Te Akau Horse of the Year Finalists

Finalists have been released for the 2024/25 New Zealand Horse of the Year Awards, ahead of voting by a panel.  The black-tie awards dinner will be staged on Sunday 7 September at GLOBOX Arena, Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton, and Te Akau Racing is well represented.

Having won the prestigious Horse of the Year title in five of the past six years, with dual winners Melody Belle and Probabeel, and last year with Imperatriz, who also won the award for Outstanding Global Achievement and Champion Sprinter/Miler, Te Akau has finalists in Champion Two-Year-Old, Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Stayer, Owner of the Year, and Trainer of the Year, while each equine finalist has a chance to be named Horse of the Year.

Champion Two-Year-Old of the Year

Te Akau has won 11 Champion Two-Year-Old titles, and following a season that included winning our eighth Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), eighth Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), which also coincided with our 100th Group One victory, and our ninth Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), the stable is assured of another Champion Two-Year-Old, given that La Dorada and Return To Conquer are the only two finalists.

Te Akau remains the only stable that has won the Karaka Millions, Sistema Stakes, and Sires’ Produce Stakes in the same season, which they have now achieved four times.

Owned by Te Akau Solid Gold Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), La Dorada (2 f Super Seth – Gold Fever, by Savabeel) was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $190,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

Winning four of her five starts, La Dorada included victories in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), $225,000 Group 2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and $550,000 Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), while also finishing second in the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m). 

Winning over $1 million prize money in her first season racing, La Dorada is currently preparing for a Spring campaign in Victoria, from the Te Akau stable at Cranbourne.

Owned by Te Akau 2024 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Return To Conquer (2 c Snitzel – Vaujany, by Lonhro) was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$1.3 million at the Magic Millions' Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Blue Gum Farm.

Unbeaten in all four starts, Return To Conquer won the $110,000 Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), $120,000 Group 3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m), $150,000 Group 3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m), and $550,000 Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). 

A son of four-time Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), with $534,750 in prizemoney, and an assured stallion career, Return To Conquer is preparing for a jump out from the Te Akau stable at Cranbourne (Victoria), ahead of a Spring campaign.

Champion Three-Year-Old of the Year

Te Akau horses have been crowned Champion Three-Year-Old six times, including Imperatriz in 2022, and in a season that included winning our seventh Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m), fifth Karaka Millions 3YO (Restricted Listed, 1600m), and the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m), the stable is represented by Captured By Love and Damask Rose.

Owned by the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Captured By Love (3 f Written Tycoon – Moldova, by Snitzel) was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2023 Magic Millions' Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Milburn Creek.

When winning the $550,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas, Captured By Love recorded her fifth win (four in Group races) from 10 starts, and took her prize money over $700,000.

In work at Matamata, Captured By Love is preparing to trial on 4 August at Taupo.

Damask Rose (3 f Savabeel – Sombreuil, by Flying Spur), a beautifully correct filly, was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000, from the draft of Milan Park, at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and owned by the Te Akau Coming Up Roses Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Damask Rose was undeniable when winning the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (Restricted Listed, 1600m) and simply awesome in the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m), on Champions Day at Ellerslie: the biggest day in New Zealand racing history (overall stakes of $8.2m). 

Winner of four races from seven starts, Damask Rose has won over $2.2 million in prizemoney, struck the NZB Kiwi bonus having won the karaoke Millions' 3YO and is scheduled for a jump out on 18 August, from the Te Akau stable at Cranbourne (Victoria).

Champion Stayer of the Year

Te Akau has previously won the Champion Stayer category with high-class mare Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago), whom David Ellis CZNM purchased at the Magic Millions' Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast for A$260,000 - the quadruple Group One winner, earning $4.1 million in prize money (a domestic record), she was named Champion 3YO, NZB Filly of the Year, Champion Middle Distance Performer (twice) and Champion Stayer, before selling as a broodmare for $3 million in Australia.

This year the stable has another worthy staying representative in Mehzebeen.

Purchased by Sarai Stud for $50,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, Mehzebeen (5 m Almanzor – Salkantay, by Zabeel) is owned by M E & & Y M Davis, Mrs B & W R Duncan, Mrs K J & T L Howe, D J & Mrs S P Rolston, Sarai Stud & Mrs S Waddell.

Runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) as a three-year-old, Mehzebeen won both the $100,000 Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and $400,000 Group 3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) during Cup Week last November at Riccarton, where Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson created history when becoming the first trainers to complete the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas and Group 3 New Zealand Cup double.

And after a very good performance for third in the New Zealand St Leger (2600m), Mehzebeen also won the $120,000 Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawkes Bay Cup (2200m).

Owner of the Year

The epitome of ownership support in Te Akau Racing, John Elstob & Denise Bassett are again finalists and seeking to defend the Owner of the Year title they won for their successes last season. 

Highlighted by owning shares in Champion Mare Imperatriz, John & Denise also share in HOY finalists Captured By Love and Return To Conquer. 

They are extensive travellers to watch their charges race, and are integral part of not just horse ownership in New Zealand, but also racing leadership and administration, as well as business.

Trainer of the Year

Assured of the stable's 16th Trainers’ Premiership, with a tally of 131 wins, Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson also established a new national record of $9.27 million in prize money.

As a comparison, to illustrate the increased prize money on offer, the record-breaking season of 203 wins and $8.25 million in stakes money was established in 2022/23 by Walker, who was joined in partnership last season by Bergerson to achieve 169 wins and $8 million in stakes money, while in 2023/24 Walker also steered the Te Akau stable at Cranbourne (Victoria) to win NZ$7.2 million in stakes money in Australia.

Including the four titles he won for the stable in Singapore, Walker, incredibly, has won 11 Champion Trainer titles for Te Akau. 

Under the tutelage of Walker, Te Akau recorded 24 wins last season in Australia, and 26 in 2024/25, while the Te Akau stable at Riccarton, led by assistant trainer Hunter Durrant, won the South Island Trainers Premiership with 50 wins, including four stakes’ wins, three of which occurred during NZ Cup Week in November - these horses were not however included in this tally for the Premiership which is based on horses located in the South Island.

Again, there was a high ratio of stakes' winners for Te Akau this season: 23 in total (18 NZ/5 Australia) - including three Group Ones, the Karaka Millions' double, the inaugural NZB Kiwi, and the 1000 Guineas/NZ Cup double - another highlight being four wins on Matamata's premier day, three at stakes' level.

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Overall, Te Akau has won 79 titles at the New Zealand Horse of the Year awards, including 23 horse awards and 20 awards for people in the past seven years. 

Date:           Sunday, 7 September 2025

Time:           5.00pm

Location:     GLOBOX Arena, Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton

Dress:          Black Tie

Tickets:       Individual ticket $250 | Table of 10 $2,250