Thursday, 15 August 2019: Five breeding entities are in contention for the 2019 New Zealand Breeder of the Year award.

The winner will be announced at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards at Ellerslie on September 8.

All the finalists for Breeder of the Year bred at least one G1 winner in 2018/19 and most were represented by multiple Group winners.

Garry Chittick and Waikato Stud, the 2018 winners, are in contention again after breeding the G1 winners Madison County and Savvy Coup and 13 other stakes winners.

Archer Equine, operated by David Archer and his family, has only a small broodmare band but was represented by the dual G1 winner Bostonian and the G2 winner Emily Margaret.

Wellfield Lodge principal Bill Gleeson bred two Group winners, including the G1 winner On The Rocks and three other Group-placed horses.

Auckland breeder Don Goodwin owns just one broodmare, but she is the dam of Verry Elleegant, who won two G1 races in Australia, including the Australian Oaks.

Greg Tomlinson's Nearco Stud bred the outstanding Hong Kong galloper Beauty Generation and two other Group winners. `

Beauty Generation, who is rated among the top five gallopers in the world this year, was undefeated in eight starts in the past season, including four G1 wins.

The dams of Beauty Generation, Madison County and the five-time G1 winner Melody Belle are the finalists for the Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year award.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has also announced the finalists for New Zealand Strapper of the Year and the NZTR Media Award.

Breeder of the Year: Archer Equine, Garry Chittick and Waikato Stud and partners, W J Gleeson and WJ Bloodstock, Don Goodwin, Nearco Stud.

Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year: Meleka Belle (dam of Melody Belle), Red Delicious (dam of Madison County), Stylish Bel (dam of Beauty Generation).

NZTR Media Award:   Boys Get Paid, Des Coppins, Isola Racing Stables, Mark Nowell, Aidan Rodley, Paul Vettise.

Strapper of the Year: Cherie Beddis (Team Rogerson); Alistair Murray (Roydon Bergerson); Brittany Moore (Pitman Racing).