New Zealand Horse of the Year

Last updated May 29, 2025

There is a New Zealand horse of the year in each of the racing codes:

Harness Horse of the Year

The New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year award is awarded to the Standardbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within a New Zealand racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within New Zealand, regardless of age and sex. Overseas performances are now included.^[2]

**New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year award**
Year	Horse	Age/sex	Breeding	Trainer(s)
2022-23^[3]^[4]	Milwood Nike	3yo f	Captaintreacherous - Albuquerque	Mark & Nathan Purdon
2021-22	Sundees Son	7yo g	Majestic Sun - Stardon	Robert Dunn
2020-21^[5]	Sundees Son^[6]	6yo g	Majestic Son - Stardon	Robert Dunn
2019-20	Ultimate Sniper	4yo h	Bettor's Delight - Reality Check	Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen
2018-19^[7]	Spankem	4yo m	Bettor's Delight - Crushem	Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen
2017/18	Lazarus	5yo h	Bettor's Delight - Bethany	Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen
2016/17	Lazarus	4yo h	Bettor's Delight - Bethany	Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen
2015/16	Monbet	4yo g	Love You - Diedre Darling	Greg P & Mrs Nina M Hope
2014/15	Christen Me	6yo g	Christian Cullen - Splendid Dreams	Cran T Dalgety
2013/14	Terror to Love	6yo h	Western Terror - Love To Live	Graham T Court & Paul T Court
2012/13	Terror to Love	5yo h	Western Terror - Love To Live	Graham T Court & Paul T Court
2011/12	I Can Doosit	6yo g	Muscles Yankee - Sheezadoosie	Mark Purdon & Grant R Payne
2010/11	Carabella	3yo m	Bettor's Delight - Andress Blue Chip	Brendon R Hill
2009/10	Monkey King	7yo g	Sands A Flyin - Tuapeka Vale	Brendon R Hill
2008/09	Auckland Reactor	5yo h	Mach Three - Atomic Lass	Mark Purdon & Greg R Payne
2007/08	Auckland Reactor	4yo h	Mach Three - Atomic Lass	Mark Purdon & Greg R Payne
2006/07	Flashing Red	9yo h	Echelon (USA) - Courvy Kazi (AUS)	Tim Butt & Phil Anderson
2005/06	Mainland Banner	4yo m	Christian Cullen - Corporate Banner	Robert J Dunn
2004/05	Elsu	5yo h	Falcon Seelster (USA) - Interchange (NZ)	Geoff C Small
2003/04	Elsu	4yo h	Falcon Seelster (USA) - Interchange (NZ)	Geoff C Small
2002/03	Take A Moment	7yo g	Armbro Invasion (NZ) - Nakura (NZ)	Tim G Butt
2001/02	Elect To Live	3yo m	Live Or Die - Lopez Elect	Neil Brady
2000/01	Yulestar	6yo g	Cameleon - Victoria Star	Tony F Shaw
1999/2000	Lyell Creek	6yo g	Roydon Glen (NZ) - Kahlum (NZ)	Tim G Butt
