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Pearl Series entries set to close; Offers rejected for I'm Thunderstruck

Pearl Series entries set to close

Breeders have until Saturday to nominate their yearling filly for the lucrative Pearl Series.

The series carries three levels of bonuses of $8,000, $11,500 and $20,000 over their two, three, and four-year-old seasons.

The series is open to all fillies of the 2019 foal crop.

Trainer Tony Pike believes the series is a great incentive which helps to significantly boost the earnings of nominated fillies and mares.

"It is a great incentive for a horse's first win with a $10,000 bonus, it significantly increases the prizemoney level for that maiden win," Pike said.

"Carrying on from there, if you can programme your horses to win two or three in a season then that is a huge financial bonus."

Entry into the Pearl Series closes on July 31.

Nominate your filly here: https://pearlseries.nzthoroughbred.co.nz/

Offers rejected for I'm Thunderstruck

Connections of exciting New Zealand-bred three-year-old I'm Thunderstruck  have rejected several lucrative offers for the son of Shocking.

The gelding, who runs at Moonee Valley on Saturday, was immediately targeted by Hong Kong buyers following his four-length romp last start.

"Hong Kong were all over him after Flemington, but the owners were very keen to keep him here," OTI Racing's Terry Henderson told Racing.com.

"As a couple of the guys pointed out, by the time you divide up the horse, we'll probably go out and buy three slow ones to replace it, so let's run with the one that's a good one."

I'm Thunderstruck was initially prepared in New Zealand by Matamata trainer Daniel Miller for whom he won his 1000m trial at Te Aroha in June last year before being sold privately to OTI through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.