After two years of logistical restraints due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the dream of trans-Tasman competition in the Jericho Cup (4600m) is alive again – and Saturday’s $30,000 NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth is a crucial step along that road.

Saturday’s race is the first of two qualifying heats staged in New Zealand, with the second heat to be held over 3000m at Riccarton Park on October 22.

The winner of each race receives a guaranteed start in the Jericho Cup. As sponsors, NZB Airfreight will offer a $5,000 equine airfreight credit for the winner of each qualifying race, should they decide to travel across the Tasman and contest the Jericho Cup.

Inaugurated in 2018, the A$300,000 Jericho Cup is open to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses only, commemorating the light horse involvement in World War I and run on the fourth Sunday after the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The original Jericho Cup was run in 1918 over three miles through desert sands. Its 100th anniversary was marked with the introduction of the modern Jericho Cup four years ago.

The New Zealand influence on the Jericho Cup has quickly taken hold, with the first three winners all bred on this side of the Tasman – High Mode, Ablaze and Count Zero.

But there has not yet been a New Zealand-trained winner, and the pandemic prevented any Kiwi involvement in both 2020 and 2021.

It might be a different story in 2022, and a capacity field of talented stayers will do battle at New Plymouth on Saturday to keep their Jericho Cup dreams alive.

The NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho will be run as the eighth and final race on Saturday’s New Plymouth card, with a start time of 4:48pm.