Fundraiser taking punt on Black Sticks' medal

Anita McLaren (nee Punt) in action for New Zealand.

Horse racing fingers were crossed last night that the Black Sticks women's hockey team would stay in the medal race in Rio because of the impending visit of Anita McLaren (nee Punt) to Hawke's Bay on Saturday week.

"It's a great thrill to have Hamish Bond and Anita Punt as well," HB Racing general manager Andrew Castles said. He hoped the women would beat Australia overnight in their quarterfinal match (1am) to ensure another medal would be on display in the province alongside the gold rower Bond won with Bay-born Eric Murray in the men's pairs early on Saturday morning (NZ time).

Last year's guest, former Black Caps cricket captain Brendon McCullum, was fantastic and had created a lot of interest in the day, Castles said.

"To follow Bazza was going to be a hard task," he said, saluting Kate Gourdie, from the NZ Racing Board, for lining up the Olympians.

"Anita maybe has some connection with the racing board through her [maiden] name [Punt], I'm not sure, but she'll be great," said Castles with a laugh.

He had spread the gospel to Bay schools that the pair would be at the Makfi Challenge Stakes Daffodil Day - the first leg of the three Bostock NZ Spring Racing Carnival - on August 27. Rowing machines would be set up and some lucky child would have a chance to row off against Bond.

"I'm not much of a hockey expert but I'm sure they'll come up with ideas to have a competition with Anita as well."

Rio gold medals were scarce so to have one here was godsend.

It's the third Makfi/Daffodil meeting in Hastings, involving HB Racing, Westbury Stud (where Makfi stands) and HB Cancer Society among others, which raises money for the charitable cause.

The raceday raised $20,000 in each of the previous two years for the Bay branch of the society so the goal was to outperform that this year.

The racing board this year has added lead-up days to the Bay one, with daffodil days at Riccarton, Te Rapa last Saturday and this Saturday at Ellerslie.

"It's a great thing for the racing industry to be associated with because, at some stage in all of our lives, we'll be touched by a horrific illness or disease, which is cancer," Castles said. Raising money and awareness were complementary goals.

The board will also give $1000 towards any horse Castles picks in the premier race on the day to win and he has picked last year's winner, Kawi (jockey Leith Innes), to wear the blue-and-gold silks.

NZRB this month is hosting a series of "High Tea" events to thank cancer society volunteers for their commitment, hard work and dedication all year.