Southland Harness Racing Awards 2026

Bruce Stewart Journalist

The annual Southland Harness Awards were held tonight at Ascot Park Racecourse in recognition of the sport’s highest achievers of last season.

The Premier Award - the Regent Car Court Horse of the Year was won by Lakelsa.

Owned by brothers Bruce and Al Sinclair and trained by Regan Todd, Lakelsa in the 2025 season won three of her eleven starts including the G1 New Zealand Breeders Stakes at Addington. She was also placed second in the G3 Wyndham Champagne Stakes and third in the G2 Ladies Sprint at Ashburton.

Al and Bruce Sinclair after winning The NZ Breeders Stakes (Race Images Photo)

The Trainer of the Year and The Driver of the Year Awards were once again won by Nathan Williamson.

This year is the seventeenth time Nathan has won the Southland Drivers Premiership and his winning stakes of $1,249,052 is a personal best.

His Southland Trainer’s Premiership win is his ninth and is a new Southland record, surpassing Henry Skinners eight titles, two of which he shared with Alan Devery.

Beaudiene Blinkz was named Southland Pacing Broodmare of the Year and Kylie Ree was crowned Southland Trotting Broodmare of the Year.

Owned by Dave Kennedy, Beaudiene Blinkz is the dam of Jumal who won six of this seven starts last season and was New Zealand Two Year Old of the Year.

Jumal (Race Images Photo)

Kylie Ree owned by Nathan Williamson, is the dam of Dominion and New Zealand Trotting FFA winner Gus.

Gus after winning the Dominion Handicap (Race Images Photo)

Further Awards:

Night N Day Winton 2YO Trotting Filly

Duchess Maria after winning at Addington (Race Images Photo)

Duchess Maria

Owners: F J Price and K V Price

Trainer: Nathan Williamson

Nevele R Stud 2YO Pacing Filly

Miki's Deal and Matty Williamson winning at Addington (Race Images Photo)

Miki’s Deal

Owners: M D Fairbairn, Mrs D B Fairbairn

Trainer: Brett Gray

Aldebaran Park 3YO Trotting Filly

Mor Moonlight after her win at Ashburton (Race Images Photo)

Mor Moonlight

Owners: T Kilkelly, Mrs J F Kilkelly, J S McMath, A G Dennis

Trainer: Kirstin Green

Diamond Creek Farm 3YO Pacing Filly

Captains Mistress winning at Alexandra Park (HRNZ Photo)

Captains Mistress

Owners: Boots Properties Racing Pty Ltd

Trainer: Nathan Williamson

Carriers Arms Hotel 3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding

Always Dreaming (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Always Dreaming

Owners: Nine Three Syndicate, C C Alcock, Nude Again Syndicate

Trainer: Nathan Williamson

Transport Services Ltd 4YO+ Trotting Mare

Hidden Talent (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Hidden Talent

Owners: Griffins Syndicate

Trainer: Nathan Williamson

EH Ball ITM 4YO+ Trotting Entire/Gelding

Bring On The Muscle (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Bring on the Muscle

Owners: Mrs J M Barron

Trainer: Clark Barron

Craig Heyrick at Harcourts 4YO+ Pacing Mare

Lakelsa and Robbie Close winning at Addington (Race Images Photo)

Lakelsa

Owners: B H Sinclair and A D Sinclair

Trainer: Regan Todd

Mataura Licensing Trust 4YO+ Pacing Entire/Gelding

Wag Star (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Wag Star

Owners: W H McDowell, Mrs M J McDowell, W E Bain, Mrs P M Bain

Trainer: Craig Ferguson

Caduceus Club Trotter of the Year

Our Pinocchio (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Our Pinocchio

Owners: Griffins No.3 Syndicate and Griffins Syndicate

Trainer: Phil Williamson

Hamish Mavor Trophy for Northern Southland Club Horse of the Year

Haley Jaccka (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Hayley Jaccka

Owners: C F Smaill and Mrs A G Smaill

Trainer: Brett Gray

Robin Dundee 3YO Colt/Gelding of the Year

Captain Amore (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Captain Amore

Owners: C D Milne, Mrs A M Milne, I D Milne, Mrs L Milne, Mrs E M Carnie, P J McEntyre, Mrs B E McEntyre

Trainer: Alister Black

Robin Dundee 3YO Filly of the Year

Chicago Sky (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Chicago Sky

Owners: Owners: F J Price and K V Price

Trainer: John and Katrina Price

Southern Standardbred Breeders Association Fastest Mile Rate Filly/Mare

Ruby Roe (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Ruby Roe- 1-51.9 at Wyndham March 2025

Owners: Owners: F J Price and K V Price

Trainer: Nathan Williamson

Southern Standardbred Breeders Association Trotting Broodmare of the Year

Kylie Ree (dam of Gus)

Owners: N P Williamson

Southern Standardbred Breeders Association Pacing Broodmare of the Year

Beaudiene Blinkz (dam of Jumal)

Owners: W D Kennedy

Vetsouth Limited Junior Driver of the Year

Ellie Barron

227-11-24-22 - $198,842

Woodlands Stud Driver of the Year

Nathan Williamson

440-68-57-67 - $1,249,052 UDR 0.2773

Invercargill Licensing Trust Trainer of the Year

Nathan Williamson

192-46-28-32 - $921,1211 UDR 0.3762

Macca Lodge Trotter of the Year

Duchess Maria (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Duchess Maria

Owners: F J Price and K V Price

Trainer: Nathan Williamson

Macca Lodge Pacer of the Year

Lakelsa

Owners: B H Sinclair and A D Sinclair

Trainer: Regan Todd

Regent Car Court Horse of the Year

Lakelsa

Owners: B H Sinclair and A D Sinclair

Trainer: Regan Todd