NZ Derby to be Run Sunday

Media Release - Friday March 5

The Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) meeting will take place at Ellerslie on Sunday after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden announced Auckland would drop to COVID-19 Alert Level 2 at 6am on Sunday.

“We realise that this has been a very testing time for our trainers, jockeys and owners leading into one of the biggest meetings of the season as we were faced yet another COVID curve ball,” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Bernard Saundry said.

“From the moment the Prime Minister announced the change in alert levels last Saturday night, our focus has been to ensure this meeting went ahead. Various options were considered and we are pleased the change to alert levels has allowed us to hold the Derby at Ellerslie.”

The announcement that Auckland would return to Alert Level 2 on Sunday was a huge relief to ARC chief executive Paul Wilcox.

“It has been a stressful week as we considered a number of scenarios and we also thank our owners, trainers and jockeys for bearing with us as we went through those options. To be able to race at Ellerslie, albeit under Alert Level 2, is the industry’s preferred option,” he said.

“We are looking forward to a Vodafone Derby day which will be a little different to those which have gone before, but which will no doubt be memorable.”

Advertisement

With the meeting taking place under Alert Level 2 protocols, owners will need to RSVP to an email from the Auckland Racing Club, if they wish to attend.

Hastings was earmarked as the back-up venue if Auckland were to remain in Alert Level 3 and Saundry was appreciative of the Hawke’s Bay club.

“The club did not hesitate when they were asked to provide the industry with a Plan B option for the Vodafone Derby meeting,” Saundry said.

With no new community cases, Auckland will likely drop to Level 1 at the beginning of next weekend, allowing Ellerslie to host a full crowd as normal for Gr.1 Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Cup Day on March 13.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
SWs in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel headline the June (Early) Online Sale
Stakes winners in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel, along with a significant number of young, well-bred racing and breeding prospects headline another intriguing catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?