Golden Ticket to Jericho Cup at New Plymouth
3 September 2026
All roads lead to the A$300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) on November 29, with a golden ticket to the Warrnambool feature up for grabs in Saturday’s $40,000 NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth.
The Jericho Cup is restricted to horses bred in New Zealand or Australia, and NZB Airfreight is proud to help get Kiwis into the big race with two golden tickets each spring.
New Plymouth will stage the first of those two annual qualifiers this weekend, with Riccarton set to host the second one on October 24.
The winner of each qualifying race receives a guaranteed start in the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool on November 30, and NZB Airfreight offers a $5,000 equine airfreight credit for the winner of each qualifying race, should they decide to travel across the Tasman and contest the Jericho Cup.
Three years ago, the New Plymouth qualifier was emphatically won by Nassak Diamond (NZ) (Roc de Cambes), who went on to become the first New Zealand-trained winner of the Jericho Cup. She romped to a runaway seven-length victory in the Warrnambool feature for owner-breeders The Oaks Stud and trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray.
The Jericho Cup was inaugurated in 2018, commemorating the light horse involvement in World War I and run on the fourth Sunday after the Group One Melbourne Cup (3200m). The original Jericho Cup was run in 1918 over three miles through desert sands. Its 100th anniversary was marked with the introduction of the modern Jericho Cup eight years ago.
The New Zealand influence on the Jericho Cup has quickly taken hold, with seven of the first eight winners bred on this side of the Tasman – High Mode (NZ) (Redwood), Ablaze (NZ) (Raise the Flag), Count Zero (NZ) (Zed), Bastida (NZ) (Pierro), Nassak Diamond and the 2024 and 2025 back-to-back winner Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls).
A full field of 14 plus four emergencies will vie for that coveted spot in the 2026 Jericho Cup at New Plymouth on Saturday. The NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho will be run as Race 6, with a scheduled start time of 3.07pm.
NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho Field:
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Affordable | 1 | The well-travelled Affordable (Hardham) has recorded seven victories across Australia, Hong Kong and now New Zealand, and he has earned just under $340,000 in stakes. He has shown bright promise over hurdles in recent starts, winning twice including in the $50,000 Sydenham Hurdle (3100m) at Riccarton on August 1. | ||
| 2 | Yolo | 5 | The defending champion in this race is Yolo (NZ) (Zed), who emphatically outstayed her opposition 12 months ago and drew away down the straight to win by four and a quarter lengths. She has won seven of her 54 starts overall and is on the cusp of $200,000 in career earnings. | ||
| 3 | Kwanza | 9 | The first of two runners in the race for Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal, Kwanza (NZ) (Zed) has had 14 starts for two wins and three placings. The wins both came over 2100 metres, and he has shown solid staying potential in recent runs over 2200 and 2400 metres. | ||
| 4 | Monroe | 17 | The Nelson and McDougal-trained Monroe (NZ) (Vadamos) is among the least experienced runners in this field. He debuted in late April and has had only five career starts, including back-to-back wins in 2200-metre maiden and Rating 65 races in his two latest appearances. | Karaka 2023, Book 2 | Bruce Perry Bloodstock, $70,000 |
| 5 | Stella Success | 13 | Foxton mare Stella Success (NZ) (Staphanos) has been a three-time winner from a 13-start career so far, and she has been making up late ground in recent runs over 2100 and 2200 metres. | ||
| 6 | In A Pickle | 10 | A purchase price of just $4,000 has been turned into more than $104,000 in stakes by In A Pickle (NZ) (Preferment), who has had 36 starts for five wins, three seconds and four thirds. | Karaka 2020, Book 2 | KR Brady, $4,000 |
| 7 | Lord Spencer | 11 | A revelation in steeplechase ranks this winter, Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) has won all of his last four starts culminating in last month's Grand National Steeplechase (5600m). Trainer JJ Rayner is using this race as a lead-up to the $200,000 Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha on September 20. | ||
| 8 | Early Times | 12 | A close relative of Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Colette (Hallowed Crown), Early Times (American Pharoah) was bought for $35,000 from Karaka 2022. He placed in three of his first eight starts before breaking through for a maiden win over 2200 metres at Waverley two starts ago on July 24. | Karaka 2022, Book 1 | WJ Thurlow, $35,000 |
| 9 | Ziggy Khan | 6 | Ziggy Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) is a granddaughter of the four-time Group One winner Giovana (NZ) (Blues Traveller) and was bought for just $10,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2021. Ziggy Khan's 20-race career has so far produced three wins, six placings and $65,010 in stakes, and she is nominated for the Group Three New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November. | Karaka 2021, Book 2 | Phill Cataldo Bloodstock, $10,000 |
| 10 | Leprekhan | 8 | Another daughter of the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m), Australian Derby (2400m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Mongolian Khan, the seven-year-old Leprekhan (NZ) has won three of her 21 starts and has placed on another three occasions. | ||
| 11 | Madam Zara | 3 | Madam Zara (NZ) (Zed) was a third placegetter in this race last year, where she was beaten by six lengths by Yolo (NZ) (Zed). Madam Zara has had a total of 23 starts for three wins and two placings. | ||
| 12 | Slick Chick | 4 | From an 18-race career, Slick Chick (NZ) (Reliable Man) has recorded a win and two placings. The win came with a powerful finish from last in a 2100-metre race at Tauranga in July of last year. | ||
| 13 | Endean Ace | 7 | Endean Ace (NZ) (Tarzino) was offered in Book 2 of Karaka 2021, where he failed to meet his $20,000 reserve. He has earned more than $41,000 in a 28-start career that has produced a win and three placings. | Karaka 2021, Book 2 | Psd, Res $20,000 |
| 14 | Jacks Pride | 18 | Jacks Pride (NZ) (Puccini) has had 30 starts for a win and four placings. The win was an impressive four-and-three-quarter-length maiden victory over 2200 metres at Woodville in August of 2025. | ||
| 15 | Odysseus | 14 | First emergency Odysseus (NZ) (Highly Recommended) requires one scratching to make the field. He has had 70 starts for three wins, 14 placings and $109,720 in stakes, and most of his recent racing has been over jumps. | ||
| 16 | Betty Willdoit | 15 | Betty Willdoit (NZ) (Keano) needs two scratchings to get a run in this race. She made her debut only three months ago and has had five starts so far, showing promise with a second, two fourths, a fifth and a sixth. | ||
| 17 | Janka | Scratched | |||
| 18 | Uncle Charlie | 16 | Uncle Charlie (NZ) (Alamosa) requires three scratchings to make the field. His 34-start career has produced a win, four placings and $32,645 in stakes. The win came in a maiden steeplechase. | 2018 Karaka May Sale | HT & FJ O'Leary, $14,000 |