N.Z. Cup up to $30,000

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 21

N.Z. Cup up to $30,000

The stake of the New Zealand Cup, transferred this year to the last day of the three day Canterbury Jockey meeting in November, has been increased $5OOO to make a total stake of $30,000. The New Zealand Cup will again carry a $lOOO gold cup, as will the Benson anti Hedges Gold Cup, which has taken the place of the Cup on the first day of the carnival. The stake for this 2500 m handicap has also been raised $5OOO, bringing it to $15,000. Along with the Cup on the first day will be the Welcome Stakes, the Two Thousand Guineas and the Jockey Club Handicap, which was last year run on the middle day of the carnival. The C.J.C. are contemplating a new feature sprint event, possibly at weigh t-for-age over 1200 m. Either this race or

the Stewards' Handicap, which has been lifted $lOOO to $7500, will take its place on the first day. The Jockey Club Handicap takes over from the Riccarton Handicap, and with the stake increased $7OO, the Riccarton will now be run on the final day at $3OOO. The weight-for-age Canterbury Gold Cup over 2000 m has been increased to $14,000 and will be joined on the second day by the Members’ Handicap which has been raised $1750 to $4OOO. The programme for the final day will include the Churchill Stakes, the One Thousand Guineas, the New Zealand Cup, the Riccarton Handicap, and either the Stewards’ Handicap or a new sprint. There has been a change of conditions for Cup entry and now a horse of any class may be nominated, but acceptances are confined to Cl horses.