The Lisa Latta stable reigned supreme at the 2024 Majestic Horse Floats RACE Awards at Awapuni on Sunday evening.
Lisa Latta won her third consecutive Trainer of the Year title and her headline horse for the 2023/24 season, Belclare, was crowned Horse of the Year.
Belclare made an irrefutable case to be named Horse of the Year with her two victories last season coming in the Group 1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes and Group 2 Westbury Classic, both at Ellerslie.
The Latta stable also took out the 2 or 3-year-old of the year with Group 2 Hawkes Bay Guineas winners Lantern Way a clear winner of the category.
The Owner of the Year title was shared between David Woodhouse and Mark & Faye Fearon, both strong supporters of the Latta stable. Woodhouse bred and co-owned Belclare who defended her title in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes. The Fearon’s were share holders in 23 individual runners across a spread of RACE Awapuni trainers during the season, the couples headline horses were Town Cryer and Bradman, both winners of black-type races across the 2023/24 season.
Chris Dell was named Jockey of the Year after his best season since his move to the Central Districts in 2020. Since his move, he has quickly made a positive impact to rank amongst the top Central Districts riders. Dell was also crowned Synthetic Jockey of the Year for the 2024 year.
Joanne Pearson, an employee of the Latta stable, took out the RACE Stablehand of the Year title to go alongside her New Zealand title.
The evening concluded with Mark Oulaghan being rewarded for decades of excellence with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing.
Mark began training in the early 1980’s from his Woodville base. He transferred across to Awapuni in 1997 and he has gone to train 567 winners. He has tasted Group One success on two occasions with Auckland Cup winner Who Shot Thebarman and Thorndon Mile winner Shadows Cast.
But Mark has become synonymous with jumps racing throughout New Zealand. His undisputed marquee jumps horse was Rand, who dominated the early 2000’s, winning feature races both here in New Zealand and overseas in Japan and America. More recently he has had success with Grand National Hurdle and dual Grand National Steeplechase winner Counter Punch, triple Grand National Steeplechase and dual Great Northern Steeplechase winner West Coast and dual Grand National Hurdle winner Berry The Cash.
The Oulaghan trained West Coast defeated stable mate Berry The Cash to take out the Jumper of the Year title following his Grand National and Great Northern triumphant.
Wenham Grain & Seed Trainer of the Year: Lisa Latta
Other finalists: Mark Oulaghan , Royden Bergerson
RACE Synthetic Trainer of the Year: Lisa Latta (164 points)
The Pavemasters Jockey of the Year : Chris Dell
Other finalists: Portia Matthews, Shaun Fannin, Jim Chung
RACE Synthetic Jockey of the Year: Chris Dell (77 points)
InToWin.co.nz Owner of the Year: David Woodhouse, Mark & Faye Fearon
Other finalists: Craig & Marie McNeil, Bob Wiltshire
Crowley Forge Master Farriers Ltd Stablehand of the Year: Joanne Pearson
Equivets NZ Broodmare of the Year: Strictly Maternal
Other finalists: Shanina, Galway, Pinders Prize
RACE Synthetic Horse of the Year: Showbastian Coe (23 points)
New Zealand Bloodstock 2 or 3YO of the Year: Lantern Way
Other finalists: Platinum Attack, Fashion Icon
Aberdeen on Broadway Jumper of the Year: West Coast
Other finalists: Berry The Cash
Majestic Horse Float Horse of the Year: Belclare
Other finalists: West Coast, Belardo Boy, Berry The Cash, Town Cryer
Humphries Construction Contribution To Racing: Mark Oulaghan