The opportunities’ keep on rolling in for the trotting ranks with the announcement today of the Haras des Trotteurs Waikato Trotting Oaks.
To be held on May 17th at Cambridge Raceway, the $15,000 race comes hot off the success of the Haras des Trotteurs Southland Trotting Oaks held in March.
The North Island opportunity was identified by Haras des Trotteurs and Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness Racing Club with numerous benefits for industry participants stemming from the May event.
Cambridge Raceway CEO David Branch says "we’re thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to the North Island Trotting Ranks and to be working with Pat Driscoll, Dave Sanders and the Haras des Trotteurs Team.
Pat’s vision and passion for the trotting gait is phenomenal. This a brilliant racing opportunity for the owners and trainers of 3YO fillies. The timing of the race as the feature event on the final North Island qualifying opportunity for the Harness Jewels will only add to the excitement and interest.”
Haras des Trotteurs principal Pat Driscoll is well known for his love of the trotting gait throughout Australasia is second to none. Haras des Trotteurs is a multi-faceted major operation. Offering 11 trotting stallions to Australasian Breeders, including champion sire Love Lou and the exciting freshman Orlando Vici. Pat also breeds from one of the most impressive trotting broodmare bands around. The Ballarat based operation is also home to a highly successful training establishment.
Cambridge Raceway are confident that this new event will attract strong numbers and “implore Trainers to nominate not only their Harness Jewels eligible fillies but those late bloomers. The more support this race has this year the bigger it will become in further years” added Branch.
Sentiments echoed by trainers John and Joshua Dickie who will look to line up a couple of runners.
“It’s good to do something for the fillies and the timing is great. In the current programming it is hard for fillies to be placed away from the colts. The opportunity to earn those last minute dollars for the Jewels is great but also just giving the fillies their own opportunity is awesome. It’s a race that has the potential to build into something major, well done to the club”
The club recognises the efforts of NZ Breeders Association in promoting the increased racing opportunities for trotting fillies with the Hara des Trotteurs sponsored Oaks in Auckland, Southland and now Waikato.
Dave Saunders of Haras Des Trotteurs had the following to say about the announcement;
“Fillies of course are the broodmares of the future and to be able to give them the right opportunities to showcase their talents is how we develop the champions of tomorrow, which is what drives us all as breeders, owners and trainers and excites the fans and brings them to our great game.
“With Down Under trotters once again invited back to the rich international races in Sweden and the United States, it really is an exciting time for this truly globally popular gait.
“Haras des Trotteurs would like to thank the Waikato and Bay of Plenty club and Cambridge Raceway for the opportunity to continue our mission to breed and race world class trotters in Australia and New Zealand.”
