Te Akau dominates awards

RACING

AUCKLAND: There was a tangerine glow to the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Award on Sunday night, with the colours of Te Akau Racing the dominant element at the virtual event.

Te Akau stable star Melody Belle retained her horse of the year title and also headed the voting in the sprintermiler and middledistance categories.

Stablemate Cool Aza Beel was a unanimous choice as 2yrold of the year, Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards was the sole contender for trainer of the year and stable rider Opie Bosson was named jockey of the year.

Te Akau Shark was runnerup to stablemate Melody Belle in the sprintermiler category and Probabeel was runnerup to Catalyst in the 3yrold category.

Veteran Palmerston North trainer Kevin Gray received the prestigious award for outstanding contribution to racing.

Gray (83) finished 12th on the national premiership last season.

Melody Belle was a runaway winner, receiving 90% of the 60 votes cast.

Award winners.—