Equine dual citizen Queen Elida has been secured for the TAB’s slot in the $655,000 TAB Trot Slot One of the great racing innovations in recent years has been the introduction of slot races, and we are stoked to be working with Cambridge Raceway for a trans-Tasman twist on this season’s TAB Trot Slot.
There was excitement around the Entain offices when we were able to confirm that Queen Elida would be running in the TAB slot for the inaugural running of the slot race for trotters in April next year, alongside The Race By Grins for pacers.
Queen Elida ticks all the boxes. She’s one of the leading trotters in this part of the world, she’s trained in Victoria by an ex-pat Kiwi horseman Brent Lilley, and she’s proudly Kiwi-owned by Canterbury trainer Tony Barron, co-breeder Gordon McKenzie, and their families.
Add to that she’s part of the iconic Frances Jay Bee family that has left top trotters like One Over Kenny, One Over Da Moon, and Ultimate Stride, and it becomes clear Queen Elida is the perfect addition to this new $655,000 race on the harness racing calendar.
Importantly, she is a familiar name with Australian punters, giving them enhanced confidence to bet into the TAB Trot Slot. For the first edition of this race, we really wanted a trans-Tasman flavour and as a true-blue equine dual citizen, Queen Elida has given us the best of both worlds.
The race conditions match those of 'The Race by Grins' – a 2200m mobile race, with preferential barrier draws for three-year-olds, then mares, ensuring Queen Elida will be well served behind the mobile arm. We are looking forward to watching her contest the Brisbane Inter Dominion that gets underway this Friday.
Securing Queen Elida for the TAB Trot Slot caps off another big couple of weeks, with New Zealand Cup Week continuing an amazing run for domestic racing backed up by strong turnover figures.
I had the privilege of attending much of the racing action across the big week in Christchurch. Each day was special, but I can honestly say New Zealand Cup Days for the thoroughbreds at Riccarton was one of the most electric racedays I have been to – anywhere!
There were so many fantastic stories across the week too, which included seeing the Rich Hill team send their stallion roster to even more dazzling heights with Ace High picking up his first Group One through star filly Molly Bloom.
Speaking of stallions, how fantastic was it to see records tumbling at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale last week, defying market conditions in the best possible way. A huge congratulations to all vendors and buyers, and to the incredible team at NZB for a sale that once again emphasises the popularity of the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding scene. Roll on the Karaka Yearling Sales in 2024!
You may have also heard about the New Zealand Summer Series Bonus that we announced in association with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing during New Zealand Cup Week.
The inaugural Series provides an incentive for New Zealand and Australia’s leading middle-distance horses to be at the top of their game, competing for $650,000 in bonuses.
The New Zealand Summer Series Bonus will be held across four races between January and March, and to be eligible for the winning bonus, a horse will need to run in one of the two 1600-metre entry races – the $400,000 Gr. 1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile at Trentham on 20 January or the new $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic at Ellerslie on 27 January, scheduled for TAB Karaka Millions night at Ellerslie.
The Series will then progress towards two of New Zealand’s most iconic 2000-metre races – the $600,000 Gr. 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa on 10 February and the $450,000 Gr. 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie on 9 March.
The points system for the Series has now been confirmed, and the winner will be decided by leading points at the conclusion. Points are weighted towards the two Series races (13.5 points for 1st, 10.5 for 2nd, 7.5 for 3rd, 4.5 for 4th and 3 for a start) over the Entry races (9 points for 1st, 7 for 2nd, 5 for 3rd, 3 for 4th, and 2 for a start).
With a travel scheme available for Australian-based horses to travel across for the Aotearoa Classic, we’re excited about the opportunities this Series Bonus can bring for connections on both sides of the Tasman this summer.
