Rotorua mare Endean Rose has qualified for the event her trainer and owners have been aiming for all season, the Livamol Classic (2040m) in Hastings, where she will be ridden by Rotorua jockey Cameron Lammas.Part-owner and trainer Iain Kennedy, also of Rotorua, said racing in a Group 1 event was "as big as it gets in New Zealand".
"You have to qualify and she has earned her place, based on previous performances. She previously came second in a Group 2 race, the Travis Stakes at Te Rapa last season. That is what puts her up there in terms of qualifying for the Group 1 race.
"She's great, after the Travis Stakes [in May] we gave her a break and she's had two runs this time in, but on pretty unfavourable tracks because it has been so wet. The track at Hawke's Bay, they're saying, is a much drier track," Kennedy said.
He said today's race would be against the best horses in the country.
"Including horses who have been nominated for Caulfield Cups and big assignments in Australia. It's a pretty tough race, but she has drawn [gate] two, which we think is great for her. She's a pretty honest horse and on race day you never know what will happen."
