PHOTO
Pembrook's Delight, who was named Otago Harness Horse Of The Year on Saturday night, is due back in work at the end of the month.
Pembrook's Delight was spelled after her upset win in the group one Harness Jewels for 4yr-old mares at Cambridge in June.
She also won the Southern Belle series final at Winton in April for Central Otago owners, Bill and Pauline Bain and Judy Campbell and trainers Geoff and Judy Knight.
Her stake earnings for the season were $104,523.
"We plan to start her off again in December. She is still eligible for the Southern Belle series," Geoff Knight said at awards function in Palmerston.
Bain said his experience of the HJ was akin to winning an Olympic gold medal.
Pembrook's Delight was a major contributor to the 35 races won during the 2011-12 season by the Knights, who finished second to Phil Williamson (40 wins) among the Otago trainers.
Matthew Williamson, the Oamaru junior driver, drove the majority of the Knight winners on the way to a tally of 87 wins for the season. He was second among the NZ junior drivers.
The owners of Pembrook's Delight made a special presentation to him to mark the occasion of his 200th win, the Southern Belle final.
A certificate was presented to Tracey Cawley, of Oamaru, who completed the harness cadet scheme.
The Otago awards:
Pacers
Two-year-old: Lilly Jones.
Three-year-old: The Agent.
Four-year-old: Pembrook's Delight.
Five-year-old and over: Flyin Courage.
TrottersTwo-year-old: Russell Galleon.
Three-year-old: Duke Of The Moment.
Four-year-old: Springbank Sam.
Five-year-old and over: The Fiery Ginga.
Driver and junior driver: Matthew Williamson.
Trainer: Phil Williamson.
Broodmare: Princess Della (dam of Dealornodeal, Kyvalley Mac and Just A Cracker).
Harness Horse of the Year: Pembrook's Delight.
The win of Fleur de Lune in the $70,000 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on Saturday was special for her rider Jason Jago, The New Zealand Herald reports.
A year ago Hastings-based part owners John and Colleen Duncan shouted Jago a $6000 laser operation to correct the eye damage the South African suffered in a serious race fall in his home country a few years ago.
The major success Jago longed for to repay that kindness narrowly avoided the team several times in the second half of last season.
Jago does not get the opportunities he deserves, but rides all of the team of Cambridge trainer Lee Somervell, who prepares Fleur de Lune.
"Jason is a real team player and adds a huge amount to our operation, " Somervell said.
Somervell declared the gallant mare at "only 80% fit" going into the race.
Fleur de Lune outfinished Fritzy Boy and a gallant Xanadu after a tough slog in testing conditions.
Fleur de Lune paraded looking well above herself in condition for her first start following a spell and broke out in a sweat behind the saddle even before Jago mounted.
That made it critical Jago timed his home-straight run at exactly the right moment to prevent a blow out close to the finish.
And he did.
"That's a 10-out-of-10 ride," beamed Somervell as he watched Fleur de Lune walk back across the birdcage.
Somervell is now very much looking forward to the $200,000 Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings on September 1.
"She'll be much improved for that race and while I know the others will be fitter as well.
We're happy to take them on."