Four Entain NZB-Insurance Pearl Series Bonuses were struck in September, with their lucky owners receiving an additional $20,000 cash.

Ballroom Belle, a four-year-old mare by Zed bred by part-owners John and Carole Lynskey, broke maiden ranks at Matamata in fine style at her fourth start.

In the South Island Hot Coco, a four-year-old mare by War Decree, won at Riccarton for the Inglewood Stud team, scoring her second win and winning her bonus in a rating 65 1400m.

Court of Appeal won a maiden 1400m for her Fortuna Syndicate at Matamata and Kitty Flash, a three-year-old filly by Ace High raced by her breeder Dr P Chen, scored on debut at Taupo.

The philosophy behind the NZTBA (New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association) promoted scheme, which commenced in the 2013-14 season, was to enhance the value of fillies and mares and encourage breeders to retain and race their fillies. Since then, more than $6million has been paid out in bonuses to over 435 groups of owners.

NZB Insurance have been involved in sponsoring the series since the beginning, when the winning bonus was $10,000.

The series has evolved and from the start of the 2022-23 season bonuses were also paid to second and third placegetters and eligibility was pushed out to include five-year-olds. And from the beginning of last season Entain came on board and doubled the bonuses paid and the series was renamed the Entain NZB Insurance Pearl Series.

“Thanks to Entain it’s double the stakes,” said NZB Insurance’s Jim Bruford, the co-sponsor and a strong supporter of the series.

“The 100 races programmed for the Entain-NZB Insurance Pearl Series are mainly maidens or rating 65 and are spread throughout the country so it’s a great start to a filly’s racing career, and even if she runs second or third it all helps with the costs.

“There's not too many people who want to get into breeding, but we've got to try and encourage it every which way we can to sustain our industry, especially with foal numbers decreasing every year.

“We believe it gives fillies a good opportunity to win races and that those fillies will eventually go back into the breeding industry.”

The NZTBA promote and manage the series and according to their chief executive Nick Johnson there has been a surge in the latest round of entries since the bonuses were increased.

“Since Entain came on board and doubled all bonuses it has ensured that the series is as popular as it’s ever been,” Johnson said.

“We received 548 entries this year, which is the highest since the inaugural season.

“When contrasting that against the foal crop decline over those years, in real terms we have quite comfortably the highest percentage of eligible horses from a particular foal crop entered.

“Also, we have seen a number of large operations who have either never entered horses into the series or haven’t for some time, sign their fillies up this year. This mirrors the general positive feeling of the industry right now.”