Otaki Maori G1 moved to Ellerslie

[Pete Lane 1,337]

Group 1 Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club WFA Classic to Move to Ellerslie

The Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) have agreed, subject to NZ Pattern Committee approval, to relocate the Group 1 Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club WFA Classic to Ellerslie on Eagle Technology Avondale Cup & Guineas Day, Saturday 22 February 2025.

The race was developed by the Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club from Listed level in 1986 and obtained Group 1 status in 1992. Previously run for $400,000, the race will now be contested for $500,000 in 2025 and will increase to $600,000 in 2026.

The move was not an easy decision for the Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club, and NZTR would like to thank their committee members and executive staff for seeing the potential in the move to Ellerslie and ultimately agreeing to run the race away from its spiritual home.

NZTR COO Darin Balcombe believes the move will help to protect the race’s Group 1 status the Club has worked hard to develop over the years.

“NZTR understands the importance and cultural significance of the race to the Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club and applauds the industry first approach they have taken in discussions to support the long-term future of both the race and the Club,” Balcombe said.

“As one of only two races to develop into a Group 1 from Listed, it is important we protect its status in New Zealand Racing. The stakes increase, as part of the Summer Carnival, gives this race the opportunity to succeed at Group 1 level well into the future.”

To aid in the increased travel costs to Central District connections, Ōtaki-Māori RC and NZTR will contribute up to $1,000 in travel subsidies for Central District based horses that compete in the Ōtaki-Māori RC WFA Classic.

There will be additional travel subsidies available for the highest finishing Central Districts trained horse should they return for Champions Day at Ellerslie March 8th.

[Michael Roustoby 433]

A very smart man,Peter V'landys once told a rugby league organisation that centralisation would be the death of the game. The short term sugar hit from the sale of the grounds wouldn't last.

 

Tribalism is the key. You want everyone to have access to going to the games and that's what gets people involved to be fans/future participants and grow the game.

[scooby3051 12,950]

Wont be long the 1000 and 2000 guineas will be there too...sad to see but this is the way things are heading.

[We're Doomed 5,908]

33 minutes ago, scooby3051 said:

Wont be long the 1000 and 2000 guineas will be there too...sad to see but this is the way things are heading.

At least they won't try to steal the Grand Nationals.

[SameOld 30]

17 minutes ago, We're Doomed said:

At least they won't try to steal the Grand Nationals.

No need, NZTR will do it for them and kill off jumps racing instead

 

This is just the start of centralisation as Michael has said. No consideration of horses not handling the Ellerslie surface, left-handed vs right-handed, long/short straights etc. Having variation is key so a horse can be placed to suit.

[crustyngrizzly 1,728]

Probably mean in the long run that more jocks and trainers are going to base themselves up north as more races are certain to follow imo.

[Lord Wilf 90]

Very poor. It reminds me of the resident bully at my school. "I'm big and strong, and I'll take whatever I want. "

[We're Doomed 5,908]

2 minutes ago, Lord Wilf said:

Very poor. It reminds me of the resident bully at my school. "I'm big and strong, and I'll take whatever I want. "

Generally turned out to not be the brightest kid in the class either.

[Lord Wilf 90]

1 hour ago, We're Doomed said:

Generally turned out to not be the brightest kid in the class either.

This particular bully got his come uppance on the rugby field. He was buried at the bottom of a ruck, and someone(nameless !!) landed a well directed knee at his vitals.

[Pheroz 154]

Respectfully I hear the emotion that change brings, change is our only constant. We all long for the way it was but times change. There may have been a risk of losing their current  Gp 1 status based on last years race certainly.  I am sure the club thought long and hard about this decision  but they have retained their naming rights and will benefit  for the increase and raised profile  that HQ  will bring.  Back in the day every little centre had a race track, I recall going to the Bulls races as a teenager but as they say " we've come a long  way  baby" maybe sometimes not for the  better.  The almighty  dollar drives almost everything today and this is just another example. For those who live in Auckland its a win, but further south not so..

[Insider 5,170]

Auckland [had] a G1 1600m race run in the Autumn. It was called the Easter Hcp. Where is it now?

