Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s all-conquering season is reflected among the nominations for the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards.
The Cambridge duo, who are runaway leaders in the trainers’ premiership, will be represented by Mongolian Khan, Turn Me Loose, Dal Cielo, Sakhee’s Soldier and Maygrove in the horses-in-training divisions.
Mongolian Khan will vie for bragging rights in the staying division with Maygrove, Rising Romance, Rock Diva and Werther while the star colt will also be at short odds for the Horse of the Year title.
Marky Mark is a front-runner to claim the champion two-year-old title following his victories in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes. Dal Cielo, Rocanto and Serena Miss are the other nominations.
Sacred Star’s stunning Group One wins in The Telegraph and the NRM Sprint are likely to give him the edge for the champion sprinter’s award over I Do, In Style and Whosyourmaster.Meanwhile, Soriano’s elite level double in the Zabeel Classic and the Herbie Dyke Stakes has staked a genuine claim for her to be awarded the champion middle distance title. She will be up against Iamishwara, Puccini, Sakhee’s Soldier and Silent Achiever.
The finalists for the champion jumper will be announced toward the end of the jumps season.The winners, and other categories in which the finalists have yet to be released, will be announced at the awards dinner to be held at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton, on Thursday, August 13.
