The Masterton nursery's star resident Per Incanto claimed both the Centaine Award, presented to the leading sire by worldwide progeny earnings, and the Dewar Award, recognising the leading sire by progeny earnings across New Zealand and Australia.
The result marks a changing of the guard in New Zealand breeding circles. For close to a decade, Hall of Fame stallion Savabeel had held a virtual stranglehold on these titles. Per Incanto's rise has been built on the strength of his progeny's performances on the track, headlined by Group 1 winners Jimmysstar and Gringotts, with further black-type support from the likes of Evaporate and Little Brose.
It is a remarkable trajectory for a stallion who began his New Zealand stud career at a modest service fee of $4,000. He now commands a figure many multiples higher, reflecting breeders' growing confidence in his ability to produce genuine top-level performers. It is a proud, career-defining moment, both for the stallion's shareholders and for everyone who has supported him by sending mares.
With his oldest and better-pedigreed progeny emerging, there is every suggestion Per Incanto's mighty impact on the New Zealand and Australian thoroughbred scene is just getting started, with this award haul, hopefully, the first of several in the seasons ahead.