Karaka graduate Bonneval (Mafki) became the fifth successive horse of the year winner trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman when she was crowned Horse Of The Year for the second successive time at Sunday’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards in Auckland,
The record-breaking training partnership prepared the 2014 winner Dundeel, who was followed by Mongolian Khan (2015 & 2016) and now Bonneval.
The award was introduced in 1971 and Bonneval is the eighth horse to have earned the title more than once.
Other multiple winners have been Sunline (4), Show Gate, Rough Habit, Xcellent, Seachange, Mufhasa and Mongolian Khan
Bonneval (NZ) claiming the 2017 Gr1 New Zealand Oaks (Pic – Peter Rubery Race Images PN /NZB)
Racing for for owners Terry Jarvis, Alastair Lawrence and John Rattray, Bonneval added the Gr1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) in Melbourne to her victories in the previous season’s Gr1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Australian Oaks (2400m).
She has won seven of her 12 starts and $1.68 million in prizemoney – more than 10 times her $150,000 purchase price at the 2015 Premier Sale.
In addition to her back-to-back Horse of the Year wins, Bonneval was also voted Champion Middle-Distance Horse (1601-2200m).
- New Zealand Bloodstock
