$100,000 Triple Crown
1 December 2006
A field of eleven three-year-olds will contest the $20,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Triple Crown Plate (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday in hope of securing the first race of the exciting New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance $100,000 Triple Crown Series. In its second year of running, this year sees an increase in stakes on offer to $220,000 over the three races.
The $100,000 bonus is on offer to the horse who can win all three races in the Series.
Jim Bruford, Insurance Manager, commented "We take great pleasure in our philosophy of supporting those that support us and in conjunction with our London underwriters, BRIT Insurance, see this as a valuable opportunity to return something to the industry from which we source our income."
Heading the field is talented Mark Todd trained Salperton (Montjeu x Little Gem) who broke maiden ranks in September and ran on well at his last start for third.
At Sea (Kilimanjaro x Illuminate), Matto Antonio (Towkay x Cuts Both Ways) and Lord (Traditionally x Rhythm) are also previous winners.
Making the big trip North from Alan Sharrock's New Plymouth stable is Padlock (Keeper x Enchanted Angel). Owned by the Stanley brothers, he is in his first preparation and has finished no worse than fourth in his three career starts.
Promising Postponed filly, Post Thyme (Postponed x Cardamom), is one of three fillies contesting the race. In her first up run at Paeroa, she produced a blistering late run for third after being held up. The other two fillies, One Keen Lass (Canny Lad x Instantly) and Trudy Tee (Chief Bearhart x Ngala), have broken maiden ranks also.
Ramanda Star (Dane Supreme x Switch's Witch), Bossini (Rossini x Aura of Success), Redwood Rossi (Red Ransom x Darkwood Beach) complete the field.
Last year, the first race of the Series was taken out by Black Panther (Kaapstad x Toonsie) who looked a likely candidate to take out the remainder until Willie Ryan (O'Reilly x Knockmeout) dashed his hopes with a narrow victory in the Triple Crown Cup. Black Panther has gone on to successfully race from the Freedman stable in Melbourne.
The next race in the Series is the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Triple Crown Cup (2100m) on 17 December. This will be followed by the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas (2100m) on Boxing Day.