The Christchurch Casino South Island Racing Awards were presented during a function at Riccarton Park Racecourse on Friday, with standout three-year-old filly Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns) named Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old.
The Samantha Wynne-trained daughter of Ten Sovereigns had seven starts last season for five wins including three at stakes level. She won the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day, then romped home by six lengths in the Listed Gore Guineas (1355m) and by eight and three-quarter lengths in the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m). She earned $296,550 in stakes.
Pivotal Ten is raced by Colin Wightman, who bought her for $15,000 from the 2022 National Weanling Sale. He was later joined in the ownership by Cambridge Stud’s Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay. Pivotal Ten is now being trained in Australia by Ben, Will and JD Hayes.
Full list of winners:
2024/25 SOUTH ISLAND HORSE OF THE YEAR: Pivotal Ten
TWO-YEAR-OLD: Cool Aza Rene
THREE-YEAR-OLD: Pivotal Ten
SPRINTER: Mystic Park
MILER: Matscot
STAYER: Riviera Rebel
POLYTRACK: Spartan
NZ Bloodstock SOUTHERN FILLY OF THE YEAR: Dream Of The Moon
BROODMARE: Inferno
STALLION: War Decree
TRAINER: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson (Te Akau Racing South Island)
JOCKEY: Tina Comignaghi
TOP APPRENTICE JOCKEY: Yogesh Atchamah
MOST PROMISING JUNIOR RIDER: Floor Moerman
ASHLEE MUNDY MEMORIAL JOCKEY CHOICE AWARD: Floor Moerman
OWNER: Glenn Ritchie
BREEDER: Greg Tomlinson, Nearco Stud