Sourire Carter Bloodstock!
Congratulations to John Carter of Carter Bloodstock on the win of his tough chestnut filly Sourire (French for Smile!) in the Abderry sponsored 1400m Fillies & Mares race at Pukekohe on 10th June. John as owner, breeder of the filly (Choisir - Maranta Star) was obviously delighted to watch his girl fight determinedly up the straight to win by 1 3/4 lengths, in testing conditions.
We were smiling too as we used the occasion to enjoy a very pleasant afternoon with Tim Di Mattina, Wayne & Sharon Burke, Janet Hepi, Neville Alison and Ian O'Neil, all friends and clients of Abderry and who all own and race fillies and mares.
Abderry supports the Second Northern Fillies and Mares Series Starting on 1 June and owners & breeders who race their "girls".
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), with the support of the Northern Programming Committee and participating Clubs, has announced a second Fillies and Mares Series that will be staged across eight race days in the North commencing at Tauranga on 1 June and concluding with a $30,000 final at Whangarei on Saturday 16 July 2011.
These Fillies and Mares Series aim to increase their opportunities and encourage Breeders, Owners and Trainers to race their fillies and mares.
A total of $124,000 of prizemoney will be made available across the eight-race series, of which $54,000 in stakes has been added.
Over 100 individual fillies and mares contested the inaugural Summer Northern Filly and Mares Series, which was run across 11 qualifying heats and a $40,000 Special Conditions Fillies and Mares final held at Te Rapa in early February. The Final was won by the Yves Seguin's Cambridge trained mare Arcenciel.
In total the initial Series attracted 246 nominations at an average of 20.5 per race, with 147 starters at an average of 12.25 per race. This compares with the current national New Zealand starter average of around 10.7 horses per race.
The $150,000 in added stakes funding that has been provided to support these two Northern Fillies and Mares Series events has been made available by the NZTR Board this season as part of the annual funding amount distributed to Northern Clubs.
The NZTR Board would like to see the Fillies and Mares Series concept expanded next season to become a national programme that will support New Zealand owners and breeders by rewarding everyone who race fillies and mares in this country.
The Northern Winter Fillies and Mares Series incorporates the following events:
1 Tauranga Wed 1 June R80 F&M 1400m
2 Counties Fri 10 June Mdn F&M 1400m - Sponsored by Abderry
3 Waikato Sat 11 June R70 F&M 1600m
4 Auckland Sat 18 June R80 F&M 1600m
5 Te Aroha Fri 24 June R70 F&M 1500m
6 Whangarei Sat 2 July R70 F&M 1400m
7 Cambridge Wed 6 July R70 F&M 1600m
Final Whangarei Sat 16 July Sp Cond F&M 1600m
