The New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards were held last night at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton, celebrating the champions of the 2014/15 season. Included is the Owner’s Premiership, won for the second successive year, by Sir Peter Vela.

Pencarrow’s blue and white colours were carried to victory 48 times in the 2014/15 season across New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, United Kingdom and Ireland.

The winning Pencarrow gallopers were spread amongst the stables of Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, Ken and Bev Kelso, Jan Hay, Shaune Ritchie, Jason Bridgeman, Donna Logan, Chris Gibbs, Frank Ritchie, Roydon Bergerson and Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott’s Wexford Stable in New Zealand, Robert Hickmott and David Hayes and Tom Dabernig in Australia, Laurie Laxon and Michael John Freedman in Singapore and Charles Hills and David Wachman in the UK and Ireland.

“Dad is very passionate about the industry and has had a love of racing his whole life,” commented Victoria Vela, Sir Peter Vela’s daughter who accepted the award on his behalf last night. “It is something that plays a major role in his life, he lives and breathes it, and it is something that is just a part of him.

“For a passion he is so proud of, it is an honour to see him acknowledged with such a prestigious award for a second year.

“To be able to achieve this kind of success it takes an army of people. From our manager Leon (Casey), our resident trainers Rambo (Steven Ramsay) and Julia (Ritchie), to all the trainers, trackwork riders, stablehands, farriers, vets and anyone who steps onto Pencarrow and becomes part of the team.

“To have followed up last year’s enormous success with 48 wins this season is incredible, and it’s hard to imagine doing that again but we will give it a try.”

Pencarrow gallopers are spread far and wide this season with horses residing in stables in New Zealand, Australia and further afield. Northern hemisphere gallopers Hundi, based in the United Kingdom, and Torcedor, based in Ireland, as well as the Australasian contingent, carry the hopes of the Pencarrow team for another successful season.