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At 3210 metres, New Plymouth’s $30,000 NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho is the longest flat race run in New Zealand every year, and at the end of Saturday’s 2022 edition, there was nothing more than a nose separating first and second.

Quota (NZ) (Makfi) and Brucie (NZ) (Raise The Flag) drew away from the rest of the field in the closing stages of the gruelling stamina test, and they had it all to themselves in a two-horse war to the line.

The lead changed with every stride in a desperate head-bobbing battle through the final 100 metres, but it was Quota who lunged forward at just the right moment and snatched victory in a photo finish.

The five-year-old mare was ridden by Sam Spratt and is trained by Jo Rathbone. She has now had eight starts for three wins and earned $34,550 for her owners the Myers Brothers, who bought her for $40,000 from Wentwood Grange's Book 1 draft at Karaka 2019.

Saturday's race was the first of two qualifying heats staged in New Zealand every spring for the A$300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool in November. The second heat will be held over 3000 metres at Riccarton Park on October 22.

As sponsors, NZB Airfreight will offer a $5,000 equine airfreight credit for the winner of each qualifying race, should they decide to travel across the Tasman and contest the Jericho Cup on November 27.

That could now be a highly attractive option for Quota, although she has also been nominated for the $300,000 Group Three New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on November 12.