His deeds also gave his breeder Ian "Fish" Hadfield the Breeders of the Year title for the second season on end.
Trainer of the Year again went to Kevin Myers on the strength of his 69 wins that placed him third in the national trainers' premiership. Myers has won this title since the awards began in the 1999/2000 season. He also again won the Tom Corrigan Trophy for Leading Jumps Trainer after topping the national premiership with 16 wins.
Jumper of the Year went to Wise Men Say for Raymond Connors who races the gelding with father Mark. Wise Men Say won the Irvines Great Northern Steeplechase, the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase, finished second in both the Hawkes Bay Steeple and Pakuranga Hunt Cup and just for good measure placed fourth in the Manawatu steeple.
Having a handful of trials and just three raceday starts before being shipped off to Hong Kong, Matchbreaker was almost overlooked for the Three-year-old of the Year. However, a debut second for trainer Fraser Auret, followed by a smart win in 3yo maiden company prompted a crack at black type. His narrow, but gutsy win in the Gr3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes sealed the deal for his subsequent sale and trip to Hong Kong.
Stayer of the Year went to another Fraser Auret-trained galloper, Alinko Prince. Thirds in both the Gr1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup and the Gr3 Wallaceville Estate Castletown Wellington Cups easily earned him the title.
Victory in the coveted $100,000 Gr2 NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes over 1400m was enough to secure the Sprinter of the Year title for Sensible Princess and another trophy for Fraser Auret's rapidly-filling trophy cabinet.
Miler of the Year came from that other Auret barn on the Marangai. This, of course, is the breeding barn that hatched young Fraser. But it is the feats of La Fille En Jeu under the guidance of father Nigel Auret that were little short of sensational last season.
The now seven-year-old posted wins in the 1600m Gr3 Valachi Downs South Island Breeders' Stakes and the Listed Christchurch Casino Easter Cup, also over the mile. She was also in the money with close up placings in Gr3 and listed company during the season.
Isaac Lupton was a worthy winner of the Leading Jumps Jockey title off the back of his national premiership victory with 13 wins over the fences. His wins on Wise Men Say, especially the Great Northern and Wellington Steeples, were among the many highlights.
The Stuart Tasker Memorial Personality Award went to the ever popular Whanganui farrier Ian "Banjo" Hackett.
This year the WJC introduced a special award to recognise achievements made outside the criteria that govern the eligibility of award recipients. Category winners, apart from Breeder of the Year, must be trained in the Wanganui region that includes the likes of Marton, Hunterville and Waverley.
However, with owners as fortunate, or as astute as Humphrey and Fiona O'Leary, the WJC felt compelled to make an exception.
The couple, of course are widely known as part owners of last season's Sydney Stayer of the Year, the durable Who Shot Thebarman, who they race with Humphrey's brothers and their wives, but they are also fortunate enough to own and race 2018 Gr1 Auckland Cup winner, Ladies First.
She, like Who Shot Thebarman, may be Melbourne Cup-bound giving Humphrey and Fiona two shots at racing immortality.
