An unbeaten season, six consecutive victories and a string of outstanding performances have seen Well Written (AUS) (Written Tycoon) crowned New Zealand’s Horse of the Year for 2025–26.
The Cambridge mare claimed the sport's highest honour at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards this evening, capping a flawless three-year-old campaign that established her as one of the country’s most accomplished performers in recent times.
Well Written was also named Champion Three-Year-Old, after a season that saw her win all six of her starts, including a stunning six-length victory in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).
Her success capped a remarkable season for Stephen Marsh, himself a finalist for Trainer of the Year, who, alongside bloodstock agent Dylan Johnson, personally selected and purchased Well Written for just $80,000. The duo secured her out of Brighthill Farm's draft from the NZB 2024 National Online Yearling Sale. In a single campaign, Marsh guided Well Written from an unraced youngster to New Zealand's Horse of the Year and more than $2.6 million in stakes earnings.
Well Written is the only New Zealand Champion Three-Year-Old this century to be unbeaten at three, with every other titleholder having been beaten at least twice. She also had fewer starts than most but recording six wins is a significant achievement. No other winner of the three-year-old category in the past ten years won more than five times at that age.
In a fitting conclusion to a remarkable weekend, Well Written also claimed the $400,000 Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie, defeating older rivals in the first Group 1 race of the new season. The victory added another significant achievement to her unbeaten record, just one day before she was crowned New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.
Lara Antipova (AUS) (Russian Revolution) was crowned Champion Two-Year-Old – sponsored by TAB NZ, completed an unbeaten four-start juvenile season highlighted by victories in the $550,000 Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and two Group 2 contests.
The Champion Sprinter-Miler – sponsored by sponsored by Winning Edge Presentations, title went to the rapidly emerging First Five (NZ) (Almanzor), whose rise from a rating 83 performer to dual Group 1 weight-for-age winner was one of the season's great success stories.
Five-time Group 1-winning mare Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) collected her second Champion Middle Distance Horse - sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants – title, before concluding a career that earned more than $3 million on the track. While Trans-Tasman Group 1 Oaks winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) was recognised as Champion Stayer – sponsored by Sandfield. Champion Jumper – supported by NZ Jumps went to Jesko (NZ) (Atlante), whose Ben & Ryan Foote Racing Great New Zealand Steeplechase victory and strong Grand National Festival performances helped in secured the title.
Craig Grylls was named Jockey of the Year – sponsored by Crave, after claiming a second consecutive New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership and leading the country in black-type victories and stakes earnings, while Hamish McNeill secured his first Jumps Jockey of the Year – supported by On Track – honour. Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were again named Trainer of the Year – sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds, following a dominant season that produced 20 black-type victories from 787 domestic starts.
The Owner of the Year Award, sponsored by Tompkins Wake, went to international racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong Investments, whose strategic investment in elite New Zealand bloodstock delivered immediate results through standout performers including Champions Well Written and Ohope Wins, as well as Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) and That's Gold (AUS) (Lucky Vega).
The LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content was presented to Trackside NZ Senior Content Producer George Bates, recognising his outstanding filming, directing and editing, which brings the stories, people and horses of Thoroughbred racing to life.
Zac Harkess took out the NZ Stablehand of the Year Award, sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga. A valued member of Lyn Prendergast’s stable for five years, Zac was recognised for his reliability, professionalism and passion for developing young horses.
Two of the evening’s most significant honours were NZTR’s Special Awards, recognising outstanding contributions to the Thoroughbred industry.
The NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing went to the Williams family, represented by three generations of the family, including Sam and Dame Catriona Williams, Richard “Buzz” and Susie Williams, and Tom and Gay Williams. Their involvement in Thoroughbred breeding and racing spans three generations and more than 85 years, with Little Avondale Stud now home to Champion sire Per Incanto, who won both the Dewar and Centaine Awards for the 2025–26 season.
The late Savabeel (AUS) (Zabeel) was named the 2026 recipient of the NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement, recognising an extraordinary legacy on the track and at stud. A dual Group One-winning three-year-old in Australia, he first made his mark with victories in the 2004 Spring Champion Stakes and Cox Plate. He went on to become a champion stallion at Waikato Stud, producing 36 individual Group One winners and 159 stakes winners, with his progeny achieving Group One success in Australia and helping him become Hong Kong’s leading sire by winners in 2018–19. Savabeel was named New Zealand’s champion sire ten times, while his progeny collected 16 Horse of the Year equine category awards.
For full 2025-26 Award winner interviews and content, visit the LOVERACING.NZ Facebook page and website.
2025-26 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards – Winners:
New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership: Craig Grylls
New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
New Zealand Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership: Amber Riddell
New Zealand Owners’ Premiership: Gerry Harvey
Newcomer to Training - sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Ebony Turner
LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content: George Bates
Champion Two-Year-Old - sponsored by TAB NZ: Lara Antipova
Champion Three-Year-Old - sponsored by TAB: Well Written
Champion Sprinter-Miler - sponsored by Winning Edge Presentations: First Five
Champion Middle Distance Horse - sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants: Legarto
Champion Stayer - sponsored by Sandfield: Ohope Wins
Champion Jumper - supported by New Zealand Jumps Racing: Jesko
NZ Stablehand of the Year - sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga: Zac Harkess
Jockey of the Year - sponsored by Crave: Craig Grylls
Jumps Jockey of the Year - supported by OnTrack: Hamish McNeill
Trainer of the Year - sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
Owner of the Year - sponsored by Tompkins Wake: Yulong Investments
NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing: The Williams Family
2025-26 NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement: Savabeel
New Zealand Horse of the Year: Well Written
