Hawke’s Bay Racing Incorporated members have formerly approved the proposed Greenfields development, which would see a new racecourse built on a site at the end of Portsmouth Road, south-west of Flaxmere.

Hundreds of HB Racing Club members attended a Special General meeting at the Hastings racecourse on Tuesday night to vote on whether to proceed with the project and it was passed unanimously.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Chief Executive Matt Ballesty attended Tuesday’s meeting and made a presentation to members.

Following the outcome of the meeting, Ballesty sent out a press release saying: “New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing welcomes the strong support shown by Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc. members for the proposed Greenfields racecourse development.”

“Member approval is an important milestone in progressing a modern, long-term racing and training venue for the region. The project still remains subject to final funding arrangements and normal planning and consenting processes, and NZTR will continue to work with Hawke’s Bay Racing, Government and local partners. Further updates will be provided when the key next steps are confirmed,” he added.

Earlier this week an email to HBR members included a statement from NZTR Chairman Russell Warwick, expanding on the reasoning and future goals of building a new racecourse at Portsmouth Road.

He said racing on the East Coast is important to the country, and Hastings is the logical centre to conduct racing in the region with its proximity to both the Central Districts horse population and large proportion of the Northern horses in training.

“With the introduction of Entain as our wagering partner it is imperative to ensure we maximise wagering, which in turn feeds the industry with its income and allows our participants to remain viable,” he said.

“We see the new site at Portsmouth Road as becoming the metropolitan venue for Hawke’s Bay Racing in the future, and one of two in the Central Districts region. The proposed development allows Hastings (and the entire East Coast) to be a relevant player in the New Zealand racing scene, and it will be a great boost to the Central Districts region,” Warwick said.

The re-cambering work at the present Hastings racecourse, at a considerable expense to NZTR, is progressing well and is expected to provide a great surface when racing resumes there next year.

“But the remaining facilities (along with water supply, drainage and other challenges) sees the long-term viability of the venue as not meeting the ‘metropolitan standard’ required of our best tracks. Inevitably, within 4-5 years all Group 1 races will be required to be run at the best facilities (track surface and public amenities),” Warwick said.

“NZTR is committed to Hawkes Bay as a metropolitan venue which would increase the number of racedays and play a significant role in the Central Districts region,” he added.

Bosson back and eyeing a milestone

After an extended stand-down from riding due to concussion, leading jockey Opie Bosson has been cleared to resume duties in time for an important Group 1 date.

Bosson was sidelined at the Avondale race meeting on November 6 after being unseated while pulling up on one of his mounts. He was subsequently diagnosed with concussion and had to comply with standard protocols before being able to get back in the saddle.

He was cleared to begin trackwork duties on Monday of last week and gained a full clearance two days later, which has allowed him to prepare fully for an important date at Trentham this Saturday.

On this Saturday 12 months ago Bosson took his tally of Group 1 wins to 99 when successful on Ladies Man in the TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m).

Completing a century of Group 1 wins has been anything but straightforward for the hugely talented jockey, whose career has had multiple interruptions due mainly to his battle with weight.

That all came home to roost last Christmas when Bosson announced that he had decided to cease riding, but after nearly eight months the urge again became too great and he resumed his career at the start of the season.

His newfound enthusiasm resulted in a rare lead on the jockeys’ table, but he has since been passed by fellow Matamata rider Craig Grylls, who is making no race of a second consecutive premiership with more than 50 wins already.

“Opie’s just happy to be cleared to ride again and get back into it, so he’ll take a few rides at Rotorua on Friday (yesterday) and that should set him up nicely for Trentham on Saturday,” said Bosson’s agent, former leading jockey Michael Coleman, who also manages Grylls’ rides.

The mount Bosson is most looking forward to at Trentham is Captured By Love, who was confirmed for the TAB Classic after finishing second to big-race rival Legarto in a trial at Te Aroha last week.

Captured By Love, a last start winner of the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on November 8, has drawn well at barrier five for the 1600m feature.

Hutchings chasing more NZ success

Expat jockey Rory Hutchings has adopted his proven “have saddle, will travel” approach to another summer stint in New Zealand.

Last summer the 30-year-old former champion apprentice made the most of his opportunities with 14 wins from 100 rides, including the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) on local star El Vencedor, and the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) on the Chris Waller-trained raider Konasana.

He has a long-standing relationship with the Waller stable, including a recent stint based on Queensland’s Gold Coast, but has decided to combine family time in Matamata with the chance to compete in lucrative domestic races.

Hutchings’ first busman’s holiday was brought to a premature end when he broke a collarbone in a race fall at Taupo in late February, but that is in no way deterring him from the prospects again on offer.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to recapitalise on what I did last summer,” Hutchings said on Tuesday. “If I can do as well as I did then it would be great, and anything on top of that would be a bonus.”

In early September Hutchings provided a reminder of his ability when responding to a call from Te Akau Racing to ride Quintessa in the season’s first Group 1 race, the Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie.

With an inspired last-to-first ride, he brought the Mark Walker/Sam Bergerson-trained mare home at odds of 35-to-one.

Hutchings also rode at the New Zealand Cup carnival in November, having to settle for a number of placings, but he’s keen to get his name up in feature race lights again, beginning with this Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) meeting at Trentham.

“I’ve been fortunate to pick up the ride on Ladies Man in the big race, so after what he did last year it would great if he can make it back-to-back wins.”

Big summer plans for Well Written

Unbeaten filly Well Written is back in work and, while exact plans have yet to be confirmed, a clearer picture of her New Year schedule is forming.

The only certainty is that her primary target is the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and speculation is mounting as to which slot the Stephen Marsh-trained filly will be running for when the field for the country’s richest race lines up at Ellerslie on March 7.

“She’s been back in the stable five days and looks great after having an easy time since the 1000 Guineas,” Marsh said last Monday.

“The Kiwi is obvious, that’s the race she’ll be targeting, and there’ll be a lot going on as we work through the various slots and other matters.

“We’ve asked all the interested parties to put their offers down in writing and by the end of this weekend we expect to be closer to making a decision as to where it lands.

“There’s a lot in play between the owners and everyone else involved, but we’ll get there, it’s just a matter of working through the process.”

Well Written’s ownership group now includes the Chinese-based Yulong Investments, whose global reach made its biggest move in this country by securing a 50 percent share in the daughter of their own stallion Written Tycoon before her third consecutive win in the Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

Marsh has indicated that a start in the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) is looking less likely in preference to the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) or Group 3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on the same Ellerslie raceday on January 24.

Well Written is the clear early favourite at $2.20 for the Karaka Millions 3YO and at $2.50 for the NZB Kiwi, while she shares Railway favouritism at $4 with Alabama Lass.

“We’re tossing up whether we should run her fresh-up in the Railway or opt for her own age-group in the Almanzor Trophy,” Marsh said. “The other option is to start her off earlier with a view to running in the Karaka Millions.”