The New Zealand Pattern Review Committee has recommended a number of significant changes to the NZ Group and Listed race calendar.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing ordered a review of its black type schedule after industry concerns around the potential downgrading of a number of feature races.  It was in response to the 2012 Asian Racing Federation conference which introduced strict criteria around the future upgrade or downgrade of Group 1 and Group 2 races.

The NZTR asked the Pattern Review Committee to not only consider changes that would improve the quality and performance of New Zealand’s Group race system, but also to consider the current structure of carnivals and identify any races or opportunities that should be targeted.

In advance of its final report being tabled with the NZTR Board, the Pattern Review Committee has supported the following changes;

Levin Racing Club to have the G1 Levin Classic moved to Trentham and run on the first day of the Wellington Racing Club’s 2014 Cup carnival.

G2 Wellington Guineas (1500m) is moved from late October to New Zealand Oaks Day at Trentham over 1400 metres when it will create an alternative G2 $100,000 three-year-old option.

Auckland Racing Club’s G2 3YO Championship Stakes (2000m) is moved from New Year’s Day to be run in April on Easter Handicap day at Ellerslie to provide another late autumn three-year-old target.

Wellington Racing Club’s G2 Wakefield 2YO Stakes is moved from January to Captain Cook Stakes day at Trentham in early December to avoid the clash with the Auckland Racing Club’s Karaka Million the following week.

Auckland Racing Club’s G1 Easter Handicap date is moved a week later to be run two weeks after the G1 Te Aroha Breeders’ Stakes.

Pattern Review Committee chairman, Mark Freeman, said: “The Committee was keen to shift the Levin Classic away from its late November date, given the race has failed to achieve its required Group One rating benchmark in recent years and it was also impacting on the quality of the 2000 Guineas.”

The Pattern Review Committee has signalled the Auckland Racing Club’s G2 City Of Auckland Cup is at risk of a downgrade.  The Committee has recommended  moving the G1 Auckland Cup (3200m) back to New Year’s Day to re-establish a Summer Cups pattern.

If this does not occur, the Committee advises races such as the Counties Cup and Waikato Cups, which have both been downgraded from G2 in the past two years, will continue to struggle to meet the required benchmark.

The Committee reviewed the timing and make-up of the major racing carnivals, but did not recommend any changes to the overall structure.

The Committee has called on clubs and NZTR to look to programme more set-weight and penalty-type races in the future and has suggested that the conditions for both the Wellington Racing Club’s G1 Thorndon Mile Handicap and G1 elegraph Handicap should revert to set weight and penalties.

The Committee’s final report is expected to be considered by the NZTR Board at its meeting on October 25.  Recommendations adopted would be introduced as part of the 2014-15 season.