NZBI Announces $100,000 'Triple Crown'

New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance, with the support of its London Brokers and Underwriters, has announced a $100,000 Triple Crown Bonus at Ellerslie.�

Insurance Manager Jim Bruford commented, "With the Mercedes Derby moving to Ellerslie's new Carnival in March, New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance decided to look at ways to offer an incentive for quality three year olds to be showcased over the Christmas Carnival. With a $100,000 Triple Crown culminating with the Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, we hope that this initiative will be an exciting way to do that."

"Since the Mercedes Super Bonus Scheme ended, the industry has been lacking those big bonus races that can really make a difference to the winning connections. With the help of our London Brokers and Underwriters we therefore decided to sponsor Ellerslie's two previous Derby prelude races plus add a $100,000 bonus for the horse that wins all three. It will hopefully add a bit of excitement to those preliminary races and give owners and trainers a chance to boost their coffers."

The three races that will form the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Triple Crown will be:

1. The $20,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance 'Triple Crown' Plate (1600m)(previously the Balmerino Mercedes Derby Prelude) (26 Nov 2005)
2. The $35,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance 'Triple Crown' Cup (Listed) (2000m) (previously the Mercedes Bonecrusher Derby Trial) (11 Dec 2005)
3. The $150,000 Great Northern Guineas (Gr.2) (2000m) (26 Dec 2005)

The winner of all three races will get a $100,000 bonus, paid in the usual percentages to the winning owner, trainer and jockey[*]. The winner of the Triple Crown will win a total of $305,000 in stakemoney.

Auckland Racing Club CEO, Chris Weaver, commended the new plans: "We are delighted to have New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance back on board as a sponsor this season and are very excited about the concept of a Triple Crown bonus on these races. New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance has taken an innovative approach to its sponsorship to bring maximum value to its industry stakeholders and we commend their initiative. We look forward to seeing the connections of three year olds target the Triple Crown as we build to the finale on Boxing Day."

[*] In the case of these details changing part way through the series, it will be paid to the winning owner, trainer and jockey of the Great Northern Guineas.