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Pentire’s fee reduced; Kiwi mare out of cup; Major upgrade at Pukekohe; Foreteller claims championship.

Pentire’s fee reduced

Group One value has taken a new and more affordable turn at Rich Hill Stud.

The fee for their top-flight stallion Pentire has been reduced to $15,000 + GST for the remainder of the breeding season.

“Our early scanning results indicate that Pentire’s fertility and general health remain so good that he will be able to cover a bigger book of mares than originally anticipated,” studmaster John Thompson said.

“We have made the decision to reduce his fee to give a wider range of broodmare owners access to our outstanding sire. He is not a syndicated horse so there is space for more outside mares.”

Pentire sired his 43rd individual stakes winner on Saturday when his daughter Atacama was a sublime winner of the Listed Matamata Cup.

Kiwi mare out of cup

New Zealand mare Kirramosa is out of the $A3 million Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Trainer John Sargent has ruled out backing up last season’s Gr.1 VRC Oaks winner this Saturday following her disappointing 11th placing behind Fawkner in the Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes.

If Kirramosa makes another spring appearance it will be in the $A1 million Gr.1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on November 1.

“Whether we go to the Mackinnon depends on how she pulls up in the next day or two,” Sargent said.

Meanwhile, stablemate Neena Rock is expected to travel to Melbourne for the $A1 million Gr.1 Myer Classic (1600m) following her win in the Gr.3 Angst Stakes at Randwick on Saturday for Taranaki owner Warren Bolton.

Major upgrade at Pukekohe

A major track upgrade is scheduled to begin at the Counties Racing Club’s track in mid-December.

Racing will cease at Pukekohe Park after the trial meeting scheduled for December 8 and the extensive drainage work and track reconstruction will take place over the summer months.

“The plan is to lay new drains and take the undulations out of the front and back straights to provide a good even surface,” Counties Racing Club Chairman Darryl Butson said.

“After losing two meetings recently and transferring one already this season we need to make these improvements to our track and by closing down in December we can hopefully have an improved surface to race on in the 2015-16 racing season.”

Lateral drains at a 45 degree angle will be placed every five metres around the track and the track will be graded to make the surface even the whole way around.

A new irrigation system will be installed and the work should be completed to allow sufficient autumn growth to consolidate the grass.

The work is being done in conjunction with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, who is jointly funding the operation with the Counties Racing Club.

The remaining seven meetings originally scheduled for Counties for the 2014-2015 season will be transferred to other clubs in the northern region.

Foreteller claims championship

Foreteller was out of the money in Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes, but his eighth placing was enough to secure the NZB Spring WFA Championship title.

The Chris Waller-trained import earned 15 points through the series to claim the crown from Happy Trails (12).

The championship was contested over four weight-for-age races at Caulfield over an eight week period with $A1.37 million in prize money on offer along with trophies to the value of $25,000.

It was the fourth year that New Zealand Bloodstock has partnered with the Melbourne Racing Club for the championship with Foreteller joining previous winners Atlantic Jewel, Ocean Park and Lights of Heaven.