Eamon Maguire Otago harness horse of year

Westwood Beach speedster Eamon Maguire was crowned horse of the year  for the 2016-17 season at the Otago harness awards at Forbury Park on Saturday night.

The New Zealand Derby placegetter’s outstanding season made him a short-priced favourite  so there were few surprised faces  in the  crowd of more than 150  at  the gala awards when the Graeme Anderson-trained pacer took top honours.

Anderson had four chances  for the overall award after his horses  prevailed in four award categories.

Titan Banner, who has returned to the track in the hottest of early season form, secured the award for the 5yr-old and older male pacer. The horse may have pushed his stablemate, Eamon Maguire, harder for overall honours.  However, his third placing in the New Zealand Cup and two group race wins at Alexandra Park did not count towards the win, as they came in the Canterbury colours of the Purdon-Rasmussen stable.

Anderson’s Motu Time To Shine  was named the 3yr-old pacing filly, while Hopes and Dreams scored another win for the trainer in the 4yr-old mares’ category.

Titan Banner’s main rivals ahead of the New Zealand Cup, super  pacers Heaven Rocks and Lazarus, were in the limelight, too.

Heaven Rocks, who is part-owned by Phil and Margaret Creighton of Mosgiel, was crowned the best Otago-owned horse of last season.

Lazarus helped his dam, Bethany, owned by Dunedin’s Gavin Chin,  prevail in the broodmare excellence award.

Tuapeka Lodge,  which  produced classy performers including Bonnie Joan and Break Dance,  won the breeder  of the year title.

Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson took home the biggest haul of awards  by winning all seven trotting  categories.

The stable’s Dominion handicap hopeful, Monty Python, clinched the older male trotters title with his group 3 win in the Southern Lights trot at Ascot Park in March.

Fellow Williamson group performer Majestic Man edged out his stablemate, Springbank Lachie, in a closely contested 2yr-old male trotters category.

Muscle Moment and Zoey’s Gift took the 3yr-old trotting categories, Blazing Under Fire and Alberbeck took the 4yr-old sections and Bobbins took the 5yr-old and older trotting mare title.

Williamson was also  named trainer of the year and was presented a special award for achieving 500 trotting wins last season.

His stable reinsman, son  Matthew Williamson,  was Otago driver of the year.

National junior premiership winner Rory McIlwrick won both the Otago junior drivers’ award and the young achievers special award.

- Jonny Turner