Sires' Stakes rescheduled after Alexandra Park crash

The abandoned Dunstan Horsefeeds NZ Sires’ Stakes Two-Year-Old Fillies series opener at Alexandra Park last Friday has been re-scheduled to the same venue on October 4.

The race was called off after a melee that saw driver Benjamin Butcher sidelined with a broken shoulder.

A day later a think tank got their heads together to reschedule the race somewhere in an already packed spring schedule.

New Zealand Sires’ Stakes executive Martin Pierson says finding the date wasn't as difficult as first imagined and after many communications with horse connections over the weekend October 4 found itself considering there was already a two-year-old filly race scheduled for that night.

"Most connections of these two-year-old fillies have 'Caduceus Club' and 'Harness Million' commitments as well as the Sires’ Stakes qualifying options on their 'race radar' so it was a potentially challenging process to find a date without putting too much pressure on horse preparations."

Stables will have to negotiate the rescheduled race running close to the NZB Standardbred Harness Million at NZ Metro on October 11.

"This is the first time in my NZ Sires’ Stakes history a race has been abandoned in such circumstances, we just hope the horses involved in that abandoned event last Friday come through it physically and mentally unscathed" says Pierson.

Reschedule Series Dates & Venues

Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Heat 1 Friday September 6, Auckland.
Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Heat 2 Thursday October 3, NZ Metro.
Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Heat 3 Friday October 4, Auckland.
Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Heat 4 Monday October 28, Ashburton.
Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Final Friday November 15, NZ Metro.