Following on from last year’s successful Series, New Zealand Bloodstock is pleased to announce a further eleven NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series race sponsorships, with incentivised prize packages awarded to domestic trainers over the next three months.

NZB introduced the Series last year to support New Zealand trainers attending its Ready to Run Sale held in November. 

The first sponsored race of the series, a Rating 74 Handicap, was held at Riccarton Park on Saturday 8 August and was won by the Lisa Latta-trained Rock Island Line.

The following dates have been confirmed for the nine remaining 2021 Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series races:

• 2 X races held Saturday 28 August at Te Rapa –    MDN 3YO 1200m
• Saturday 11 September Hastings – Rating 65 Benchmark 1300m
• Saturday 18 September at New Plymouth – Rating 74 Benchmark 1600m
• Saturday 18 September at Riccarton – Rating 65 Benchmark 1200m
• Saturday 9 October at Hawera – Rating 65 Benchmark 1400m
• Saturday 23 October at Riccarton – Rating 65 Benchmark 1600m
• Monday 25 October at Te Rapa – MDN 1400m
• Saturday 30 October at Pukekohe Park – MDN 3YO 1200m
• Saturday 6 November at Riccarton –  MDN 1200m
   

Working alongside partners, NZB will award the winning trainer of each sponsored race the following prize package:

• A travel voucher towards travel to the 2021 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka ($1000 voucher for South Island-based trainers and a $500 voucher for Central and Northern-based trainers).
• A $1000 insurance voucher towards insurance for one 2021 Ready to Run Sale purchase, courtesy of NZB Insurance.
• A Majestic Horse Transport voucher (valued at $200 for Central and Northern race winners and $500 for Southern race winners) towards the transport of one 2021 Ready to Run Sale purchase, courtesy of Majestic Horse Transport.
• A three-month subscription to Raceform weekly production, including courier delivery, courtesy of Raceform.

With incentives increasing on last year’s prizepool, NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston is looking forward to another year of the Trainers Series hitting the turf.

“Last year we saw how the domestic buying bench stepped up more so than ever before as a result of travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19,” Rolston said.

“We are looking forward to continuing the momentum at this year’s Ready to Run Sale, while we anticipate that a large number of New Zealand’s leading trainers will again be attending our sales.

“We want to assist them again this year by increasing our support and subsidising some of their costs.”

For further information regarding the Series, contact jim.bruford@nzb.co.nz.

This year’s Ready to Run Sale will be held as a physical sale at Karaka on 17 and 18 November, with Breeze Ups conducted at Te Rapa Racecourse 11 and 12 October.