged – Chestnut colt by Align ex Fledged, bred by Jim Pike, winner of the Gr.1 ARC Ford Diamond Stakes.
The Pooka – Bay gelding by Tobougg ex The Banchee, bred by Sharen Mack, winner of the Gr.1 2000 Guineas.
Prize Lady – Bay mare by Prized ex Pen Bal Lady, bred by Don and Rochelle McLaren, winner of the Gr.1 ARC Stella Artois Auckland Cup.
Rockdale-Bay gelding by Danroad ex Komplete Kaos, bred by Messrs Bennett, Cossey, Sutherland and Donna Logan, winner of the Gr.1 QTC T J Smith Classic.
Samantha Miss – Bay filly by Redoute's Choice ex Milliyet, bred by Garry and Lyn Witters, winner of the AJC Champagne Stakes Gr.1.
Kaatoon – Bay filly by Kaapstad ex Toonsie, bred by Peter Walker, winner of the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, and Gr.3 Lowland Stakes.
Gallic – Bay gelding by Zabeel ex Gesine, bred by Roberts Holdings Ltd, winner of the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup
Kosi Bay – Chestnut mare by Spinning World ex Calvinia, bred by Don and Rochelle McLaren, winner of the Gr.3 AJC Emancipation Stakes.
Ista Kareem – Chestnut gelding by Germano ex Princess Touch, bred by Jan Hepi, winner of the Gr.3 Launceston Cup.
Storm Signal – Chestnut mare by Keltrice ex Storm of Words, bred by City Bloodstock Ltd, winner of the Gr.3 WW Cockram Stakes.
Nanjara – Bay mare by Kilimanjaro ex Shafty Lady, bred by Ferncourt Pty Ltd, winner of the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup.
Valpolicella – Bay filly Red Ransom ex Riesling, bred by Noel Robinson and Haunui Farm Ltd, winner of the Gr.3 The Oaks Stud Classic.
Lady Alberton – Chestnut filly by Golan ex Alberton Star, bred by Brian, and Evan Kerr-Taylor and Annie Storey, winner of the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes.
International Achievement Award – Farson – Bay gelding by Postponed ex Lady Gesine, bred by Karaka Group Ltd, winner of the Gr.1 Macau Derby, and Gr.1 Macau Gold Cup
Champion Auckland Based Sire on Domestic Earnings and Combined Domestic and International Earnings – Faltaat.
Sybil Hayward Trophy – Broodmare of the Year – Toonsie.
New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Breeder of the Year -Westbury Stud
New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry – Ron Chitty.
- Michelle Saba
The event, sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance, recognises the achievements of Auckland-based breeders and stallions over the past season, and each year pays tribute to a member who has made an outstanding contribution to the industry in this region. This year the honour was bestowed upon Haunui Farm proprietor Ron Chitty.
Auckland branch members last season bred 14 group winners including six group one winners Il Quello Veloce, Fully Fledged, The Pooka, Prize Lady, Rockdale and Samantha Miss. Other group winners bred in the branch include Lady Alberton, Valpolicella, Nanjara, Storm Signal, Ista Kareem, Kosi Bay, Gallic, and Kaatoon. Farson a winner of two group one races in Macau received an International Achievement Award.
Westbury Stud's senior stallion Faltaat received the awards for Champion Auckland sire based on domestic stake earnings and Champion Auckland based sire on combined international and domestic stake earnings.
The Sybil Hayward Trophy for Broodmare of the Year was presented to Toonsie the dam of Kaatoon and the top performers Black Panther and Crossroads. She is owned by Peter Walker, who paid tribute to long time Auckland branch member Robert Dawe for purchasing this mare for him.
Breeder of the Year went to Westbury Stud who produced the Champion Two-Year-Old Il Quello Veloce, along with the stakes winners Nanjara and Storm Signal who were bred by partnerships based at the stud.
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| (Left to right) Keith Haub, Bob Skelton, Bob Vance and Peter Earley entertain the guests at the Auckland Branch Annual Awards dinner Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell |
A sale entry to the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sales was auctioned live and purchased by Soliloquy Lodge, while a number of interesting silent auction items sold to raise funds for the Sunline Trust which manages the International Management Scholarship promoted by the Auckland Branch.
The 2008 Award Recipients are:
Il Quello Veloce - Chestnut filly byCaptian Rio ex Nishaani, bred by Westbury Stud Ltd., winner of the Gr.1 Ford Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.
Fully Fledged – Chestnut colt by Align ex Fledged, bred by Jim Pike, winner of the Gr.1 ARC Ford Diamond Stakes.
The Pooka – Bay gelding by Tobougg ex The Banchee, bred by Sharen Mack, winner of the Gr.1 2000 Guineas.
Prize Lady – Bay mare by Prized ex Pen Bal Lady, bred by Don and Rochelle McLaren, winner of the Gr.1 ARC Stella Artois Auckland Cup.
Rockdale-Bay gelding by Danroad ex Komplete Kaos, bred by Messrs Bennett, Cossey, Sutherland and Donna Logan, winner of the Gr.1 QTC T J Smith Classic.
Samantha Miss – Bay filly by Redoute's Choice ex Milliyet, bred by Garry and Lyn Witters, winner of the AJC Champagne Stakes Gr.1.
Kaatoon – Bay filly by Kaapstad ex Toonsie, bred by Peter Walker, winner of the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, and Gr.3 Lowland Stakes.
Gallic – Bay gelding by Zabeel ex Gesine, bred by Roberts Holdings Ltd, winner of the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup
Kosi Bay – Chestnut mare by Spinning World ex Calvinia, bred by Don and Rochelle McLaren, winner of the Gr.3 AJC Emancipation Stakes.
Ista Kareem – Chestnut gelding by Germano ex Princess Touch, bred by Jan Hepi, winner of the Gr.3 Launceston Cup.
Storm Signal – Chestnut mare by Keltrice ex Storm of Words, bred by City Bloodstock Ltd, winner of the Gr.3 WW Cockram Stakes.
Nanjara – Bay mare by Kilimanjaro ex Shafty Lady, bred by Ferncourt Pty Ltd, winner of the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup.
Valpolicella – Bay filly Red Ransom ex Riesling, bred by Noel Robinson and Haunui Farm Ltd, winner of the Gr.3 The Oaks Stud Classic.
Lady Alberton – Chestnut filly by Golan ex Alberton Star, bred by Brian, and Evan Kerr-Taylor and Annie Storey, winner of the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes.
International Achievement Award – Farson – Bay gelding by Postponed ex Lady Gesine, bred by Karaka Group Ltd, winner of the Gr.1 Macau Derby, and Gr.1 Macau Gold Cup
Champion Auckland Based Sire on Domestic Earnings and Combined Domestic and International Earnings – Faltaat.
Sybil Hayward Trophy – Broodmare of the Year – Toonsie.
New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Breeder of the Year -Westbury Stud
New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry – Ron Chitty.
- Michelle Saba
