Four-year-old Iffraaj mare Elfee was the first filly enrolled in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series when it commenced in 2013, and last Saturday when she won at Ellerslie she collected an extra $20,000 Pearl bonus.
The rating 65 fillies and mares 1600 metre race she won was one of ten $20,000 bonus races included in the series each year, almost doubling the stake money for the $25,000 event.
The New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series is managed by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association who were instrumental in its inception. The scheme is for two, three and four-year-olds, and features $2.6 million worth of bonuses available for each new group of yearlings that are enrolled each year.
Elfee was bred by Vicki and Terry Pascoe at Club Med Lodge in the Waikato and Vicki Pascoe as a member of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Council Executive was involved in the conception of the series.
"Being so involved in getting the series off the ground, I had to support the series so I nominated two fillies straight away," enthused Pascoe.
"It was just before the National yearling sales so both fillies went through the sales already paid up. Elfee was actually passed in but when Faye Torrance realised she was Pearl Series eligible she came back and inspected her and decided to buy her."
Lightly raced Elfee was recording back to back wins at Ellerslie, for her lucky owner Faye Torrance, who also bred and owned the Group Two NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner, Soriano. As well as a $15,000 stakes Elfee won an extra $17,000 in bonus money, while the trainers Peter and Dawn Williams and Paul Richards won $2,000 and the Pascoe's $1,000 for nominating the filly in the first place.
Right now the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association is enrolling 2016 yearlings with the Early Bird nominations closing this weekend. Details about the scheme can be found on their websitewww.nzthoroughbred.co.nz or by contacting the Pearl Series hotline on 0508-222-202.
Alternatively the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association will be hosting a Pearl Series information open day in "The Gazebo" at the Matamata Breeders Stakes meeting on Saturday February 27thand would welcome any last minute nominations and enquiries.
- Michelle Saba
The rating 65 fillies and mares 1600 metre race she won was one of ten $20,000 bonus races included in the series each year, almost doubling the stake money for the $25,000 event.
The New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series is managed by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association who were instrumental in its inception. The scheme is for two, three and four-year-olds, and features $2.6 million worth of bonuses available for each new group of yearlings that are enrolled each year.
Elfee was bred by Vicki and Terry Pascoe at Club Med Lodge in the Waikato and Vicki Pascoe as a member of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Council Executive was involved in the conception of the series.
"Being so involved in getting the series off the ground, I had to support the series so I nominated two fillies straight away," enthused Pascoe.
"It was just before the National yearling sales so both fillies went through the sales already paid up. Elfee was actually passed in but when Faye Torrance realised she was Pearl Series eligible she came back and inspected her and decided to buy her."
Lightly raced Elfee was recording back to back wins at Ellerslie, for her lucky owner Faye Torrance, who also bred and owned the Group Two NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner, Soriano. As well as a $15,000 stakes Elfee won an extra $17,000 in bonus money, while the trainers Peter and Dawn Williams and Paul Richards won $2,000 and the Pascoe's $1,000 for nominating the filly in the first place.
Right now the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association is enrolling 2016 yearlings with the Early Bird nominations closing this weekend. Details about the scheme can be found on their websitewww.nzthoroughbred.co.nz or by contacting the Pearl Series hotline on 0508-222-202.
Alternatively the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association will be hosting a Pearl Series information open day in "The Gazebo" at the Matamata Breeders Stakes meeting on Saturday February 27thand would welcome any last minute nominations and enquiries.
- Michelle Saba
