New Sponsor for NZ National Breeding Awards

Media Release - Tuesday August 11

The inaugural National Breeding Awards, to be held in Cambridge later this month, will be sponsored by Hamilton based Ebbett Volkswagen as part of a new partnership agreement with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

To be known as the Ebbett VW NZTBA National Breeding Awards, the event will honour the Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan Breeder of the Year, the Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year sponsored by Arion Pedigrees and the three Champion stallion trophies - Dewar (Australasian earnings), Centaine (Worldwide earnings) and Grosvenor (New Zealand earnings) Awards, which were previously presented at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Horse of the Year Awards dinner.

The new event will also incorporate the successful group one awards dinner previously held by the Waikato branch of the NZTBA who will host this evening. It will feature their traditional awards, including the award for the breeder of the Seton Otway trophy for the Horse of The Year, the Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever, and the Personality of the Year award, along with trophies for the breeders of 21 Group One winners.

The presentation for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, Jennifer Eccles, will also be made on the evening.

Ebbett Volkswagen are pleased to be associated with the NZTBA and with this prestigious new event.

“We are happy to be partnering with the NZTBA and are looking forward to a great working partnership in the future,” Ebbett Volkswagen Dealer Principal Poll Oosthuizen said.

“We like to sponsor locally and supporting the NZTBA is appealing as the majority of their members are Waikato based and can utilise our vehicles, whether it’s a ute for the farm, a family car or a people mover for staff.”

NZTBA chief executive Justine Sclater is delighted to have Ebbett Volkswagen join the family of NZTBA’s commercial partners.

Advertisement

“I think they will be a great fit. We all need vehicles whether they are for personal use or on our farms,” she said. 

“Volkswagen is a fantastic and trusted brand to be associated with and we are looking forward to growing this relationship.”

As part of their sponsorship Ebbett Volkswagen will be donating a six-month lease on a VW Amarok Ute to be auctioned live at the event.

Also, to be auctioned is a service nomination to Ocean Park – courtesy of Waikato Stud, a Helicopter tour of Waiheke Island for six people which features a lunch at Man O’ War Vineyards, kindly donated by Shaw’s Cambridge in association with Man O’War Vineyards, along with a Cocktail Party for twelve guests in your own home catered by Food By Design with wines provided by Soho Wines and Quartz Reef.

The event catering for over 400 people will take place at the Don Rowlands Centre, Lake Karapiro near Cambridge on August 22, featuring fine cuisine and wines generously sponsored by Soho Wines and Quartz Reef.

The dinner will be run in conjunction with the Waikato NZTBA Branch annual stallion tour on the Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd. - NZ Racing desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Torque To Be Sure Survives Protest For 3YO Guineas Win
Torque To Be Sure survived a protest in the stewards’ room to shrug his maiden tag on the biggest stage with a win in the $3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday January 17
Here is the full list of 111 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2026 NZB KARAKA YEARLING SALE PREVIEW – Sky Thoroughbred Central this Monday
Caroline Searcy’s extensive preview of the Centenary New Zealand National Sale will premiere on Sky Thoroughbred Central Monday night at 7.30pm AEDST. This is a must watch chance to see over ten percent of the Book 1 catalogue and a some select Book 2 yearlings as well, ahead of sale ground inspections this week and the Sale’s commencement on Sunday January 25.
Irish Bred Camelot wins G3 Totara Lodge Trentham Stakes
Trentham has long been Michael and Matthew Pitman’s favourite track, and that sentiment was further enhanced on Saturday after they recorded a memorable double at the Upper Hutt track.
Breeding to Win - 2026 Magic Millions 2YO Classic
The Gold Coast is the centre of the Australasian thoroughbred universe this week, abuzz with all the theatre and excitement of the Magic Millions on and off the track!
Ones to Watch – Rosehill
In years to come when racing trivia nights are held, a question will be - what was the horse champion jockey Jett Newman rode in her first metropolitan race win?  And the answer is our One to Watch.
Mulcaster Finds First Winner for Portland Sky
A Group I winning son of champion sire Deep Field, Widden Stud’s Portland Sky put his first winner on the board at Ascot on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for talented filly Daryte, who was purchased by Guy Mulcaster.
Birchley Back to NZ for More Millions
Queensland trainer Liam Birchley is no stranger to success in the richest two-year-old race in New Zealand, the $1million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and he is hoping to replicate the winning feeling next weekend as he prepares to line-up a pair of quality fillies in the Ellerslie dash for cash.
Kiwi Bred Speed Dragon Strikes in G3 January Cup
Ready to Run Sale graduate Speed Dragon (NZ) (Darci Brahma) delivered a milestone moment for his trainer Francis Lui with a spectacular come-from-behind victory in the A$4.2m Group Three January Cup (1800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday. 
Geese That Lay Golden Eggs – What’s in the Future?
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sale was highlighted by 15 yearlings that sold for $1million or more which was two more than last year when just 13 hit the magic mark, but still considerably down on 2024 which saw 23 millionaires sold following on from 20 in 2023.