A race restricted to fillies and mares has for the first time in this country been awarded group one status.
The race is the $100,000 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes run at Te Aroha in March.
In the past four years victory has gone to central districts stables.
This year's race was won by Saint Cecile, trained by Nigel Auret at Wanganui. The 2000 winner was the Noel Eales-trained Tall Poppy and the two previous years Hawera trainer Aidan Schumacher was successful with Aimee Jay.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Allan Fenwick, also chairman of the graded stakes' committee, said the race had been on the verge of graduating from group two for some years.
"The committee believes it is appropriate the race is accorded group one status, bearing in mind the quality of the field, level of stake money and the weight-for-age conditions of the event instituted in recent times," Fenwick said.
The elevation of the race does not mean a current group one race will be downgraded.
Fenwick said it had simply been decided the race was worthy of being at group one level and would increase the number of group one races for next season from 21 to 22.
A race that has been relegated is the Taranaki Cup, from group two to group three next season.
The Taranaki Cup (2000m), run at New Plymouth, had been staged under weight-for-age conditions during the spring but is now held in the autumn as a handicap.
The elevation of four other races was also announced yesterday. The Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds, run at Trentham in March, is up from group three to group two.
The Cambridge Jockey Club's Sunline Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds, run in April, is up from listed stakes status to group three.
The Mason Appliances Four-Year-Old Stakes (1400m), run at the Taranaki Racing Club's September meeting, has been accorded listed stakes level. It is the first race restricted to four-year-olds to be granted "black type".
The steeplechase race run on January 1 at Ellerslie has been given prestige jumping race status.
It's only been held in the last two years but has carried a stake of $75,000 each time.
- NZPA
Racing: Group One status for female race
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