1998/99	Christian Cullen	4yo h	In The Pocket (US) - Pleasant Franco	Brian A O'Meara
1997/98	Merinai	6yo m	Tuff Choice (USA) - Meriden	N Ross Baker, John F Bedwell
1996/97	Iraklis	4yo h	Vance Hanover (USA) - Tuapeka Star	Robert Cameron
1995/96	Il Vicolo	4yo h	Vance Hanover (USA)) - Burgundy Lass (NZ)	Roy C & Barry Purdon, Clevedon
1994/95	Il Vicolo	3yo c	Vance Hanover (USA) - Burgundy Lass (NZ)	Roy C & Barry Purdon, Clevedon
1993/94	Chokin	5yo g	Vance Hanover (USA) - Nell's Pride (NZ)	Roy C & Barry Purdon, Clevedon
1992/93	Blossom Lady	8yo m	Farm Timer - Lumber Lady	Derek Jones, Templeton
1991/92	Christopher Vance	5yo g	Vance Hanover (USA) - Disco Girl	Roy C & Barry Purdon, Clevedon
1990/91	Chokin	2yo c	Vance Hanover (USA) - Neil's Pride (NZ)	Brian Hughes, Pukukohe
1989/90	Inky Lord	4yo h	Lordship - Miss Bromac	Brian V Saunders, Methven
1988/89	Luxury Liner	7yo g	Mercedes - Miranda Belle	Roy C & Barry Purdon, Clevedon
1987/88	Luxury Liner	6yo g	Mercedes - Miranda Belle	Roy C & Barry Purdon, Clevedon
1986/87	Master Mood	5yo h	Noodlum - Moods	Kevin L Williams, Weedons
1985/86	Master Mood	4yo h	Noodlum - Moods	Kevin L Williams, Weedons
1984/85	Roydon Glen	4yo h	Smooth Fella - Roydon Dream	W F Fletcher, Templeton
1983/84	Sir Castleton	7yo g	Game Pride - Castleton's Queen	M S MacPherson, Willowmere
1982/83	Bonnie's Chance	7yo m	Majestic Chance (USA) - Bonnie Countess	Richard J Brosnan, Kerrytown
1981/82	Armalight	5yo m	Timely Knight - Ar Miss	H B Smith, Weedons
1980/81	Delightful Lady	7yo m	Tudor Hanover (USA) - Desilu (NZ)	M J Stormont, Pukekohe
1979/80	Lord Module	5yo h	Lordship - Module (NZ)	C C Devine, Templeton
1978/79	No Response	7yo g	Hodgen's Surprise (USA) - Cordsworth	R J Brosnan, Kerrytown
1977/78	Sole Command	6yo g	Scottish Command (NZ) - Single Charm	Roy C & Barry Purdon
1976/77	Stanley Rio	4yo h	Nevele Golfer (USA) - Rio Fleur (AUST)	George Bennett Noble
1975/76	Lunar Chance	5yo g	Majestic Chance (USA) - Irish Idyll	Keith Nicholas Lawlor
1974/75	Young Quinn	5yo h	Young Charles (NZ) - Loyal Trick (NZ)	Charlie S Hunter ONZM
1973/74	Robalan	6yo g	Lumber Dream (NZ) - Elsinore (NZ)	Denis D Nyhan, Templeton
1972/73	Wag	5yo g	Thurber Frost (USA) - Merval	W E Lowe, Ashburton
1971/72	Arapaho	4yo g	Bachelor Hanover (USA) - Dusky Bay	Jack Smolenski, Templeton
1970/71	Stella Frost	6yo m	Thurber Frost (USA) - Stella Grattan	Doody Townley
1969/70	Bonnie Frost	3yo m	Thurber Frost (USA) - Bonnie Widow	George Bennett Noble
1968/69	Garcon Roux	3yo g	Thurber Frost (USA) - La Mignon	George Bennett Noble

