Kobe Bryant was a big winner, after all. And we’re not horsing around.

Unfortunately for Lakers fans, we’re not talking about the b-ball superstar who was yet again denied NBA gold Tuesday night. The only Kobe Bryant to taste a championship this week was a harness racehorse in New Zealand.

HARNESSLINK gallops up news that Kobe’s equine namesake finished first in the $100,000 PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales NHT Final last Friday, winning by five lengths. His jockey proclaimed post-race that the ride was pretty pleasant:

“It was all very easy, he was just a bit too good for them.”

And much like Kobe, the horse will now be out of action until fall.

Good thing for Kobe he wasn’t racing against other steeds named Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen. But with Boston winning it’s 17th franchise title, New Zealand horse breeders might get some some new naming ideas.