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Kiwis chasing cup honours; Racing backs Daffodil Day again; Trials at Taupo; Criterion set for Juddmonte
Kiwis chasing cup honours
New Zealand-owned gallopers Elusive Catch and Kiwi Eletist will clash in Thursday’s Coffs Harbour Gold Cup.
Elusive Catch won three races and was stakes placed for Ascot Park trainer and part-owner Sabin Kirkland before she was transferred to Liam Birchley’s Eagle Farm stable. She has since added another win and two placings to her record.
Kiwi Eletist will make his Australian debut for John Sargent in the cup after winning three of his six starts for Matamata trainer Glenn Old.
Racing backs Daffodil Day again
The thoroughbred industry is continuing its support of Daffodil Day at Hastings later this month.
Hawke’s Bay Racing and Westbury Stud are again joining forces for the Makfi Challenge Stakes - Daffodil Race Day on August 29.
The Makfi is the first Group One race of the season and traditionally falls the day after Daffodil Day – an annual event when more than five hundred volunteers hit the streets of Hawke’s Bay to collect donations for the Cancer Society. Last year, $20,000 was raised for the cause.
Hawke’s Bay Racing will host ‘High Tea at the Races’ - a free event for Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society volunteers while a jockey in every race at Hastings will wear the Cancer Society colours and each time one of those horses wins the TAB will make a $1000 donation.
Entry to the course is by donation to the Cancer Society, race goers can also give money to collectors around the track or online at www.daffodilday.org.nz
Trials at Taupo
New Zealand’s leading performers will have added trial opportunities later this month.
Racing Taupo and NZ Thoroughbred Racing have announced 1000 and 1200 metre heats, that will be open to horses that have finished in the first five in Group or Listed races, before the club’s meeting on August 19.
Criterion set for Juddmonte
The David Hayes-trained Criterion remains on target for the Gr.1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on August 19.
The New Zealand-owned entire furthered his preparation in England overnight with a gallop at Newmarket where he is being stabled at the yard of the leading conditioner John Gosden.
Criterion finished fifth in the Gr.1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot in his European debut in June.