"This community-minded spirit has continued with Hawke's Bay Racing for nearly 90 years and we are delighted to again be supporting our neighbour in one of the main races on their racing calendar," said hospital general manager Denise Primrose.
Hawke's Bay Racing CEO Andrew Castles said: "It is great to again have our neighbour as a business partner in such a prestigious race."
Royston Hospital is owned by the Australasian company Acurity Health and Castles said last year they had guests from throughout their organisation attend the cup day race meeting.
"They had a particularly enjoyable day on course so they were keen to renew their sponsorship," Castles said.
"Royston Hospital is a big part of the health care service in Hawke's Bay and it is great that they are supporting local events."
The Hawke's Bay Cup has always rated one of the most important races run on the Hastings track and has been won by some of New Zealand's best gallopers.
Hi-Jinx won it in 1960 before crossing the Tasman to take out that year's Melbourne Cup.
Glengowan won in 1972 and finished a close second in the following year's Melbourne Cup while Fury's Order was successful in 1974 and went on to win a Cox Plate in Australia.
Mr Brooker won the Hawke's Bay Cup in 1990 and finished third in that year's Melbourne Cup while Surfer's Paradise won in 1993 and went on to win a Cox Plate.
Chenille won the Hawke's Bay Cup three years ago and 11 months later she took out the Group 1 Auckland Cup.
This year's Hawke's Bay Cup is expected to draw a strong field of progressive stayers, with the Hastings-trained Hunta Pence again rated one of the main chances.
The No Excuse Needed 6-year-old, prepared by Patrick Campbell, finished a game third in last year's race and has since won another two races, the most recent being over 1600m at Trentham on March 9.
Castles said a huge day is planned on course for this year's Hawke's Bay Cup race day with all of the hospitality rooms fully booked.
"There is a big group from New Zealand Contractors Federation Hawke's Bay in the Karamu Lounge and the East Coast Rural Support Trust will also be staging a fundraising function for 200 people in the Cheval Room to raise money to support the mental health of rural people," Castles said.
It is envisaged the function will raise in excess of $25,000 for this worthwhile cause.
Sir John Kirwan is associated with the establishment of Acurity Health Group's soon to be launched private mental health service and together they have donated his services to be a guest for an afternoon, which will be one of the items auctioned at the fundraiser.
Horses for courses theory rings true
Hastings-trained Hugo The Boss is fast earning the tag as a Tauherenikau track specialist.
The 5-year-old Stratum gelding, prepared by John Bary, was having his fourth start on the Tauherenikau course when taking out the $12,000 Rating 82 1000m event there last Sunday and has now had three wins and a second on the track.
Hugo The Boss started a warm favourite last Sunday and took a while to settle into his rhythm before jockey Chris Johnson let him slide forward three-wide to challenge for the lead.
He then took control inside the last 300m and kept up a strong gallop to win by three-quarters of a length from Grand Mayson, with Stradivarius half a length back in third.
Hugo The Boss has now won seven races from 26 starts and he and stablemate Vinnie's Volley are likely to give Bary a strong two-pronged attack in the Listed $50,000 NZB Finance Sprint (1200m) at Hastings on April 13.
"If the track was alright at Hastings on Gold Cup Day he could maybe have a shot at the Listed 1200m," Bary said.
"If the tracks turn and we get rain then he will be spelling until next season. He has had a great season, and hopefully we'll bring him back for the better sprint races next season."
Hugo The Boss is raced by the Best Dressed Syndicate, of which Bary is a shareholder.
The other members are his Hastings-based mother Ann, Alan and Paula Keall and Laurie Parker from Taradale, Innes Nisbet (Havelock North), Narendra Balia and Blair and Denise Martin (Auckland), Gavin Dunnett (Christchurch), Lawrie Bolton (Tauranga) and Heath Newton, who lives in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
Stakes race for HB-owned Artiste
Hawke's Bay-owned Artiste is likely to line up in a black type race at her next start following her game three-quarter length win in last Saturday's $30,000 Bay Of Plenty Cup (2100m) at Tauranga.
The 5-year-old Mastercraftsman mare was bred by the late Laurence Redshaw, a former long serving Hawke's Bay Racing administrator, and is now raced by his estate.
Apprentice Taiki Yanagida rode Artiste last Saturday and claimed a 3kg allowance, bringing the mare's weight down to a luxurious 52kg.
He settled the horse perfectly one out and one back in the early stages before sending her forward, three-wide, approaching the home turn.
She went to the front soon after straightening for the run home and withstood the late challenge from race favourite Felaar to win by three-quarters of a length.
It was Artiste's sixth win from 28 starts and the Group 3 Manawatu Breeders Stakes (2000m) at Awapuni on April 5 is likely to be her next assignment.
"That was a really gutsy win that was set up by a perfect ride," co-trainer Andrew Forsman said after last Saturday's win.
"I thought he (Yanagida) put her in a great spot throughout and she really benefited from his claim, as she got a good pull in the weights from her main rivals. She has really strengthened up during this campaign and is reaping the benefits of that now. I would think a tilt at some black-type is the obvious choice and the race at Awapuni sets up nicely as it's against her own sex over a good distance for her."
Avantage's brilliant return
New Zealand 3-year-old filly Avantage made a brilliant winning return when taking out the Group 3 A$160,000 TAB Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in Sydney last Saturday.
The Fastnet Rock filly, part-owned by Waipukurau's Michael Ormsby, had not raced since winning the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September last year but was sent across the Tasman after scoring in a 1000m barrier trial at Avondale on March 12.
She was ridden to victory by New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson, who had her prominently placed throughout.
Race favourite Resin, the mount of James McDonald, looked to have Avantage's measure inside the last 250m but the latter kicked back gamely to score by three-quarters of a length.
It was the filly's seventh win from eight starts, with two of her victories as a 2-year-old being in the Karaka Million (1200m) at Ellerslie and Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.
"She's always been a high class filly and hopefully we can work through to 'The Championships' now with a bit of confidence that she will measure up," trainer Jamie Richards said.
Richards said the Group 2 A$1million Arrowfield Three-year-old Sprint (1200m) on the last day of 'The Championships' at Randwick on April 13 will now be Avantage's next start.
Mohaka heading south
Promising Hastings-trained filly Mohaka was to have a jumpout at Waipukurau today ahead of a trip to the South Island next week, where she will be aimed at two black type races at Riccarton.
The Nadeem filly, trained by the partnership of Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen, was an impressive last start maiden winner over 1200m at Otaki on March 8 and has been kept ticking over in training ever since.
The plan is to start her in the Listed $50,000 AZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) on April 6 followed by the Listed $50,000 NZ Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) the following Saturday.
Mohaka has had six starts for a win, a second and three thirds.
She was stakes placed earlier this season, finishing third in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1340m) and then third in the Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.
