Te Akau Team Honoured

Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman and apprentice rider Daniel Miller each topped their field at the Matamata Racing Awards last night.

It was the 2nd Annual Awards dinner to honour local achievers in the racing industry over the 2013/2014 season. Te Akau's own Jason Bridgman and Daniel Miller both received awards - Jason as Champion Trainer and Daniel as Champion Jumps Jockey.

The awards are an old tradition for the club that was revamped two years ago after a hiatus of about 20 years. An independent panel is chosen by the club to decide winners for each category while the club's Life Members and Patron sponsor and present the trophies.

Jason won the D. J. O'Sullivan Trainer of the Year, having trained 68 winners during the 2013/14 season for stakes of $1.3 million, including headline act Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) winning the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, and seven stakes winners in total.

This provided a poignant moment for Jason as he was presented his Champion Trainer trophy by legendary local trainer DJ O'Sullivan.

“When I started following racing you were the leading trainer in the country and to be standing here receiving this award from you is very humbling," Jason said.

"I am privileged to be in my position, training the horses we have through David Ellis's purchasing power and syndication. You have to have the horses to accomplish these achievements and also the staff that get the job done. We have terrific staff and this award is as much a credit to them.

"It takes a lot of support to get to this level of success , I want to thank David and Karyn, Mark up in Singapore, all of our owners and as I said, the hardest working staff in Matamata.”

Afterwards Json added - “It was pretty special, having DJ shake my hand and hand me a trophy for my training. Growing up, and when I started in racing, DJ was dominant and I wanted to learn how he trained and be that successful. He understands what it takes to run a top stable and he was very gracious in his congratulations.

One of our hard working staff members, apprentice Daniel Miller, had a memorable night as well - taking home the Champion Jumps' Jockey trophy, presented by club Patron Lindsay Tisch MP .

“I'm very proud of Daniel, he's an invaluable team member and I've no doubt he'll earn plenty of trophies in his career,” said Jason.

Tom Hazlett was also full of praise for Daniel, saying “this is well-deserved as he is a hard-working young man with plenty of talent.”

“It feels great winning this, especially as an apprentice. Tommy is a great mentor and I have to thank Pam, Jason, David Ellis and my parents for helping me along this career path,” said Daniel.

“I would like to thank Tommy for getting all my rides during the season. He tells where I've gone wrong in a race but also praises me for the things I do right. I would also like to thank everyone at Team Te Akau and for the opportunity of riding work for them."

Matamata Racing Club is a top training facility in the heart of New Zealand horse country where 600-800 horses train on any given day for 60 local trainers. Matamata-trained horses won a whopping 399 races, 29 of which were group and listed wins,  in the 2013-2014 season for over $6 million in prize money. Team Te Akau accounted for 68 or 17% of those wins with seven Group and Listed wins.

MC Frank Vosper lifted the occasion with his entertaining manner and a packed crowd enjoyed complimentary drinks and nibbles beforehand. Attendees also gave generously via donation and a raffle to the support of recently injured jockey Thomas Russell.