Some flexible thinking from thoroughbred bosses is set to save any major races being lost to the Covid-19 alert level 4 extension that will see the industry on hold until Wednesday.
Yesterday's Government announcement means no racing is allowed until Wednesday, and longer in the Auckland region.
That means the star-studded Te Rapa gallops meeting, others at Awapuni and Ashburton today and an open-class harness meeting at Addington on Sunday all fall victim to lockdown this weekend.
But NZTR will push the Te Rapa meeting back to next Saturday to ensure the $110,000 Foxbridge Plate and $80,000 Breeders Stakes are run, which will mean the first Group 1 meeting of the season at Hastings also goes back a week from September 11 to September 18.
Trainers are reluctant to race stars like Avantage and Tavi Mac just a week apart, especially at this stage of the season, preferring a two-week gap at least between races for elite thoroughbreds.