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Wednesday's news from New Zealand.
Return to flat racing for Indikator
Te Aroha galloper Indikator will make a surprise return to flat racing in the Clear Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
“We don’t want him going into the Grand National half a run short,” co-trainer Gavin Opie said.
“It’s more of a fitness race than expecting to win.”
Saturday’s field is strong with the likes of Group One performer Voila Ici and fellow jumper Gotta Take Care.
Indikator is in top form having won his last four starts, including the Gr.3 Rotorua Cup.
He is set to resume his original plan after Saturday, running in the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown on July 13.
Purcentage scores impressively at Avondale
Matamata trainer Graham Richardson enjoyed success at Avondale on Wednesday with the highly-touted juvenile Purcentage taking out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2yo 1200 in impressive fashion.
The Onemorenomore filly was prominent throughout and kicked away in the straight to win hard held by three-and-a-half lengths.
“It’s nice to the get first win out of the road,” Richardson said.
Richardson is confident the filly, who was purchased for $250,000 at Karaka, can be a genuine chance in the Listed Ryder Stakes at Otaki on July 26.
Jockey Craig Grylls returned after a month’s break to ride the two-year-old to victory.
“She’s very, very smart this filly. I was looking forward to getting on her and I’d say she’s got a pretty bright future ahead of her,” Grylls said.
“I didn’t have to do much on her, she was still going pretty strong at the line.”
Sunline Vase added to NZB Filly of the Year
The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series will incorporate the Gr.3 Mckee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie next season.
The Sunline Vase will replace the Listed Soliloquy Stakes in the ten race series.
“To have the NZB Filly of the Year Series solely restricted to races of Group status underlines the quality of races in which New Zealand’s best fillies compete,” said Auckland Racing Club’s racing director Butch Castles.
“The Auckland Racing Club is delighted to have worked with NZB to bring about this positive change.”
A key lead-up race to the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks, the Sunline Vase was established in 2009 with three of the six Oaks winners since having competed in it, including winners Artistic and More Than Sacred.
With the Sunline Vase raced over 2100m, there is now an even split in distances with half of the races in the Series run at 1600m or less and the other half run at 2000m or more.
