Finalists Announced for 2025–26 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards
New Zealand’s standout thoroughbreds and racing participants will take centre stage at the 2025–26 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards, with this season’s finalists now confirmed ahead of the ceremony in Auckland on Sunday 6 September.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Chief Executive Officer Matt Ballesty said the finalists reflected an exceptional season of racing and achievement.
“This year’s finalists represent the very best of New Zealand thoroughbred racing and the outstanding performances we have witnessed throughout the season,” Mr Ballesty said.
“We have seen some genuine stars emerge, established champions reach new heights and performances that have captured the imagination of racing fans both here and overseas.
“The Awards also provide an important opportunity to acknowledge the jockeys, trainers, owners, stable staff, media and many others whose skill, commitment and hard work underpin those achievements.”
NZTR is excited to unveil a new home for this year’s Awards, with the event moving to the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in the heart of Auckland’s CBD.
The finalists across the horse, rider, trainer and owner categories have now been confirmed, headlined by unbeaten fillies Lara Antipova (AUS) (Russian Revolution) and Well Written (AUS) (Written Tycoon).
Lara Antipova is one of three finalists for Champion Two-Year-Old after winning each of her four starts during an unbeaten juvenile campaign.
Cambridge-based filly Well Written is among four finalists for Champion Three-Year-Old, following an exceptional six-start season that culminated in victory in New Zealand’s richest race, the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).
Trained by Stephen Marsh, Well Written began the season unraced but progressed rapidly through the grades. After winning on debut, she claimed the Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at just her second start.
Following that victory, Australian-based global racing and breeding operation Yulong Investments purchased a half-share in the filly.
Well Written provided an immediate return for her new connections when she won the Group 1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at her next start, before defeating the males in the Group 2 Jimmy Schick Shaw’s Auckland Guineas (1400m).
Further victories in the $1.5 million Listed TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) took her season earnings to $2.6 million.
Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel), runner-up to Well Written in the NZB Kiwi and third in the Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), is also a finalist in the three-year-old category.
She is joined by Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Group 1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus).
Belle Cheval went on to defeat leading Australian fillies in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, making her the only New Zealand-trained horse to win a Group 1 race in Australia during the 2025–26 season.
Ohope Wins and Road To Paris are also finalists for Champion Stayer, alongside Group 2 Trackside Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Paradise Storm (FR) (Masked Marvel) and Group 3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor).
Matamata galloper Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) is the only horse represented in both the Champion Sprinter-Miler and Champion Middle Distance Horse categories after recording victories in the Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m).
First Five (NZ) (Almanzor) and Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) were the other dual Group 1 winners in New Zealand during the season.
First Five enjoyed a career-best campaign as a five-year-old, winning three of his five starts, including consecutive Group 1 victories in the TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham and BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
Six-year-old mare Legarto ended her outstanding racing career in style, recording weight-for-age victories in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa and Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.
Four Australian-trained gallopers – Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca), Jigsaw (AUS) (Manhattan Rain), Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion) and Paradise Storm – are also among the finalists.
Dream Roca won the $1 million Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), while Jigsaw claimed the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) and Kingswood won the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m). Paradise Storm produced a dominant staying performance to win the Group 2 Trackside Auckland Cup (3200m).
Australian-trained horses are now eligible for the New Zealand Awards on the same basis as New Zealand-trained horses competing in Australia, reflecting their growing presence in New Zealand’s richest races.
All finalists in the equine categories are eligible for the 2025-26 Horse of the Year title, which will be decided by this year’s Awards Voting Panel.
Owner of the Year is also expected to be a highly competitive category, with 13 finalists representing racing operations of vastly different sizes. Their respective racing teams range from more than 100 horses to as few as three.
The winners will be announced at the 2025–26 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland on Sunday 6 September.
For more information about the event, please contact Sarah Howard at sarah.howard@nztr.co.nz.
To find out more about this year’s Awards or to purchase tickets, visit nztr.co.nz/awards.
2025–26 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards Finalists & Winners
New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership Winner: Craig Grylls
New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership Winner: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
New Zealand Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership Winner: Amber Riddell
New Zealand Owners’ Premiership Winner: Gerry Harvey
Newcomer to Training - sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Ebony Turner
Champion Two-Year-Old Finalists: Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca), Lara Antipova (AUS) (Russian Revolution) and Seize The Day (AUS) (I Am Invincible)
Champion Three-Year-Old Finalists: Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel), Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) and Well Written (AUS) (Written Tycoon)
Champion Sprinter-Miler Finalists: First Five (NZ) (Almanzor), Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj), Jigsaw (AUS) (Manhattan Rain), Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) and Waitak (NZ) (Proisir)
Champion Middle Distance Horse Finalists: Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion), Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), and Waitak (NZ) (Proisir)
Champion Stayer Finalists: Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor), Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), Paradise Storm (FR) (Masked Marvel) and Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus)
Champion Jumper Finalists: Captains Run (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu), Jesko (NZ) (Atlante), Leaderboard (USA) (Street Cry), Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara), Suliman (NZ) (Redwood) and Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu)
Jockey of the Year Finalists: Opie Bosson, Craig Grylls and George Rooke
Jumps Jockey of the Year Finalists: Emily Farr, Will Featherstone, Mathew Gillies, Jay Kozaczek and Hamish McNeill
Trainer of the Year Finalists: Stephen Marsh and, Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson (Partnership)
Owner of the Year Finalists: Brian Anderton and the Estate of Lorraine Anderton, Archer Family, Cambridge Stud, Jill Devine, John Elstob and Denise Bassett, Gerry Harvey, JML Bloodstock, Jomara Bloodstock, The Oaks Stud, Pencarrow Thoroughbreds, Tony Rider, Kelvin and Vanessa Tyler and Yulong Investments
