Racing: Dennis brothers' contribution honoured

Four stalwarts of southern thoroughbred racing were recognised for their huge contributions at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing awards in Hamilton last night.

The Dennis brothers - Joe, Martin, Ray and Tony - were the recipients of the outstanding contribution to New Zealand thoroughbred racing award.

It was appropriate timing after their mare, The Diamond One, provided some unforgettable moments last season following the tragic death of her trainer, Steven Anderton.

The brothers have worn many hats in the industry - breeding, owning, training and sales vendors.

Horses bred by them have won countless group 1 races in New Zealand and Australia from the Cox Plate to The Jewel's win in the 2002 One Thousand Guineas.

''Those successes apart, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the lifelong achievements of tonight's recipients is that they have always worked in unison,'' NZTR chairman Matthew Goodson said.

Goodson also noted the successes have been achieved from their base in Southland.

''Any perceptions of isolation have been anything but a barrier as they have utilised champion regional stallions such as Kurdistan, Mellay, Noble Bijou and Gate Keeper to develop their wonderful breed and then ranged throughout New Zealand, and in more recent times to Australia, sourcing the best possible blood.

''The results speak for themselves in decades of success based around mares and racehorses with that unique prefix to their names.

"Broodmares of the Year The Pixie, The Fantasy and The Grin, class gallopers The Phantom Chance, The Jewel, The Phantom, The Twinkle and The Diamond One, that special racemare from last season, all have a ring to them that will forever be associated with their breeders, the Dennis Brothers.''

Pin-up colt Mongolian Khan, the winner of the New Zealand Derby and the ATC Australian Derby, was an overwhelming winner of the Horse of the Year, champion 3yr-old and champion stayer awards.

Otago Daily Times racing writer Matt Smith was a finalist in the media award.

NZTR award winners

• Grosvenor award (earnings in NZ): Savabeel

• Dewar award (earnings in Australasia): Savabeel

• Centaine award (earnings worldwide): O'Reilly

• Broodmare of the year: Parfore

• Breeder of the year: IDL Breeding Ltd (breeder of Volkstok`N`Barrell and Sauvito)

• NZ Bloodstock filly of the year: Platinum Witness

• Media award: Brendan Popplewell (Trackside host).

McBeath apprentice jockey of the year: Rory Hutchings

• Jumps jockey of the year: Michael Mitchell (premiership winner)

• Jockey of the year: Matthew Cameron