NZB Pearl Series Revamped

Media Release - Tuesday April 12

There have been exciting changes made to the NZB Insurance Pearl Series for the 2022/23 season.

From August 2022 bonuses will now be paid out to fillies and mares that finish first, second or third in a Pearl eligible race (previously only paid to winners) and the series will now be extended to cover previously registered mares up to and including their five-year-old season of racing.

A single bonus level will be offered for all Pearl races with the winning owner receiving $10,000, and the trainer and the nominator each receiving $500. In addition, the owner of the second horse will receive $2,000 and the owner of the third horse $1,000.

The series was first introduced by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (NZTBA) ten years ago with 100 Pearl Series races being contested each year, with nearly 50 bonuses struck each term.

Looking to improve on the already popular series, NZTBA CEO Justine Sclater and scheme administrator Corrina Holmes canvassed participants for feedback then approached New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and series sponsor NZB Insurance with proposed changes. All three parties were in favour of the amendments that will come into action in the 2022/23 racing season.

“New Zealand Bloodstock is commencing its tenth year of sponsoring the Pearl Bonus Series,” NZB Insurance’s Jim Bruford said.

“We thought it appropriate that a thorough revision of the bonus series be considered this year. Following discussions with NZTBA and NZTR we were pleased to continue our sponsorship after it was agreed that bonuses for registered fillies would be extended to those finishing second and third in eligible races.

“Further, the inclusion of five-year-olds into the scheme was also welcomed. Improving returns for owners is something NZB are pleased to support and the fact that owners of fillies and mares will be the major beneficiaries is most satisfying.

“NZB Insurance receives tremendous support from breeders and owners insuring their valuable bloodstock and continuing our sponsorship into a 10th year is one way in which we can contribute to rewarding owners and maintaining the racing population in New Zealand.”

New Zealand Bloodstock are major supporters of fillies racing in New Zealand through the Filly of the Year Series and the South Island Filly of the Year Series. The sponsorship of the Pearl Series complements those two series, encouraging both breeders and owners to race their fillies.

Advertisement

Retaining fillies to race is beneficial to sustaining the New Zealand breeding industry and also benefits racing with large competitive fields racing for the bonus dollars.

NZB Insurance is one of the largest Insurance Agencies in Australasia, covering major studs and syndicates as well as having a significant presence insuring racehorses in Hong Kong and Singapore. 

NZTR chief executive Bruce Sharrock stated that NZTR was also in favour of a revamp of the Series.

“Encouraging as many fillies and mares as possible to race is both beneficial to overall field sizes as well as having a positive flow on impact on the race record of broodmare stock,” he said.

“A number of high-profile New Zealand thoroughbred mares have graduated from this series including Melody Belle, Avantage, Probabeel and this year’s Group One winners Levante and Belle En Rouge.

“We are happy to support the revised bonuses being introduced in the 2022/23 season including for those horses that registered under the previous fee structure and for five-year-olds next season that would previously not have been eligible.”

Early bird registrations for the current crop of Southern Hemisphere bred yearlings close with the NZTBA on May 31, while late nominations close on July 31.

To cover these additional bonuses there will be a slight increase in the cost of nominations this year, with the Early Bird fee being $1,000 +GST and the late entry fee being $1,500 +GST.

Further information on the NZB Insurance Pearl series can be found HERE

Advertisment
More Reading...
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.