Harness Racing Australia (HRA) are pleased to announce the Winona and Maori Miss Awards for 2021. The Awards recognise the Australian Broodmare of the Year for the pacing and trotting gaits.
The Awards are voted on a 3-2-1 system by the six respective Australian State Breeders Associations.
The Winona Award, first presented in 1976 is presented to the owner of the pacing Broodmare of the Year. Born in 1900, Winona was the dam of eight winners and three successful sires and was the grand dam of Walla Walla.
The Maori Miss Award, for Trotting Broodmare of the Year was inaugurated in 2020 and was first won by La Coocaracha.
The Members of HRA congratulate the connections of the winners of the Winona and Maori Miss Awards for 2021.
Winona Award – 2021 Pacing Broodmare of the Year
Beninjurd
2007 Art Major USA – My Liberty Belle
Bred and owned by Benstud Standardbreds
The progeny of Beninjurd had an outstanding season, winning 13 races and $342,762 in prizemoney including two individual Group One winners.
Star filly Tough Tilly, who races for the EB Research Partnership won the Group 1 Three Year Old APG Fillies final setting a time of 1:52.5 in process. Her two year old full brother, Lightning Dan also had an great year in taking out the Group 1 APG Victoria Gold Bullion Final at Melton in May.
Somedan was also a winner of four races in Tasmania and amassed $40,679 seasonal earnings.
Tough Tilly and Lightning Dan join the Centenario as Group One winners from Beninjurd – a remarkable achievement.
Maori Miss Award – 2021 Trotting Broodmare of the Year
Tough Tussle NZ
2000 Wrestle NZ – Tough Whiz NZ
Bred by J W Farrell.
Owned by Alex Kay, Peter Gadsby, Charlie Montebello, Ryan Kay, Mark Congerton, Vincent McDonald and the Estate of M Van Rens.
Imported to Australia from New Zealand in 2005, Tough Tussle had a successful career on the track winning at three metropolitan tracks – Moonee Valley, Globe Derby and Harold Park, amassing $105,135 in career earnings highlighted by the 2006 Group 3 Lightfoot Laurels.
Her second foal is the three-time Group 1 victor Tough Monarch, a winner of $541,094 to date. In 2021, Tough Monarch won two Group 1 races – the QLD Trotting Cup and the Knight Pistol, earning $174,875 for the season.
With Tough Tussle’s third foal winning one race, her next foal, Tough Love had a great two year old year for trainer Rickie Alchin. Tough Love won five races and was not out of the placings from 11 starts, earning $51,075 with a last start third in the Group 1 Breeders Crown Final for two year old trotting fillies.
In season 2021, Tough Monarch and Tough Love won a combined 14 races from 31 starts and $225,950 in prizemoney.
