What an Awards' Night

Te Akau celebrated success at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year awards last night in Hamilton, when Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) was crowned New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year and stable rider Matt Cameron named champion jockey.

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for David & Nicky Hurst, Dianne Ford and Ray and Jan Batten, Costa Viva accumulated the most points after finishing second the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), first in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), second in the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) and third in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m).

Costa Viva became the fifth Te Akau filly to win the coveted prize, the most of any stable in New Zealand.

In addition to receiving a trophy the owners also received a bonus cheque for $30,000, while Ken Williams and Ken Baggins earned a $10,000 breeders' bonus and trainer Jason Bridgman also received $10,000.

“It has been very exciting because it has been my first foray into horse ownership and I'm having a fantastic time, thanks to David Ellis buying this horse and Jason (Bridgman) and Pam (Gerard) for training her so well,” Dianne Ford said.

“She has been a pleasure to train and when fillies of her ability come along they make our job easy,” Bridgman said. “She's a real professional thoroughbred with a great work ethic and no chinks in her armour."

After finishing runner-up in the jockey premiership for the past two years, success in 2014 was richly deserved by Matthew Cameron.

With 143 wins for the season, he finished 25 clear of his nearest rival and included 11 group and listed victories in overall stakes' earnings of $2.6m.

“I've had my speech written for the last few years, so it's good to finally get up here,” Cameron joked. “It was a great season, not only because I won the premiership but also to win a couple of group ones and the success in other stakes races. I was injured when I won the Auckland Cup and that made it even better.

“I don't want to be a one trick pony; I've been consistent for the last three years and I'll keep pushing ahead and it's only going to get better from here."

Cameron started the season with a hat-trick of wins last Thursday at Hastings, and tomorrow includes both Bridgman trained pre-post favourite Spellbinder (O'Reilly) and Prospero (High Chaparral) at Te Rapa.

Following a somewhat luckless three race campaign in Queensland, when hampered by bad draws, Costa Viva has returned to training after three weeks spell at Te Akau Stud. She looks a picture and a return to racing is eagerly awaited.

The Te Akau team looking the part at the awards from left: Jeff, Matt, Stacey, Pam, Jamie, Tommy, Jason and Daniel - our stars!