Millwood Nike (NZ) Leads NZB Standardbred Dominance at Awards

Millwood Nike (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) was crowned NZB Airfreight New Zealand Horse Of The Year as her fellow National Yearling Sales graduates dominated the NZB Standardbred New Zealand Harness Racing Awards in Christchurch on Monday.

Just minutes after being recognised as the country’s Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly Of The Year, the unbeaten pacing superstar beat out an incredible line up of category winners to be crowned New Zealand Pacer Of The Year before taking the glamour title of NZB Airfreight New Zealand Horse Of The Year.

Three Group One victories, an NZB Standardbred Harness Million triumph and stretching her unbeaten record to 17 wins from 17 starts saw the Mark and Nathan Purdon trained Millwood Nike stand above New Zealand’s harness racing talent in 2023.

The supreme award win came as NZB Standardbred graduates swept all of the two, three and four-year-old pacing award categories at Monday night’s celebration of excellence.

Coastal Babe (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) and Chase A Dream (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) were crowned Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly Of The Year and Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt or Gelding Of The Year, respectively.

The awards came just days after both horses ran to impressive Harness Million victories as three-year-olds at Alexandra Park.

Wins in the Group One New Zealand Derby (2600m) and Group One Northern Derby (2700m) saw Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) crowned New Zealand Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt or Gelding Of The Year, beating out his arch-rival and fellow NZB Standardbred graduate Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

A brilliant 2023 season filled with Group One and stakes race triumphs saw Akuta (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) win the New Zealand Four-Year-Old Pacing Entire or Gelding Of The Year.

Group One winning star Lady Of The Light (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) took out the Four-Year-Old Pacing Mare Of The Year award.

The brilliantly consistent Manhattan (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) was rewarded for her outstanding form at the highest level when she was crowned New Zealand’s Five-Year-Old & Older Pacing Mare Of The Year.

NZB Standardbred graduates also shone brightly in the trotting section of the NZB Standardbred New Zealand Harness Racing Awards.

Group One winning squaregaiter Lovemeto (NZ) (Love You) won the Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt or Gelding Of The Year award.

Mystic Max (NZ) (Village Mystic), purchased through NZB Standardbred’s online subsidiary standardbred.gavelhouse.com, took out the Four-Year-Old Trotting Entire or Gelding Of The Year title. 

The contributions of several of NZB Standardbred’s key supporters were also celebrated at the NZB Standardbred New Zealand Harness Racing Awards on Monday.

Prominent vendors Studholme Bloodstock won the Breeder Of The Year title following a stellar year on the track with their NZB Standardbred graduates.

Start Dreaming (NZ) (American Ideal) , who will be represented by a colt among the stellar Studholme Bloodstock draft at the National Yearling Sales at Christchurch on February 20-21, won the Broodmare Of The Year Title.

The standout producer is the dam of the brilliant half-brothers Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and Dreams Are Free (NZ) (Captaintreacherous).

Stars of the sales ring Bettor’s Delight (USA) and Majestic Son (CAN) were crowned champion pacing and trotting sires, respectively.

Leading National Yearling Sales purchasers Robert and Jenna Dunn of Diamond Racing took the Trainers Of The Year title.

The late Ian Dobson, who made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s standardbred breeding and yearling sales sectors, was recognised with the Owner Of The Year award.