Racing: Xcellent top choice

Xcellent became the 14th 3-year-old to be named horse of the year when the New Zealand thoroughbred racing awards were announced in Christchurch last night.

The Pentire gelding, who resumes racing in the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa today, was unbeaten in four starts in New Zealand in 2004-05.

His wins included the New Zealand Derby. Xcellent upped the ante when scoring against older horses in the weight-for-age $100,000 Darley Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie in March.

Voting figures were not announced but the Darley Stakes win probably gave Xcellent the edge over the top 3-year-old filly, Justa Tad.

Justa Tad's wins included the One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton and the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham. She also ventured to Sydney where she was second in the AJC Oaks.

Xcellent also raced in Sydney but in one start was unplaced on a heavy track in the AJC Derby.

Xcellent was also named the top 3-year-old while 2-year-old honours went to Darci Brahma, a group one winner in Brisbane.

Wellington Cup winner Zabeat was voted top stayer, Easter Handicap winner Calveen took out the sprinter-miler title and No Hero was voted top jumper.

There was an unusual result to the weight-for-age category with Balmuse and St Reims being named as joint winners. Balmuse won the Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings while St Reims' wins included the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie in January.

One of the top awards of the night went to transtasman trainer Graeme Rogerson who was presented with the racing excellence trophy.

Rogerson, 58, won his 11th New Zealand trainers' premiership last season and has been a great promoter of New Zealand racing.

Earlier this year Rogerson was honoured with a New Zealand order of merit for services to racing.

Rogerson and his Tuhikaramea training partner Stephen Autridge won the trainers' premiership.

The jockey award winner will not be announced until after the Lisa Cropp inquiry is concluded.

Top apprentice was Matt Cameron.

The top filly was Justa Tad whose trainer and part-owner, Rudy Liefting was top owner.

- NZPA