Australian galloper Evaporate to compete in NZB Kiwi slot race at Ellerslie

Evaporate wins stylishly in the Artalia Handicap at Moonee Valley. Photo / Bruno Cannatelli

Outstanding Australian-based 3-year-old galloper Evaporate (NZ) is heading to New Zealand to add a sizzling transtasman edge to the brand-new slot race, The NZB Kiwi, at Ellerslie Racecourse on March 8.

Evaporate, a son of Little Avondale Stud’s sire Per Incanto, will run in the TAB slot for Entain New Zealand, who operate TAB and the TAB Racing Club, in the 1500m feature on Champions Day.

The winner of four of his 10 races, trained by brothers Ben, Will and JD Hayes in Victoria, Evaporate has performed at the elite level in Australia in the spring, running third in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in October before competing in the world-famous Cox Plate later that month.

Australian-trained horses of this quality have rarely been seen in New Zealand, and Entain managing director – New Zealand, Cameron Rodger was ecstatic to reach terms with Evaporate’s owners.

“We’ve searched through the history books and to have a placegetter in the Caulfield Guineas – a race that is one of the best 3-year-old races on the Australian calendar and famous for launching stallion careers – head across the Tasman is a fantastic coup for the inaugural running of The NZB Kiwi,” Rodger said.

“Evaporate is a shining example of the New Zealand thoroughbred being bred and foaled at the famous Little Avondale Stud on the outskirts of Masterton. He’s already proven himself on the Australian stage, and we’re thrilled to have him back for such a massive day in New Zealand racing history.

“With a strong following across the ditch, Evaporate’s presence in The NZB Kiwi will ensure the Australasian focus on March 8 will be squarely set on Champions Day at Ellerslie.”

Evaporate will provide the Hayes brothers – Ben, Will and JD – with an opportunity to campaign a horse in New Zealand, and JD Hayes said the brothers were relishing the chance to head across the Tasman.

“It’s an honour to be part of the first-ever running of The NZB Kiwi and we think we’ve got a very talented three-year-old to give this race a shake,” JD Hayes said.

“He was tremendous during the spring and has all the credentials to be a major player over the 1500m, which is in the same distance range as the Caulfield Guineas.

“While he certainly is Kiwi-bred, we’re proud to be adding some transtasman flavour to this brand-new race.”

Evaporate is likely to trial later this month and run fresh-up in Victoria during February before travelling to New Zealand for The NZB Kiwi, a race worth up to $4.5 million in stakes and bonuses.

– LoveRacing