Obituary - Tony Dennis
Tony Dennis, who died on Saturday at the age of 86, was a founding member of the quartet of brothers who achieved notable success in thoroughbred racing as owners, trainers and breeders from their base at Woodlands (near Invercargill, Southland).
Tony died after a lengthy battle with cancer. His son, Robert Dennis is continuing the family tradition as a trainer at Invercargill.
Robert has a team engaged at Wingatui on Friday, among them The Cool One, owned by the estate of Tony, his twin, Ray, brothers Joe and Martin and Tony Rider.
Tony Dennis and his brothers made their mark as trainers, breeders and owners over a period of 64 years.
They won races as owner-trainers at the highest level with horses they bred and prepared on their adjoining farms. Their broodmares were accorded National awards.
They won the group one Penfolds Chardon Mile at Trentham in 1981 with The Twinkle, who added a Awapuni Gold Cup at Awapuni, King’s Plate at Ellerslie and George Adams Tattersall Handicap at Riccarton.
The day before she won at Ellerslie, her half sister, The Dimple won the 1981 Timaru Cup. The Dimple repeated her Timaru Cup win in 1982.
The Fantasy, a sister to The Twinkle won the flagship White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui in 1980 and 81.
The brothers bred and raced the three-time group three White Robe Lodge Handicap winner, The Diamond One from the family tracing to The Kurd.
They bred and raced The Jewel (NZ One Thousand Guineas) The Chosen One (gr 1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham), The Solitaire (Dunedin and Riverton Cups) and The Bishop (Invercargill Cup) from the same family.
They bred The Phantom Chance (W S Cox Plate and NZ Derby), The Phantom (dual gr one winner in Australia), Irish Chance (Auckland Cup), Thorndon Mile winner He’s A Doozy and The Perfect Pink (N Z One Thousand Guineas).
The brothers announced in December, 2024 that they were retiring from training and their horses were transferred to Robert.
The Dennis brothers were the leading New Zealand owner-trainers for the 1980-81 season with 20 wins according to the New Zealand Turf Register.
That was a spectacular season for the brothers with The Twinkle winning the group one Penfolds Chardon Mile at Trentham; The Dimple (seven wins) and The Fantasy (five) and The Clippie.
The brothers won 306 races as trainers.
Tony and Ray had their first win as owner-trainers at Riverton in 1960 with the maiden The Budget who had been given to them by their father, Harold Dennis. They had then reached the age of 21 and were permitted to hold a licence. Joe and Martin joined the twins in ownership when reaching 21.
Broodmares The Pixie, The Fantasy and The Grin owned by the brothers have won three New Zealand Broodmare of the Year titles.
The Pixie was the joint winner in 1981. She left The Twinkle (14 wins), The Dimple(16), The Fantasy (18) and The Imposter (three), her four foals.
The Fantasy (1994) and The Grin (2003) also won the award made annually by the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. The Fantasy left The Phantom and The Phantom Chance. The Grin produced The Jewel, Star Affair and The One.
Tony is survived by his wife, Sharon and four other children, Mark, Gavin, Lucinda and Hayden.