Happy Kiwi Hour for homegrown hopes

Media Release
April 7, 2011

Happy Kiwi Hour for homegrown hopes

The TAB is giving New Zealand racing fans the chance to further fuel trans-Tasman rivalry by offering a Happy Kiwi Hour in support of three homegrown hopes in what is a huge weekend of top-flight action.

For ONE HOUR from 5pm on Friday, superb Fixed Odds (Final Field) prices of three top Kiwi horses chasing the honours against their Australian rivals in three massive races.

Harness racing opens the action on Friday night, with the TAB offering enhanced Fixed Odds prices on big Kiwi hopes Sovereignty (trotting final, 8.30pm) and Monkey King (pacing final, 9.40pm) in their respective Christchurch Casino in conjunction with SKYCITY Inter Dominion Championships Finals at Alexandra Park in Auckland.

Across the ditch, Jimmy Choux is gunning to be the first galloper since the great Bonecrusher in 1985/86 to win the New Zealand and Australian derbies in the same season. He has already captured the imagination of race fans and is the clear favourite to win the AJC Derby at Randwick on Saturday (5.40pm NZT) in Sydney.

Along with Bonecrusher, just two other horses have achieved the New Zealand-Australian derby double – Gloaming in 1918 and Noctiform in 1905.

Martin Saunders, TAB General Manager Wagering, Racing and Sport, said the TAB wanted to reward the loyalty of Kiwi punters by making it even more appealing for them to get behind the three homegrown hopes in the three big races.

“Like most people we think Jimmy Choux is going to win,” said Saunders. “Because there’s such huge Kiwi interest we believe it’s worth adding value to him and his chances of winning on Saturday. We’ll be extending the price and making him even more attractive to our customers.

“The Inter Doms are the ultimate in trans-Tasman harness rivalry and we believe that Sovereignty and Monkey King, flying the flag in their respective trotting and pacing finals, are the best of the Kiwi hopes, so we’re adding value to them as well,” said Saunders.

“This is a great chance for Kiwi race fans to back the country’s best.”

The Happy Kiwi Hour offers enhanced Fix Odds (Final Field) prices on the three selected horses to a maximum of $100 per person per horse.

Ends

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