The Avondale trials will proceed on Tuesday 1 March with a cap of 180 runners. A further set of trials has been scheduled for Monday 14 March at Ellerslie on the course proper (the day after the Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Cup). These trials will also be capped at 180 runners. Any horse that misses a start at Avondale will be given preference for Ellerslie. As a consequence the trials scheduled for Cambridge on 8 March have been cancelled.