The accolades keep coming for Pennyweka the pride of Wairarapa racing, named Stayer of the Year at the NZ Horse of the Year Awards in Auckland on Sunday.
Pennyweka became only the third filly in 60 years to do the trans-Tasman Oaks double, winning the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham in March and then strolling to victory in the Australian Oaks at Randwick in April.
As well as her deeds on the track, Pennyweka attracted a huge following, mainly from her 70-plus member syndicate, who almost brought the grandstand down in her two group one victories.
Pennyweka resumed from a winter spell in the Group One Tarzino Trophy over 1400m at Hastings, and although she finished well back over the distance, which was well short of her ideal, veteran trainer, Jim Wallace told loveracing.nz that he was rapt with the run saying she finished strongly and took a long time to pull up down the back.
A return to Hastings for the group one Arrowfield Stud Plate over 1600m later this month is a possibility for Wallace. He is also eyeing up a race in Sydney and a series of races in Melbourne and said that once Pennyweka gets out to 2000m and more, “we might have a bit if fun.”
