Proisir Plate signals a huge spring ahead
Sam Moncur • September 4th, 2025 12:51 PM • 3 min read
By Sam Moncur - Managing Director – New Zealand and Chief Financial Officer, Entain Australia and New Zealand.
It may have been tough going on some heavy tracks last weekend, but spring is now officially upon us.
For the racing industry, this is a season that is filled with anticipation, and for Entain New Zealand, that is no different.
Spring is when some of our punters come out of hibernation, and we consistently see strong active customer numbers building all the way up to those race event pinnacles – the Livamol Classic here in New Zealand through to New Zealand Cup Week, and The Everest, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup across the Tasman.
Spring also provides a chance for us to remind the general public that there’s more to racing than just Melbourne Cup Day, and pleasingly we have seen that general trend of active customers growing in the past two years.
The sense of anticipation ramps up this week with the Proisir Plate set to kick off the Group One features here in New Zealand. While the meeting has a new home this year at Ellerslie, one thing we’ve been thrilled to be able to carry on from the Hastings venue is our support of Daffodil Day.
The Cancer Society does amazing work, not only for the one in three New Zealanders who will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, but in the research realm where the society is the largest private funder of cancer research in New Zealand.
In the past 10 years, the Cancer Society has invested over $50 million in cancer research, that has improved the prevention, detection, and treatment of different types of cancer.
In each race at Ellerslie on Saturday, one jockey will wear the TAB Cancer Society Daffodil Day silks. If a horse carrying those silks wins a race, we will donate $2000. That increases to $5000 for the Proisir Plate.
Along with the TAB Racing Club’s filly In Haste wearing the silks in the Gr. 3 Gold Trail Stakes, the Wexford Stables pair of Sweet But Psycho (Race 2, the Yourride 2200), and She’s All That (Race 4, Sistema 1100) will be donning the Daffodil Day colours.
The full list of runners in Daffodil Day silks will be available at tab.co.nz/punters closer to Saturday.
Adding to the cause, Social Racing has also pledged $500 to the Cancer Society for each win by their runners Social Climber (R4) or Lollapalooza (R7) on Saturday.
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing have got on board to support the day, so look out for the volunteers and various Daffodil Day imagery if you are on course at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The field for the $400,000 Proisir Plate is looking very strong, with multiple Group One winners in the acceptors, including last year’s Ellerslie top dog El Vencedor. Saturday’s race really sets the stage for the coming months, not only for the remainder of the New Zealand spring, but for any Australian targets on the horizon for the likes of Legarto.
Speaking of Australian targets, we are really excited to be able to support the NZ Horse Ambulance Trust’s winter appeal, which extends through to next week when their live auction goes live.
Entain has put together a package for the iconic Cox Plate on Saturday, 25 October, including hospitality at the Valley, two nights’ accommodation and $1500 House of Travel vouchers to pay for flights.
This is just one of the outstanding live auction items on offer, so head to horseambulance.co.nz next Tuesday (9 September) to find out how to put your bids in.
Enjoy the return of New Zealand Group One racing on Saturday, whether at home or on track at Ellerslie.
