Stayers get chance to bag bonus dividend

November’s New Zealand Cup winner will have a million reasons to push on towards the Wellington and Auckland Cups.

In racing’s latest ‘‘who wants to be as millionaire?’’ promotion, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), Canterbury Jockey Club and the Wellington and Auckland Racing Clubs have revealed a $1 million bonus for any horse that wins the New Zealand, Wellington and Auckland Cups this season.

With the three races becoming part of a series, a consolation bonus for any runner that wins two of the three major staying races in this country this season has been set at $250,000.

The catalyst for the bonus series becoming viable was the Wellington Cup reverting from 2400m to its traditional distance of 3200m.

In the unlikely event that one horse could win all three cups and pick up the bonus, the winning treble would be worth around $1,550,000 once race stakes were added.

Realistically winning all three races would be near impossible and if the TAB opens a book the odds should be juicy, but the optimists could rightly argue its not impossible.

The bonus scheme will be designed to raise the quality of staying fields in New Zealand after the calibre of most 3200m fields have been labelled as average to weak in recent years.

NZTR chief executive Greg Purcell said New Zealand breeds some of the best middle-distance and staying horses in the world and the series reflects the industry’s continued commitment to staying events in New Zealand.

To open up the opportunity to additional runners, the Canterbury Jockey Club has extended the first late nomination deadline for the New Zealand Cup until October 2.

Nominations for the Wellington Cup close on November 10 and the Auckland Cup nominations close six days later on November 16.

There is stable confidence around a return to winning form from Bohemian Lily in today’s Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill.

The New Zealand-bred and owned mare finished ninth, but only two lengths off the winner Preferment in last weekend’s Hill Stakes and trainer Gai Waterhouse is unfazed about a quick back-up.

‘‘She’s come through the run absolutely super, I could not be more pleased with her,’’ she said.