[Leggy 4,194]

41 minutes ago, Insider said:

Auckland [had] a G1 1600m race run in the Autumn. It was called the Easter Hcp. Where is it now?

It's still there isn't it but a bit lower status. Now a Group 3.

[We're Doomed 5,908]

1 hour ago, Insider said:

Auckland [had] a G1 1600m race run in the Autumn. It was called the Easter Hcp. Where is it now?

Certainly not at Easter

[racingoutsider 368]

6 minutes ago, We're Doomed said:

Certainly not at Easter

Easter Saturday next year 2025. In 2017 it was reclassified to Group 2 and from 2022 to Group 3 level.

[Insider 5,170]

43 minutes ago, racingoutsider said:

Easter Saturday next year 2025. In 2017 it was reclassified to Group 2 and from 2022 to Group 3 level.

Says a lot about taking away the G1 from Otaki and giving it to Auckland doesn't it?

Some would say that's a loose bow, but I don't think so!

What I do know is that every move NZTR has made over the last 10 years has been to destroy the racing infrastructure, support etc, of the rest of the country.

But even then they haven't got it right, as regularly the Waikato Trainers trip down to Foxton to trial, don't they?

[Insider 5,170]

Update: Northern Trainers with horses at Foxton are Jenna Mahoney [Byrerley Park] and Samantha Logan Cambridge]

 There are another couple from up the Waikato way that have been venturing down lately too, but they have since been disqualified owing to disgusting treatment of the very horses we love. 

[racingoutsider 368]

10 minutes ago, Insider said:

Says a lot about taking away the G1 from Otaki and giving it to Auckland doesn't it?

Some would say that's a loose bow, but I don't think so!

What I do know is that every move NZTR has made over the last 10 years has been to destroy the racing infrastructure, support etc, of the rest of the country.

But even then they haven't got it right, as regularly the Waikato Trainers trip down to Foxton to trial, don't they?

Perhaps especially given that ATR have at least 2 G1s and 2 G2s currently under alert from the Pattern Committee.

[We're Doomed 5,908]

3 minutes ago, racingoutsider said:

Perhaps especially given that ATR have at least 2 G1s and 2 G2s currently under alert from the Pattern Committee.

But they have now discovered the easy answer to that problem.

[Insider 5,170]

Just now, We're Doomed said:

But they have now discovered the easy answer to that problem.

Yes, pinch a genuine Group One off someone else.

As a mate said to me tonight:

1] There is no guarantee that their track will be any good anyway.

2] Now I will simply bet in Australia if there is going to be nothing left in NZ, south of the Waikato and Ellerslie operates like I think it will. [Front runners, slow pace, crowding, being shunted wide on the bend and possibly ongoing slipping}

Amen I say to the decision makers.

[Idolmite 3,398]

7 hours ago, Pheroz said:

For those who live in Auckland its a win, but further south not so..

It'll get lost in the proposed Auckland schedule and quickly become just another irrelevant race. It's all about the slot race in Auckland ya know. 

[scooby3051 12,950]

That's if the track is fixed...

[Nerula 1,544]

Wellington is dying. Otaki is a limb to that

[scooby3051 12,950]

58 minutes ago, Nerula said:

Wellington is dying. Otaki is a limb to that

So you think its a good thing for the industry to have all the races at Ellerslie...give me a break its called NZ Racing not Auckland Racing.

[THE TORCH 788]

The people running our industry are an absolute joke..

[mckenzie 662]

Have I missed something? I've never seen a racing club just give away a G1 race like that, especially one they've built up over decades from listed level.

Last season the 'alert' to downgrade the race by the pattern committee was removed after Levante beat La Crique so it does seem surprising that now they suggest it's in grave danger of being downgraded.

I also found this statement from the pattern committee telling in terms of a warning being given to the Levin Classic:

Wellington RC, Levin Classic, from G1 to G2. This race has struggled in recent years due to the impact of the Karaka 3yo Mile on its former mid- January slot.

It seems Ellerslie is either taking over the central district G1 races or their programming is badly impacting them.