Racing: ARC seeks trainer support on Guineas

The Auckland Racing Club never misses an opportunity to promote the sport of thoroughbred racing.

When the Avondale Jockey Club were forced yesterday to call off their race meeting due to unsafe track conditions, a lot of trainers believed their NZ Derby aspirations were in jeopardy.

The $70,000 Avondale Guineas was the feature event of the AJC meeting and also an important lead-up race to the $500,000 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

The ARC, subject to support from the trainers of all Avondale Guineas acceptors, will run this three-year-old event at Ellerslie next Sunday.

The ARC will also be running the $60,000 Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie on the same programme.

With 62 horses still chasing a starting spot in the final 18 acceptors for the NZ Derby, this was the smart move by the ARC to help accommodate all trainers attempting to qualify a runner for New Zealand's premier three-year-old event.

"The conditions of the race which includes acceptors, barrier draws, stake money and derby exemptions will remain in place," said ARC Director of Racing, Andrew Castles. "We will be contacting all trainers on Sunday [today] to ascertain their support and with a majority embracing this positive initiative it will proceed."

Many Derby contenders will compete at Ellerslie next Sunday.