Swing retains title as Australian King

CHAMPION pacer King Of Swing has been crowned Australian Harness Horse of the Year for the second successive year.

King Of Swing becomes the ninth horse to win the title at least twice since its inception in 1976.

He joins an illustrious list of champions: Beautide (2014 & ‘15), Im Themightyquinn (2011, ’12 & ’13), Blacks A Fake (2007, ’08 & 2010), Sokyola (2004 & ’05), Our Sir Vancelot (1997, ’98 & ’99), Westburn Grant (1989, ’91 & ’92), Village Kid (1986 & ’88) and Gammalite (1982 & ’84).

The son of Rocknroll Hanover raced 16 times last season for 11 wins, most notably in his second successive Miracle Mile, as well as four placings and banked $871,870.

Bred by Breckon Farms in New Zealand, King Of Swing is owned by B V Richardson, M A Congerton, Go Racing, G L Moore, S D McGregor, R Patriarca, F Patriarca, S E Simmonds and G J Richardson.

King Of Swing is trained by Belinda McCarthy and was driven by Luke McCarthy in 15 of his 16 runs. David Moran drove him when third in the Victoria Cup.

Champion former Kiwi mare Amazing Dream , which beat King Of Swing in the Group One Blacks A Fake at Albion Park, was crowned the Aged Pacing Mare of the Year in a huge result for rookie trainer Nathan Purdon.

She raced 10 times in Australia last season for four wins, two seconds and three thirds. She won three times at Group One level – Blacks A Fake, The Rising Sun and Queen of the Pacific – and also the Group Two Kilmore Cup.

It was another huge season for the powerful Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable, winning three Pacing Horse of the Year categories: Ladies In Red (Three-Year-Old Filly), Act Now (Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding) and Encipher (Two-Year-Old filly).

Ladies In Red was so dominant she was in talks for the overall Horse of the Year title.

The daughter of Mach Three raced 10 times last season for eight wins, two seconds and earned $306,210. Her Group One wins were the Victoria Oaks, Breeders’ Crown final and Vicbred Final. She’s raced by Lauriston Bloodstock.

Act Now built on a strong two-year-old season to dominate at three, winning seven of his 14 starts, including the Victoria Derby and Breeders’ Crown Final for owners B C and V A Edward.

South Australian owner-breeder Tyson Linke enjoyed a huge season with his two-year-old filly Encipher, which raced 11 times for five wins, five placings and $278,359 in earnings.

The daughter of Captaintreacherous’ biggest wins were the Group One Breeders’ Crown and Allwood Final and the Group Two Southern Cross Final.

Captaintreacherous also sired the Two-Year-Old Pacer of the Year, Andy and Kate Gath’s exciting Catch A Wave, ehicvh is raced by Richard and Pauline Matthews. He raced just seven times for six wins, including the Breeders Crown and Australian Pacing Gold Sovereign Finals.

Young trotting sensation Plymouth Chubb was so dominant in his freshman season he won the overall Australian Trotter of the Year crown.

After galloping on debut, father-and-daughter Peter and Kerryn Manning took through an undefeated 14-run streak after that, including the Redwood Classic, Breeders’ Crown and Vicbred Finals all at Group Onw level, for owners G S Benson and S K Hegyi.

The Aged Trotter of the Year title went to classy Kiwi squaregaiter Majestic Man largely through his deeds early last year when he won the V L Dullard Cup, Trotting Grand Prix and Aquagait Equine Mile all at Group One level.

Majestic Man, trained by Phil Williamson and Sonya Smith at varying times, had 11 Australian starts last season for four wins, three placings and $189,550. He’s raced by the Griffins Syndicate.

Plymouth Chubb and Majestic Man are by Majestic Son.

Popular mare Pink Galahs, which won the Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly title a year earlier, was crowned Aged Trotting Mare. She won five of her 22 starts, twice at Group One level, along with eight placings and $141,954 in stakemoney.

She’s trained by Matthew Craven and raced by C G Lewis, L J Lewis and B R Healy.

The powerful Aldebaran Lodge team snared the Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt/Gelding title with Aldebaran Zeus, which raced 12 times for six wins, five placings and $118,840 for trainer Brent Lilley.

He won the Group One Breeders Crown Final and finished second in the Vicbred and Victoria Trotters’ Derby Finals.

Lilley capped a big season by also winning the Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly award with the brilliant Queen Elida, which dominated with nine wins and four placings from her 13 starts.

The daughter of Love You is raced by G J McKenzie and R H Dixon. Her major wins were the Victoria Trotters’ Oaks and Breeders’ Crown at Group One level.

Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin added to their three pacing titles by winning the Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly crown with Just A Bit Touchy.

She won four of her nine starts, headlined by the Breeders’ Crown, with another two placings and banked $77,380 for owners Big Wookie Racing Group, L A McMillan, R D Smart, C R Tonkin and B J Prentice.

• ADAM HAMILTON