Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
El Vencedor Crowned 2024-25 Sport Nation Horse of the Year
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing • September 7th, 2025 11:00 pm
Photo: Selena Wright
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