Thoroughbred Racehorse of the Year

The New Zealand Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the best racehorse within a New Zealand racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within New Zealand, regardless of age and sex. Overseas performances are now included.

**New Zealand Champion Racehorse of the Year**
Year/Season	Horse	Age/sex	Breeding	Trainer(s)
2022-2023^[8]^[9]	Sharp 'N' Smart ^[10]	4yo g	Redwood (GB) - Queen Margaret (NZ)	Team Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
2021-2022	Probabeel ^[11]	5yo m	Savabeel - Far Fetched	Jamie Richards
2020-2021	Probabeel ^[12]	4yo m	Savabeel - Far Fetched	Jamie Richards
2019-2020	Melody Belle (NZ)	5yo m	Commands - Meleka Belle	Jamie Richards
2018-2019	Melody Belle (NZ)	4yo m	Commands - Meleka Belle	Jamie Richards
2017-2018	Bonneval (NZ)	4yo m	Makfi (GB) - Imposingly (AUS)	Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge
2016-2017	Bonneval (NZ)	3yo f	Makfi (GB) - Imposingly (AUS)	Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge
2015-2016	Mongolian Khan (AUS)	4yo h	Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) - Centafit (NZ)	Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge
2014-2015	Mongolian Khan (AUS)	3yo c	Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) - Centafit (NZ)	Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge
2013-2014	Dundeel / It's a Dundeel (NZ)	4yo h	High Chaparral (IRE) - Stareel (NZ)	Murray Baker
2012-2013	Ocean Park (NZ)	4yo h	Thorn Park (AUS) - Sayyida (NZ)	Gary Hennessy
2011-2012	Mufhasa (NZ)	7yo g	Pentire (GB) - Sheila Cheval (NZ)	Stephen McKee
2010-2011	Jimmy Choux (NZ)	3yo c	Thorn Park (AUS) - Cierzo (NZ)	John Bary
2009-2010	Vosne Romanee (NZ)	7yo g	Electronic Zone (USA) - Madison Avenue (NZ)	Jeff Lynds
2008-2009	Mufhasa (NZ)	4yo g	Pentire (GB) - Sheila Cheval (NZ)	Stephen McKee
2007-2008	Seachange (NZ)	5yo m	Cape Cross (IRE) - Just Cruising (AUS)^[13]	Ralph Manning, Cambridge
2006-2007	Seachange (NZ)	4yo m	Cape Cross (IRE) - Just Cruising (AUS)	Ralph Manning, Cambridge
2005-2006	Xcellent (NZ)	4yo g	Pentire (GB) - Excelo	Mike Moroney & Andrew Scott, Matamata
2004-2005	Xcellent (NZ)	3yo g	Pentire (GB) - Excelo	Mike Moroney & Andrew Scott, Matamata
2003-2004	King’s Chapel (AUS)	3yo c	King of Kings (IRE) - Lower Chapel (GB)^[14]	Colin Jillings & Richard Yuill
2002-2003	Tit For Taat (NZ)	5yo g	Faltaat (USA) - Miss Kiwitea (NZ)	Anne Herbert
2001-2002	Sunline (NZ)	6yo m	Desert Sun (GB) - Songline (NZ)	Stephen & Trevor McKee, Takanini
2000-2001	Sunline (NZ)	5yo m	Desert Sun (GB) - Songline (NZ)	Stephen & Trevor McKee, Takanini
1999-2000	Sunline (NZ)	4yo m	Desert Sun (GB) - Songline (NZ)	Stephen & Trevor McKee, Takanini
1998-1999	Sunline (NZ)	3yo f	Desert Sun (GB) - Songline (NZ)	Stephen & Trevor McKee, Takanini

References

↑ "Horse / Pacer / Trotter of the Year Awards | Harness Racing New Zealand".
↑ "Horse / Pacer / Trotter of the Year Awards".
↑ "Millwood Nike named NZB Airfreight Horse of the Year".
↑ "Millwood Nike named New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year". 18 February 2024.
↑ "NZB Standardbred | Standardbred Auction House".
↑ "Harness racing controversy over Horse of the Year title - Harnesslink". 15 March 2022.
↑ "Spankem NZ Harness Horse of the Year". 28 September 2019.
↑ "Horse of the Year Winners". NZTR.
↑ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz.
↑ "Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) 2019 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
↑ "Probabeel named New Zealand Horse of the Year". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 2023-05-08.
↑ "Probabeel (NZ) Crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year | New Zealand Bloodstock | Thoroughbred Auction House". www.nzb.co.nz.
↑ "Seachange named Horse of the Year". Television New Zealand . Retrieved 30 October 2011.
↑ ASB: King's Chapel (AUS) Retrieved 2010-12-10

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[1] "Horse / Pacer / Trotter of the Year Awards | Harness Racing New Zealand".

[2] "Horse / Pacer / Trotter of the Year Awards".

[3] "Millwood Nike named NZB Airfreight Horse of the Year".

[4] "Millwood Nike named New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year". 18 February 2024.

[5] "NZB Standardbred | Standardbred Auction House".

[6] "Harness racing controversy over Horse of the Year title - Harnesslink". 15 March 2022.

[7] "Spankem NZ Harness Horse of the Year". 28 September 2019.

[8] "Horse of the Year Winners". NZTR.

[9] "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz.

[10] "Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) 2019 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.

[11] "Probabeel named New Zealand Horse of the Year". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 2023-05-08.

[12] "Probabeel (NZ) Crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year | New Zealand Bloodstock | Thoroughbred Auction House". www.nzb.co.nz.

[TVNZ_2008203-13] "Seachange named Horse of the Year". Television New Zealand . Retrieved 30 October 2011.

[14] ASB: King's Chapel (AUS) Retrieved 2010-12-10

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New Zealand Horse of the Year

Contents

Harness Horse of the Year

Thoroughbred Racehorse of the Year

See also

References