The stakes have been raised for Rotorua’s premier spring sprint, with Rotorua Racing Club and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) confirming the Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) will now carry a $140,000 purse on Novara Park Stakes Day, Sunday 12 October.
The $40,000 enhancement reflects the race’s growing profile and its importance as a target for elite weight-for-age New Zealand sprinters.
Last season, the Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes attracted three former Group 1 winners, with first and second placegetters Luberon (NZ) (Embellish) (pictured) and Navigator (NZ) (El Roca) both going on to claim Group 1 placings in the $700,000 Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) and $550,000 Group 1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) respectively.
“It’s pleasing to see the Club investing in quality opportunities for our sprinters, and if we continue to attract fields of the calibre we saw last year, there is every chance this race could press for an upgrade in Group status in the coming seasons,” said NZTR Senior Handicapper Bruce Sherwin.
Rotorua Racing Club has also announced the introduction of a $2,500 travel bonus for the winner of the $80,000 Staphanos Classic (1950m), also held on Novara Park Stakes Day, should the horse travel south to compete at Riccarton Park’s New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch.
Rotorua Racing Club Chief Executive Officer, Damien Radesic, said the initiatives were designed to add value for participants and showcase Rotorua’s role within the national racing calendar.
"The Novara Park Stakes Day is a fantastic opportunity for us to highlight Thoroughbred racing in our region,” Radesic said.
“The Sweynesse Stakes has already proven its ability to attract top-class horses, and we’d love to see it grow further.
“The new travel subsidy also recognises the importance of working collaboratively with the wider industry to support participation across the country, and we look forward to crowning the winner next month,” he said.
The Novara Park Stakes Day will be staged at Arawa Park on Sunday 12 October. For more information about tickets and hospitality, click here.