It is fitting that the race has many local entrants engaged from the stables of Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs, Ken and Lisa Rae and Krystal Williams and Clayton Stevenson who have been long-term trainers based in the region.
There is an extra reason for celebrations at the race meeting on Saturday because the New Zealand Pattern Committee (NZPC) has recently upgraded the Tavistock Northland Breeders Stakes to Group 3 status with a total prize of $70,000, an increase from last year's $50,000.
The Northland Breeders Stakes was originally a race for 2-year-olds held in mid-July but was reprogrammed to a race for 3-year-olds in mid-September back on September 10, 2011, when won by Antonio Lombardo. Since then the list of winners includes Sacred Falls, El Roca, Vespa, The Justice League and Heroci Valour.
The rise in status of the race to Group 3 and increase in prizemoney enhances it as Northland's premium thoroughbred race.
This year's Tavistock Northland Breeders Stakes looks to be a race in two with the locally trained and part-owned Prom Queen taking on the Tony Pike-trained colt Felton Road.
Prom Queen from the Rae Racing stables has an impressive record of six wins from only seven starts to be the logical favourite in the race. Clearly the small filly is the best horse from the stables since the outstanding NZ and Australian performing Egyptian Raine. No doubt at the lunch today Kenny Rae will be asked to compare the two.
Prom Queen was impressive in her scintillating win at the track two weeks ago and Felton Road will need to be a very smart and fit horse to catch the "speed queen" who no doubt will lead from her barrier four.
Felton Road raced in the very best of 2-year-old company last season, including a third in the Karaka Million. Felton Road was caught wide and was mentioned in the stewards' report as receiving interference when unplaced in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie in March.
The other local chances include two from the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs stable in Dashper and Not Usual Heart and the Redwood colt Rakau Whero from the Kim O'Riley stable.
Rakau Whero will be improved by his first start behind Prom Queen and Dashper was a good winner at the track back on September 2.
The expected better track conditions has attracted top-class sprinters and milers returning from spells in the NZ Bloodstock Finance Open with Ronchi, Hiflyer and Volks Lightning having their first or second starts this campaign. Hiflyer and Ronchi are both part-owned by Sir Patrick Hogan who, through Cambridge Stud, is the major sponsor on the day.
Unfortunately Sir Patrick is not well enough to attend the meeting.
Another horse in his ownership Legramor, trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson will be hard to beat in the Kensington Tavern 1200m for rating 65 horses.
The 4-year-old is from the outstanding Katie Lee and has won once from three starts, but they have been well-spaced runs.
Tomorrow features the last of the weekend meetings this year with the next event being midweek on Wednesday, October 4 and the Christmas at the Races meeting on Tuesday, December 19.
