Anticipation for the second running of the TAB Southern Alps Challenge is building with the final “Golden Ticket Race” being held at Wingatui on Friday 28 March 2025. The $350,000 feature over 1600 metres is to be held at Riccarton Park Racecourse on Saturday 12 April 2025. The programme also includes the NZB Airfreight Stakes for three-year-old fillies and Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes for the two-year-olds. Both carry a stake of $80,000.

The final golden ticket race is a Rating 75 event over 1600 metres and has drawn a field of 14 acceptors. It is headed by the Brian and Shane Anderon pair of CHERRYVILLE and OUR APPROVAL and jumps as the last race on Friday’s nine race programme at 4:38pm.

OUR APPROVAL is already exempt from the ballot in the TAB Southern Alps Challenge having run third in the 2025 ODT Southern Mile Final. The winner of that race MAXIMUS AUGUSTUS, trained by Bill McNamara of Ascot Park, and second placegetter TREYBON, Riccarton Park trained by Ross Beckett, are also exempt from the ballot as that condition applies to the first three home in the Otago Racing Club signature race. TREYBON had won the West Coast’s iconic race the Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets back in January.

The first golden ticket race was a rating 75 event over 1400 metres at the Banks Peninsula Racing Club meeting on Wednesday 5 February 2025 at Riccarton Park. It was won by ON FILE for Balcairn trainers John and Karen Parsons.

The other golden ticket race was held at the Riccarton Park-Hororata meeting on Saturday 22 March 2025 and went to the Lance Robinson trained MR BULLY TEE. The five-year-old gelding made it two in a row and three wins from 17 starts when winning the Selwyn Rakaia Vets Rating 65 over the 1600 metres.

New Zealand’s leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will have the chance to compete this year with Te Akau Racing operating its South Island stable since 1 August 2024.

To be eligible for the TAB Southern Alps Challenge horses must be trained in the South Island as of Tuesday 31 December 2024 and have had at least two starts in South Island races after that date.

Defending champion MATSCOT met that later condition when running sixth in the 1400 metres Johnny Fresh Darfield & Yaldhurst Open last Saturday, 22 March 2025.

A change to last year is the introduction of an early entry provision. This initiative has been implemented by NZTR following feedback from connections wanting an early indication as to where their horse/s stand in terms of making the field. Nominations will close at 12 noon on Tuesday 1 April 2025 with a fee of $175.

A range of other activities have been planned for the TAB Southern Alps Challenge raceday to attract and entertain and complement what will be a strong racing programme.

·     There will be fierce competition for $12,000 in prizes for in the TAB Southern Punters Challenge. Details can be found at https://racing.riccartonpark.nz/events . Entries close Thursday 3 April 2025.

·      The meeting is being promoted with a ‘Red and White’ theme in keeping with the colours of the TAB Southern Alps Challenge logo and you are encouraged to enter the spirit and wear red and white on the day.

·     Seek out your finest Autumnal Outfit, feature accents of Red & White, and be selected in the top 14 best dressed on course. You will then draw a horse in the TAB Southern Alps Challenge with the person who draws the winner taking home a Scenic Hotel Group accommodation package. All finalists will receive a bottle of wine from The Ned. Open to everyone and no entry needed as our experienced Fashion Ambassadors will be out spotting the Best Dressed on the day.

For further information please contact Tim Mills, Chief Executive, Canterbury Jockey Club, 027 430 0208 or [email protected].