The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing awards in Auckland on Sunday night had a distinctly Whanganui flavour.
Sprinter of the Year, Start Wondering, has been a labour of love for a group of horse racing fanatics led by his owners, Stephen Gudsell and his wife Jo.
The seven-year-old gelding dominated the Sprinter of the Year category receiving 50 votes on the strength of his win in the Group One Sistema Railway Stakes on New Year's Day, his narrow second in the Group One JR and N Berkett Telegraph, victory in the Group One NRM Sprint and second in the Haunui Farm Weight-for-age Classic.
Throughout his career Whanganui jockey Johnathan Parkes has been his pilot, while father and daughter training combination Evan and JJ Rayner have prepared the Eighth Wonder-Roseanbar gelding. The Rayners took over from nephew and cousin Paul Belsham who retired after doing all the early work on Start Wondering.
The classy galloper was also bred in Whanganui by Ian (Fish) Hadfield.
It all began when Stephen Gudsell and dairy farmer mate Shaun O'Leary of Who Shot Thebarman fame went to the Karaka Sales six years ago.