By Heather Anderson
Fresh off a victory in Saturday's G2 Dato'Tan Chin Nam S. at Moonee Valley first up this preparation, Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}–Imposingly {Aus}, by Zabeel {NZ}) earned top honours as the 2017 New Zealand Horse of the Year during the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards in Auckland Sunday evening. The first 3-year-old filly to take Horse of the Year since Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) in 1999, the NZ$150,000 purchase out of the NZB Premier Yearling Sale was the fourth consecutive Horse of the Year from the barn of co-trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, with that duo also taking the Dunstan Trainer of the Year award and the trainers' premiership.
A winner of the G1 New Zealand Oaks, G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, and G3 Lowland S. in her native land, the Terry Jarvis, Alister Lawrence and John Rattray colourbearer took her show on the road across the Tasman Sea with a dominant 4 1/2-length victory in the G1 Australian Oaks at Royal Randwick to end her campaign in April, the first filly to win both Oaks since 1990.
In addition to earning the most votes (27) in the Horse of the Year voting over G1 New Zealand Derby/G1 Rosehill Guineas hero Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) (15), Middle Distance Horse of the Year Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) (10) and G1 Australian Derby victor Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) (3), Bonneval also accumulated the most votes to be Champion 3-Year-Old and Champion Stayer. Her connections were also presented with the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year trophy, as Bonneval accumulated the most points, 27.5, during the NZB Filly of the Year race series. She is the fourth group winner and best runner out of the winning mare Imposingly (Aus), who was tabbed New Zealand Broodmare of the Year. Bonneval is eyeing a run in the 2400-metre G1 Caulfield Cup on Oct. 21.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
