New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) yesterday announced the finalists for the horses-in training categories.
The winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner, on
Sunday, August 7.
All the finalists in each of the categories are eligible for the Horse of the Year award.
The
Champion 3YO category has eight (8) finalists, all of them Group 1 winners, and reflecting the impact the New Zealand three-year-olds made in Classic Races on both sides of the Tasman.
Australian Derby winner Tavago, Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa and Queensland Oaks winner Provocative are on the list along with dual NZ Group One winner Xtravagant and Vinery Stud stakes runner-up Valley Girl.
Champion 2YO: Heroic Valour, Luna Rossa, Sacred Elixir, Xiong Feng
Champion 3YO: Fanatic, Provocative, Rangipo, Risque, Sofia Rosa, Tavago, Valley Girl, Xtravagant
Champion Sprinter (up to 1500m): Ryan Mark, Turn Me Loose, Xtravagant
Champion Middle Distance horse (1501m-2100m): Addictive Habit, Julinsky Prince, Kawi, Turn Me Loose, Volkstok'n'barrell
Champion Stayer (2101m and further): Benzini, Jimmy Mac, Mongolian Khan.
Of particular interest to our
Team at Dynamic Syndications is the 2YO Championship.
This year we purchased the
3/4 brother to HEROIC VALOUR (by Fastnet Rock) before it raced.
Redoute's Choice x Tripled
Our colt was by
REDOUTE’S CHOICE from TRIPLED. He is already
SOLD OUT.
We have a magnificent colt by
FASTNET ROCK available at present but only limited shares remain.
Fastnet Rock x Sevruga
Our colt is from SEVRUGA and is bred to be a slick speedster.
LUNA ROSSA is a Gr1 Winning Filly by Australia’s Hot Sire WRITTEN TYCOON and we have a
Written Tycoon x Special Episode Filly
magnificent filly available with MICK PRICE by Written Tycoon but only limited shares remain.
How the 2yo Finalists Measure Up:
HEROIC VALOUR
HEROIC VALOUR 2yo Colt by Fastnet Rock (AUS) - Myrrh (NZ) (Nassipour (USA))
3 starts: 3 wins (Undefeated)
Black Type Race Results: 1st Gr1 Diamond Stakes 1200m, 1st LR Matamata Slipper Stakes 1200m.
LUNA ROSSA 2yo Filly by Written Tycoon (AUS) - Wild Promises (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
5 starts: 2 wins, 2 placings
Black Type Race Results: 1st Gr1 Ford Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes 1400m.
SACRED ELIXIR 2yo Colt by Pour Moi (IRE) - Baltika (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
6 starts: 3 wins, 1 placing,
Black Type Race Results: 1st Gr1 JJ Atkins 1600m.
XIONG FENG 2yo Colt by Iffraaj (GB) - Stray (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
4 starts: 3 wins
Black Type Race Results: 1st LR Karaka Million 1200m. (A Restricted LR for graduates of the NZ Sales)
On what the results have shown they are all worthy nominations however it would be illogical not to believe
HEROIC VALOUR wouldn’t be crowned Champion 2yo.
He was the
only 2yo to be undefeated.
He was the only 2yo to have
earned Black Type on two occasions – Gr1 and LR wins
Each of the other 3 nominees were unplaced when they attempted other Black Type Races:
Sacred Elixir also ran 6th in a Gr2 and ran 6th in a LR.
Luna Rossa also ran 5th in a Gr2
Xiong Feng also ran 14th in a Gr1