Top honour for Goodwood
11 Sep 2017Goodwood Stud’s outstanding season of 2016-17 has been crowned with the ultimate accolade.
The Manawatu nursery was named New Zealand Breeder of the Year at a glitzy black tie function in Auckland on Sunday evening.
The stud became the first Central Districts-based operation to win the award for more than two decades after basking in the glory of their graduates Gingernuts, Nicoletta and Order Again.
The star of their show was the dual Group One New Zealand Derby and Rosehill Guineas winner Gingernuts, trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, with the son of Iffraaj and Double Elle also claiming the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-prepared Nicoletta also enjoyed a grand season with the daughter of Savabeel claiming the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes and finishing runner-up in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic. She was also fourth in both the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks and the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes.
Across the Tasman, Brian Smith’s Order Again trumped his rivals in the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes and prior to his Eagle Farm victory the Iffraaj gelding had finished third in the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate.