The opening Group 1 race of the New Zealand racing season has been rebranded as the Proisir Plate after Westbury Stud relinquished its sponsorship of the 1400m feature traditionally run at Hastings.
With Westbury Stud no longer holding naming rights to the Tarzino Trophy (and Makfi Stakes before that) after 14 years, Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson has stepped in to fill the sponsorship void of the Challenge Stakes.
And in a further change to the weight-for-age race, with its traditional home Hawke’s Bay racecourse out of action for the foreseeable future, the Proisir Plate has been transferred to Ellerslie for this year.
The first running of the Proisir Plate will be run on September 6.
Thompson was delighted to step in to sponsor the race and name it after Rich Hill’s champion sire Proisir, New Zealand's premier stallion in 2024/25.
“Proisir has already sired a winner and has three favoured contenders in the early market for next season’s Group 1 event,” Thompson says.
“With his best-bred crops coming through to race, we’re confident he’ll continue to have an influence in future years.”
Proisir’s son Dark Destroyer won the Tarzino Trophy in 2022 and he is likely to be strongly represented again this year with Legarto and Pier joint $7 favourites in all-in markets with Waitak at $15.
Rich Hill sires’ strong links to the race through the deeds of its late stallion Pentire, who sired 2005 winner Xcellent and 2011 victor Mufhasa, made it an easy decision for Thompson to put the sponsorship proposal to Proisir’s syndicate of owners.
“Elite Group 1 racing is the pinnacle of what we are trying to achieve, so we consider it a great privilege to join forces with Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie and be involved in a part of New Zealand’s great racing legacy,” he said.
ATR chief executive Paul Wilcox was thrilled to have Rich Hill’s backing for the Group 1 race.
“Having a stallion of Proisir’s calibre connected to the race - and a stud with the legacy of Rich Hill behind it - adds real depth and prestige to the occasion,” Wilcox said.
“It’s also a fitting way to mark the launch of the first-ever Proisir Plate Day, and an exciting moment as we continue to rebuild momentum for top-tier racing at Ellerslie.”
With a fortnight of the current racing season to go, Proisir is second on New Zealand sires’ table with 54 winners and NZ$3.4 million in progeny earnings. He will stand for a fee of NZ$70,000 (plus GST) this year.
