Hawke's Bay trainer Graham de Gruchy described the induction of Horlicks into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame last night as "an honour and a privilege".
Mr de Gruchy, one of Hawke's Bay's most prominent thoroughbred breeders, was thrilled to hear his former horse Horlicks, now based in Cambridge, had
made the elite list of inductees for 2010.
The 26-year-old grey mare last night joined the likes of Phar Lap and Sir Tristram and names such as Lance O'Sullivan and Ken Browne.
Mr de Gruchy stopped in Cambridge yesterday morning to congratulate his beloved beauty.
"The best way of describing her is to say she's typical of most females. She's the ultimate multi-tasker. Had an international passport, 13 foal and now she a VIP nanny at the Cambridge stud," Mr de Gruchy said.
"She's 26-year-old and she's in great condition."
Horlicks made her mark on the New Zealand racing record books during the 80s, trained by Dave and Paul O'Sullivan.
Her achievements include a win at the internationally-contested 1989 Japan Cup in a world record time of 2.22 for 2,400 metres. The horse also won five Group One races in Australia and New Zealand, namely the LKS MacKinnon Stakes, the Television New Zealand Stakes (twice), and DB Draught Classic (twice).
Horlicks retired from racing with a record of 17 wins and 12 places from 40 starts and career earnings of $4,165,407.
Mr de Gruchy, now a farmer in Mangatahi, was joined at last night's induction dinner by his wife Deborah, two sons as well as 21 other family members and friends, who kept festivities racing well into the night.
