Six years in the making, El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) now stands as New Zealand’s
champion.
The Cambridge-trained galloper was crowned Sport Nation Horse of the Year for 2024
25 at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s black-tie Awards dinner in Hamilton on
Sunday night, proof that some champions simply need time to flourish.
At six, El Vencedor reached spectacular new heights, becoming the only New Zealand
trained horse to win three Group 1 races this season. His dominance saw him secure 45
of the 55 votes cast for the sport’s ultimate honour.
He also claimed the Champion Middle Distance Horse – sponsored by Happy Hire Award,
and was a finalist among the nation’s top sprinter-milers.
Other equine champions included, Champion Two-Year-Old – sponsored by Entain
Australia & New Zealand: La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), Champion Three-Year-Old –
sponsored by TAB New Zealand: Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), Champion Sprinter-Miler –
sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants: Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj), Champion
Stayer – sponsored by Sandfield: Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) and Champion Jumper –
sponsored by New Zealand Jumps Racing: West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu).
In the people categories, Premiership stars Craig Grylls (Jockey of the Year – sponsored
by BcgCrave) and Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson (Trainer of the Year- sponsored by
Dunstan Horsefeeds) added New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards
silverware to their tally, while Shaun Fannin claimed his fifth Jumps Jockey of the Year –
sponsored by Rothley Recruitment title. Cambridge Stud proprietors Sir Brendan and
Lady Lindsay took out Owner of the Year – sponsored by TAB Racing Club.
The evening also recognised some of the sport’s most influential contributors. Ross
Coles received the prestigious NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing after
a remarkable 60-year tenure as Clerk of the Course at Ellerslie Racecourse. Two-time
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, Sheila Laxon, was honoured with the NZTR Award for
Outstanding Global Achievement. While Stephanie Hyde-Richards (New Zealand
Stablehand of the Year – sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga) and
The Guerin Report (LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital &
Content) rounded out the accolades.
The battle for Trainer of the Year provided the night’s closest finish, with Mark Walker
and Sam Bergerson just edging out Stephen Marsh by five votes, who himself trained El
Vencedor.
While mares have dominated Horse of the Year honours in recent years, El Vencedor
broke the mould, being just the third male galloper to win the title in the past decade.
El Vencedor climbed the ranks through his early years, however, his breakthrough came
at five with a maiden Group 1 win in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at
Ellerslie Racecourse. By six, he was near-unbeatable, winning five of his 11 starts in 2024
25, all at Group level, with four of those victories by more than three lengths.
That streak included a stunning Group 1 hat-trick, capped by a repeat Bonecrusher
triumph where he started a red-hot $1.40 favourite.
Bred and raced by Mark Freeman and David Price, El Vencedor (Spanish for the victor) is
by Shocking and a brother to Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) winner Chocante (NZ)
(Shocking), as well as a half-brother to BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Sky
Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
Ironically, El Vencedor’s career almost never happened in New Zealand, he was
earmarked for Hong Kong after trialling impressively as a two-year-old, but failed strict
vet tests. That twist of fate proved golden, with the gelding amassing $1.48 million in
stakes this season alone and more than $2 million in total career earnings, while
delivering unforgettable moments for his connections.
El Vencedor began a new campaign on an encouraging note when fifth in the Group 1
Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday 6 September.
A Champion by name, and now officially by title, El Vencedor is New Zealand’s Sport
Nation Horse of the Year.
2024-25 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards – sponsored by Sport Nation Final Results
Jockeys’ Premiership – sponsored by OnTrack: Craig Grylls
Trainers’ Premiership – sponsored by Stable Books: Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson (Te Akau Racing)
Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership – sponsored by Iron Horse: Lily Sutherland
Owners’ Premiership – sponsored by Bello Vida: Cambridge Stud
Newcomer to Training – sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Barbara Kennedy
NZB Filly of the Year: Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn)
LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content: The Guerin Report
Other finalists: Aidan Rodley, Andre Neill, Entain Media Branded Video Content Team, Joshua Smith, Ziba Creative.
Champion Two-Year-Old – sponsored by Entain Australia & New Zealand: La Dorada (53)
Also: Return To Conquer (7)
Champion Three-Year-Old – sponsored by TAB New Zealand: Savaglee (37)
Also: Leica Lucy (10), Damask Rose (5), Alabama Lass (3), Captured By Love (1), Willydoit
Champion Sprinter-Miler – sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants: Grail Seeker (34)
Also: Alabama Lass (12), El Vencedor (5), Here To Shock (5), Provence (1), Crocetti
Champion Middle-Distance Horse – sponsored by Happy Hire: El Vencedor (51)
Also: Snazzytavi (5), La Crique (1)
Champion Stayer – sponsored by Sandfield: Willydoit (41)
Also: Wolfgang (6), Mehzebeen (5), Blue Sky At Night (2), Trav (1)
Champion Jumper – sponsored by New Zealand Jumps Racing: West Coast (56)
Also: Berry The Cash (2), Jesko (1), Billy Boy
New Zealand Stablehand of the Year – sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga: Stephanie Hyde-Richards (employed by Autridge Racing)
Also: Lucinda Aitken (Sharrock Racing), Gee Saejorhor (Champagne Racing Stables)
Jockey of the Year – sponsored by BcgCrave: Craig Grylls (54)
Also: Sam Spratt (5)
Jumps Jockey of the Year – sponsored by Rothley Recruitment: Shaun Fannin (51)
Also: Joshua Parker (8), Portia Matthews (1), Kylan Wiles
Trainer of the Year – sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds: Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson (Te Akau Racing) (30)
Also: Stephen Marsh (Marsh Racing) (25), Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott (Wexford Stables) (1)
Owner of the Year – sponsored by TAB Racing Club: Cambridge Stud (35)
Also: Tony Rider (6), Denise Bassett & John Elstob (4), JML Bloodstock (3), The Oaks Stud (3), Waikato Stud (2), Gerry Harvey (1), Pencarrow Thoroughbreds (1), Kim & Peter McKay, Kelvin & Vanessa Tyler
NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing: Ross Coles
NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement: Sheila Laxon
Sport Nation Horse of the Year: El Vencedor (45 votes)
Also: Savaglee (3), Leica Lucy (2), Alabama Lass (1), Captured By Love (1), La Dorada (1), Snazzytavi (1), West Coast (1)
