Kings pinhooked champion filly crowned queen of New Zealand racing

Well Written has been crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year for 2025-26 after completing an unbeaten season with six consecutive victories.

The Cambridge mare was also named Champion Three-Year-Old after winning all six starts, including the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) by six lengths.

Trainer Stephen Marsh and bloodstock agent Dylan Johnson purchased Well Written for $80,000 from Brighthill Farm’s draft at the 2024 NZB National Online Yearling Sale, with her six-win campaign taking her stakes earnings beyond $2.6 million.

Well Written, who was pinhooked by Benji and Harry King out of the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, is the only New Zealand Champion Three-Year-Old this century to remain unbeaten at three and became the first winner of the category in the past decade to record six victories at the age.

She added a Group 1 victory over older horses to her record when she won the $400,000 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, one day before being crowned Horse of the Year.

Lara Antipova was named Champion Two-Year-Old, First Five Champion Sprinter-Miler, Legarto Champion Middle Distance Horse, Ohope Wins Champion Stayer and Jesko Champion Jumper.

Craig Grylls was named Jockey of the Year and Hamish McNeill Jumps Jockey of the Year, while Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were named Trainer of the Year after recording 20 black-type wins from 787 domestic starts.

Yulong Investments was named Owner of the Year, the Williams family received the NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing and the late Savabeel was named the 2026 recipient of the NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement.