Ellerslie floodgates open
Nominations of around 250 means plenty of races
Ellerslie’s racing drought won’t just be broken this Saturday, the equine floodgates will open. Because the home of Auckland racing is set to host more races and horses than they could have thought possible at this time of the year.
Ellerslie wasn’t initially programmed to have any post-lockdown racing until September but have taken on Saturday’s meeting to provide more opportunities for northern horses.
Plenty have taken up the invite, with Ellerslie having had nearly 250 nominations, so they are now likely to hold 11 races.
“We are looking forward to having racing back here and our track manager Jason Fulford and his team have done a great job to get the surface ready,” said ARC chief executive Paul Wilcox.
While winter racing throws up few stars, one of our best jumpers in Tallyho Twinkletoe will contest a highweight, while former Group 1winning juvenile Sacred Elixir, who is now back with Tony Pike after racing in Hong Kong, will gallop between races.
Ellerslie will also provide midwinter hospitality options at Silks Restaurants, with an earlier than usual start at 10.47am.
Ellerslie was rated a Heavy 10 yesterday but the track is expected to improve later in the week and the rail will be out 6m.
● Avondale’s return to the racing fold will come sooner than expected, with the embattled West Auckland club now having a meeting this month.
Avondale was set to get no racing licences next season after being deemed surplus to needs in the Auckland region but has now been granted five meetings as they come to the table with Ellerslie and Pukekohe to work on a plan for the future of racing in the region.
They have now been granted an extra meeting to end this season on July 22, with minimum $15,000 stakes.
● Harness racing trainer Nigel McGrath has been handed one of the longest disqualifications in recent New Zealand racing history after being banned from training or driving for eight years.
The Canterbury-based McGrath pleaded guilty to administering a substance to a horse on a raceday in March after being caught by racecourse inspectors who were staking out his property.
McGrath disputed what the substance was but was found guilty and his lengthy sentence is partially due to a previous long disqualification in 2004 that saw him outed for three years, reduced to 18 months.
The 46-year-old has been a successful trainer, having won the NZ Derby and Harness Jewels races.