NEW SPONSOR FOR NZ OAKS
March 17, 2015
New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Chairman Barry Dent, together with New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association (NZSBA) Chairman John Mooney, are pleased to announce that the Group One New Zealand Oaks will be sponsored by the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association.
Over the last three years the NZ Oaks had been sponsored by the Canterbury Standardbred Breeders’ Association.
Barry Dent
Met Chairman Barry Dent commented: “We are delighted to have cemented this partnership with the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association for the New Zealand Oaks, a race which is so significant in many ways for their members.”
“We are both significant industry stakeholders and this initiative follows on from a number of others the club has developed over the last few years. I know the benefits for the club, the Association and the industry will be significant.”
To be named The Breeders’ New Zealand Oaks and to be held on Friday, May 15, the title brings together the NZSBA and the most prestigious race for three-year-old fillies, that was run for the first time in 1948 by the New Brighton Trotting Club.
The stake this year is an impressive $150,000, up $50,000 from 2013, and is one of those iconic races on the harness calendar that is the desire of every breeder to win, in order to establish their filly as not only a wonderful racehorse, but in time a valuable broodmare.
Previous winners include top class pacers Under Cover Lover, Elect To Live, Mainland Banner, One Dream, Kiwi Ingenuity, De Lovely, Carabella and of course the recently retired champion mare Adore Me. Last year’s race was taken out by Ideal Belle.
Further information on the NZSBA can be found by visiting www.harnessracing.co.nz
Courtesy of Ged Mooar, Marketing & Commercial Manager, Addington.