Photo: Supplied
The Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series provides lucrative returns to owners, breeders and trainers throughout the New Zealand racing calendar, but its undisputed pinnacle comes with the running of the $120,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
On top of its $120,000 stake, the annual final also carries a bonus payment of $100,000. The owner of the winning horse receives $70,000 of that amount, with $20,000 for second and $10,000 for third.
Saturday marks the second running of the Pearl Series Final, with last year’s inaugural race won by Grey Haze (NZ) (Dalghar).
This year’s edition has drawn a talented field of 11 fillies and mares, including stakes-performed three-year-old fillies Vegas Queen (NZ) (Proisir), Sexy And I Moet (Pierro) and She’s Untouchable (Capitalist).
The Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final serves as a curtain-raiser for the eagerly anticipated Champions Day card at Ellerslie on Saturday, which features more than $8m in stakes across a spectacular 10-race card. The Pearl Series Final is Race 1, with a scheduled start time of 12.15pm.
The Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series is a bonus scheme for Southern Hemisphere-bred fillies and mares. The scheme includes up to 100 individual races for fillies and mares over four seasons' racing, with bonuses for each race of $28,000.
The series has been designed to benefit owners, trainers and breeders of fillies and mares running in New Zealand, with races available in all regions of the country. All bonuses are cumulative, so a horse can win multiple bonuses throughout her racing career.
Yearlings must be nominated for the Series prior to the NZTBA deadlines as per their website. This is generally July 31 each year before yearlings turn two years of age. Earlybird nominations are open until March 31, saving up to $500 + GST on entry fees for yearlings purchased at Karaka in January.
