Age-Group Accolades for NZB Stars at New Zealand Horse of the Year Awards

Karaka graduates claimed five trophies during Sunday night’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards in Hamilton, with a pair of age-group standouts leading the way.

Karaka Millions heroines Velocious (Written Tycoon) and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) were clear-cut winners of the Champion Two-Year-Old and Champion Three-Year-Old categories respectively, each receiving the votes of all but two of the voting panel.

Velocious was offered by her breeders Inglewood Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where syndicators Go Racing secured her for $190,000. She banked more than $922,000 in a superb juvenile season, winning four of her six starts including the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).

Orchestral was bred by Barneswood Farm and was offered by Haunui Farm in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood bought her for $625,000 for owners Colin and Helen Litt.

Orchestral lined up in eight races during her three-year-old season and strung together five wins in succession between January and March. After winning in three-year-old company at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day, she stepped on to the big stage and scored breathtaking victories in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the Group Two Avondale Guineas (2100m), the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Sydney’s Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). She concluded her season with a placing in the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m).

Orchestral earned more than $2.1m in that stellar three-year-old season, and her performances were also recognised with the title of New Zealand’s Champion Stayer (distances of 2201 metres and further).

Another Karaka graduate to be honoured on Sunday was Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), who was named Champion Middle-Distance Horse (1601 to 2200 metres). An outstanding Group One winner on both sides of the Tasman as a three-year-old the previous season, Legarto had eight starts as a four-year-old and collected another three wins including the Group One Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m). She was also a strong-finishing placegetter in the inaugural $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic 4YO (1600m), the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and the Group One New Zealand Stakes (2000m).

Legarto was a $90,000 purchase by Ancroft Stud from the draft of Highline Thoroughbreds at Karaka 2021. She has had 15 starts for nine wins and three placings, earning more than $1.9m.

The NZB Filly of the Year Series victory by Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High) was also celebrated during Sunday night’s awards. A $150,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2022, Molly Bloom amassed 28 points during the Filly of the Year Series –

almost double the total of her nearest challenger – and banked more than $600,000 in stakes. She won the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m).