NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho Marks Return to Trans-Tasman Rivalry
15 September 2022
After two years of logistical restraints due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the dream of trans-Tasman competition in the Jericho Cup (4600m) is alive again – and Saturday’s $30,000 NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth is a crucial step along that road.
Saturday’s race is the first of two qualifying heats staged in New Zealand, with the second heat to be held over 3000 metres at Riccarton Park on October 22. The winner of each race receives a guaranteed start in the Jericho Cup.
As sponsors, NZB Airfreight will offer 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.
Inaugurated in 2018, the A$300,000 Jericho Cup is open to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses only, 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 four years ago.
The New Zealand influence on the Jericho Cup has quickly taken hold, with the first three winners all bred on this side of the Tasman – High Mode (NZ) (Redwood), Ablaze (NZ) (Raise the Flag) and Count Zero (NZ) (Zed). But there has not yet been a New Zealand-trained winner, and the pandemic prevented any Kiwi involvement in both 2020 and 2021.
It might be a different story in 2022, and a capacity field of talented stayers will do battle at New Plymouth on Saturday to keep their Jericho Cup dreams alive.
The NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho will be run as the eighth and final race on Saturday’s New Plymouth card, with a start time of 4:48pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER | TRAINER | JOCKEY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brucie | 3 | From the Bulls stable of respected horseman Raymond Connors, Brucie (NZ) (Raise The Flag) has been an admirably consistent performer both on the flat and over jumps. His 17-start career has produced two wins, four seconds, two thirds and two fourths. His sire Raise The Flag has already been represented by a Jericho Cup winner - Ablaze (NZ) in 2019. | Raymond Connors | Jonathan Riddell | ||
| 2 | Nassak Diamond | 11 | The Oaks Stud's homebred mare Nassak Diamond (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) is well-related, being a sister to three winners including the multiple Group winner Scapolo (NZ) (Bachelor Duke). The four-year-old has shown her fair share of ability herself, collecting two wins, four placings and two fourths from 12 starts to date. | Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray | Lisa Allpress | ||
| 3 | Orla | 1 | A heavy track should pose no problems for Orla (NZ) (Redwood), who has scored two wins in those conditions including an impressive four-length romp over Brucie (NZ) (Raise The Flag) at Trentham in July. Orla is by Redwood, who sired the inaugural Jericho Cup winner High Mode (NZ). | Jo Rathbone | Lily Sutherland | ||
| 4 | Quota | 9 | The second of two runners in this field for Wanganui trainer Jo Rathbone, five-year-old mare Quota (NZ) (Makfi) has risen to prominence with back-to-back wins in her last two starts. The second of those was particularly impressive, scoring by four and a half lengths at Waverley on August 21. | Karaka 2019, Book 1 | Myers Brothers, $40,000 | Jo Rathbone | Sam Spratt |
| 5 | Husk | 7 | Three-race winner Husk (NZ) (Jakkalberry) has produced some strong finishes in recent starts over shorter distances, suggesting that the step up to 3210 metres on Saturday should work in his favour. | Ken Harrison | Mereana Hudson | ||
| 6 | Meandeel | 16 | Meandeel (NZ) (Dundeel) has been a model of consistency this winter, collecting a win, two placings, a fourth and a fifth as far north as Ruakaka, as far south as Riccarton and everywhere in between. He joins Husk (NZ) (Jakkalberry) in a two-pronged attack on this race for Cambridge trainer Ken Harrison. | Karaka 2019, Book 1 | KG Harrison, $27,500 | Ken Harrison | Ashvin Mudhoo |
| 7 | Hallelujah Brother | 10 | While the recent form of Hallelujah Brother (NZ) (Dalghar) may not necessarily inspire confidence, the grey gelding was a strong performer around this time last season. He was a stylish maiden winner at Woodville on September 9 last year, then added another win at Tauherenikau on October 14. | Karaka 2019, Book 3 | GD Innes, $2,000 | Stacey Dougan | Dylan Turner |
| 8 | Razors Edge | 14 | Veteran gelding Razors Edge (NZ) (Raise The Flag) turned 10 in August but is showing no sign of slowing down, fighting hard for a close last-start second at Wanganui on September 3. His sire Raise The Flag has already been represented by a Jericho Cup winner - Ablaze (NZ) in 2019. | Tony Dravitzki | Elen Nicholas | ||
| 9 | Blackwood Star | 17 | Six-year-old mare Blackwood Star (NZ) (Redwood) brings a highly creditable form line into Saturday's race. She has finished outside the top three only once in her entire seven-start career, and that was a good fifth at Hastings in early July. She has picked up a third and two seconds in her three starts since then, and she is sure to be highly competitive again here. Blackwood Star is by Redwood, who sired the inaugural Jericho Cup winner High Mode (NZ). | Dan O'Leary | Faye Lazet | ||
| 10 | My Maebelline Girl | 12 | Cambridge mare My Maebelline Girl (NZ) (Shamoline Warrior) has been quick to show her staying power in a 10-start career to date - collecting a win, three placings and a fourth, all over 2000 metres or further. | Kylie Little | Lynsey Satherley | ||
| 11 | Charred | 15 | After taking almost 40 career starts to win a race, Charred (NZ) (Guillotine) has now had three wins and 20 other top-four finishes in an accomplished staying career. He ran a good second in the Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) two starts back. | Paul Mirabelli | Chris Dell | ||
| 12 | The Big Boss | 8 | The locally trained The Big Boss (NZ) (Gallant Guru) is a three-race winner, with two of those wins coming on her home track. She scored impressively here over 1800 metres on July 23. | 2017 Select Sale | Psd, Res $50,000 | John Wheeler | Lemmy Douglas |
| 13 | Greystone | 4 | Greystone (NZ) (Niagara) heads into this race in a rich vein of form, having placed in all of his last three starts. Although he has won only once in his 38-start career, he has also picked up four seconds, four thirds and three fourths. | 2016 Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale | RG Allen, $7,000 | Aaron Bidlake | Kelsey Hannan |
| 14 | Wind Chimes | 13 | Closely related to quality jumper Monarch Chimes (NZ) (Shinko King), up-and-comer Wind Chimes (NZ) (Gorky Park) has had a win and six placings from 16 starts to date. From six starts over 2000 metres or further, he has recorded a win, three thirds and a fourth. | Maxim Van Lierde | Darren Danis | ||
| 15 | Call Me Jack | 2 | Hawke's Bay visitor Call Me Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) is a three-race winner, most recently an emphatic victory by more than two lengths on his home track in early July. He needs a scratching to make this field. | Tim Symes | |||
| 16 | Waiagara | 5 | Waiagara (NZ) (Niagara) rarely seems to run a bad race, boasting seven top-four finishes including in three of his last four starts. He needs two scratchings to get a run in this race. | Stacey Dougan | |||
| 17 | Hey Hey Hey | 6 | Hey Hey Hey (NZ) (Shocking) has been battling in recent starts, but this time last year was a different story, running placings at Otaki on September 16, Awapuni on September 25 and Trentham on October 24. But he needs three scratchings to make this field. | Karaka 2018, Book 1 | Paul Moroney Bloodstock, $60,000 | Wayne Moorhead |