Lowland Stakes Day moves to Awapuni

Following the extension of the State of Emergency and ongoing recovery from the devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle on the Hawke’s Bay region, the decision has been made by Hawke’s Bay Racing and NZTR to transfer the Little Avondale Lowland Stakes Raceday from Hastings to Awapuni on Wednesday 1 March.

The Hawke’s Bay Racing Centre is currently being utilised as a Distribution and Recovery Centre and an Animal Refuge and Welfare Centre.

Hawke’s Bay Racing, with the support of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, want to continue to support the ongoing recovery work that is being done.

Drawing regional resource away from this recovery would not be appropriate, with many families still trying to locate loved ones.

The programme for Wednesday 1 March will remain unchanged. NZTR is working through options for the Marton JC meeting currently scheduled for Friday 3 March at Awapuni and will make a further announcement about that meeting as soon as it is able to do so.

With Te Aroha still unavailable for racing due to recent weather events, the meeting scheduled for Te Aroha on Friday 10 March will now move to Wednesday 8 March and be conducted by the Taupo RC at Taupo.

Due to a prior motor-racing commitment adjacent to the course, Taupo were unable to race on 10 March. As a consequence, the Otaki-Maori racemeeting scheduled for Wednesday 8 March will move to Friday 10 March.

At this meeting there has been a minor programme alteration with the R60. NZTR appreciates the co-operation from all the Clubs involved in these changes.

Roch ‘N’ Horse back on track

Roch ‘N’ Horse’s campaign to defend her crown in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) is back on track.

The Per Incanto mare was withdrawn from last Saturday’s Gr.1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) on vets advice due to cellulitis in her hind leg.

Trainer Michael Moroney said she is back to full health and was pleased with her work at Flemington on Wednesday ahead of the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Sandown on Saturday.

“She needed one (hit-out) and I wanted to see that she was through the little problem that we had. She worked really well,” Moroney said.

“She looks terrific. She is a big, powerful mare now. I can now see why she is such a good sprinter because she has got a lot of muscle on her now.

“It was a hard watch for us on Saturday to see all of the horses that we have beaten run so close to the winner. That is now behind us and I still think we did the right thing, erring on the side of caution.

“Saturday should still be a nice lead in to the Newmarket.”