Entain - NZB Insurance Pearl Series
Entain, NZB Insurance and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing have continued to deliver an enhanced Pearl Series, featuring bonuses for fillies and mares racing in New Zealand.
The 2023/24 season has seen Pearl Series bonuses double, with the winning Owner receiving a $20,000 bonus and the winning Trainer and Nominator receiving $1,000 each. In addition to this, the Owner of a filly or mare that places second receives a $4,000 bonus, with the Owner of the third placegetter earning a $2,000 bonus.
Adding further appeal is the $100,000 Pearl Series Bonus Final run in the Autumn. The Final is open to Pearl Series registered horses only, up to five years of age. Southern and Central-based horses who make the Final are also provided with travel subsidies to compete.
A number of high-profile New Zealand Thoroughbred mares have graduated from the Pearl Series including Group One winners Avantage, Belle En Rouge, Levante, Legarto, Molly Bloom, Velocious and Belclare.
NZB Insurance has been a long-time supporter of the Pearl Series since its inception in partnership with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.
“We have been sponsoring the Series for 12 years, which has proven the point that Pearl Series races are hotly contested events, drawing maximum fields and developing both good betting revenue and giving fillies and opportunity to race to assist us in developing our breeding stock," commented NZB Insurance Advisor Jim Bruford.
“Throughout the 12 years of the Pearl Series, NZB Insurance has received remarkable support from the industry in recognising our initial sponsorship."
“Having Entain on board to further strengthen the Pearl Series in the coming years is a tremendous boost to our philosophy of supporting fillies racing in New Zealand,” Bruford said.
Nominate your yearling filly for the Entain - NZB Insurance Pearl Series through the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders website here.
What you need to know about the Pearl Series:
- Up to 100 races per season
- Each race carries a total of up to $28,000 in bonuses
- Winning Owner bonus is $20,000
- Trainer and Nominator bonuses for winning horses are $1,000 each
- Second-placed Owner bonus is $4,000
- Third-placed Owner bonus is $2,000
- $100,000 Pearl Series Final Race is run in the Autumn at Ellerslie and a travel subsidy for Southern and Central District horses who qualify
- Yearlings must be nominated for the Series prior to the NZTBA deadlines as per their website. This is generally 31 July each year before yearlings turn two years of age.
- Early bird nominations generally close on 31 March each year, saving up to $500 + GST on entry fees.
For more information about the Series, race programs or nominations, visit the Pearl Series website here.
$100k Pearl Series Final Roll of Honour
From 2024, loyal sponsors NZB Insurance in partnership with the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Entain introduced the $100,000 Pearl Series Bonus Final, which offered a $70,000 cheque to the winning connections on top of the race earnings as part of the revamped the Pearl Series that took place in the 23/24 season.
The first running of the final in March 2024 saw talented filly Grey Haze earned her connections a lucrative payday in claiming the inaugural Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie.
A daughter of Dalghar, Grey Haze displayed her ability early claiming a Pearl Series Maiden contest over 1200m in December, defeating subsequent Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placegetter Qali Al Farrasha.
The Stuart Manning-trained filly encountered a couple of luckless performances through the summer period but looked to be back to form when finishing a close-up third behind New Millennium at Taupo, with that runner subsequently placing in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m).
Out of the Stravinsky mare Vinskible, Grey Haze was sold via gavelhouse.com for $2,500 as a yearling to Robert Good, and has earned $46,040 in stakes from seven race-day appearances, in addition to the $70,000 winning bonus from the Entain - NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final.