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Horse racing - Source: Photosport
Central Districts-trained galloper Vosne Romanee is New Zealand's Horse of the Year for the 2009/10 racing season.
The award was announced at the Mercedes thoroughbred racing awards function in Auckland on Friday night.
Vosne Romanee captured 28 of a total 41 votes, defeating other Mercedes Awards category winner Katie Lee.
Vosne Romanee also won the Mercedes Champion Middle Distance Horse title.
Cambridge Stud was very much in the spotlight at the awards function.
Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan collected the Mercedes Owner Of The Year award, the Cambridge Stud-owned filly Katie Lee was the champion three-year-old of the season while Tavistock, who will commence stud duties at Cambridge Stud this year, was the winner of the Sprinter Of The Year award.
Cambridge Stud's champion sire Zabeel collected the Dewar and Centaine Stallion Trophy awards.
In addition Red Ruler, by former Cambridge Stud sire Viking Ruler, won the Mercedes Champion Stayer title.
John Sargent-trained filly Banchee was the winner of the Mercedes Champion Two Year Old title.
In the 'people' categories, Opie Bosson took the Mercedes Jockey of the Year, James McDonald, the McBeath Apprentice Jockey of the Year Award, and Shaune Ritchie won the Dunstan Trainer of the Year Award.
Richard Eynon won the Mercedes Jumps Jockey Award and Fair King, the Mercedes Jumper of the Year.
Trackside TV Presenter Brendan Popplewell captured the Mercedes Media Award.
An emotional Norm Holland took the prestigious Mercedes Contribution to Racing Award.
In the breeding categories, Windsor Park Stud was awarded Mercedes Breeder of the Year, breeders of Monaco Consul, Military Move, Beauty Flash, Gold Onyx and Casabella Lane.
Miss Jessie Jay, dam of two category winners on the same evening, Katie Lee and Banchee, took Mercedes Broodmare of the Year. Volksraad won the Grosvenor Stallion award.
