A capacity 13-horse field will face the gate for an always exciting 1700-metre race at Alexandra Park this Friday night. The opening heat of the 2025 Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires Stakes Series is already being hailed a success—regardless of the result—as far as NZSS Executive Martin Pierson is concerned.
“All who nominated got a run. On paper it’s an evenly matched group of fillies who will put on a fine show fresh up, and the betting turnover might just be the biggest of the night at Auckland. So, it’s win-win-win even before the light goes green” says Pierson who believes the series is beginning to realize its potential, thanks to a number of key ingredients now coming together.
“There has been a combined effort in the sport to encourage and enhance stakes racing,” Pierson explained after acceptances were finalised on Monday. “I don’t want to get too excited too early, but it just feels like there is a groundswell at the ground level—from breeders, buyers, owners and trainers—to be a part of it. They’ve collectively bought in over the last few years and now, for this group, it’s finally off to the races!”
Dunstan Horsefeeds Sixth Year
Dunstan Horsefeeds is proud to have its name on the series for a sixth year, and founder David Smith has upped the ante to complement the $200,000 stake for the final on Show Day at Addington during Cup Carnival.
“The New Zealand Sires Stakes Series has been an initiative we’ve admired, and it’s always been a highlight on our racing calendar,” said Smith, who started the company in 1986. “We just wanted to provide something really meaningful for the people with the horses in our race series, so we’re putting up one tonne of Dunstan Custom Blend horse feed to the trainer of the series winner this time.”
Smith sees it as a way of contributing to the ongoing success of the winning stable—and a payback of sorts to the industry that has supported Dunstan over the years.
Fitting then, a full field of fillies from a mix of ‘brand’ barns will contest the first heat under the Friday Night Lights in Auckland!
Field Breakdown:
Friday Night at Alexandra Park
Mark & Nathan Purdon
Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan
Steve & Amanda Telfer
Ray Green & Nathan Dalaney
Robert & Jenna Dunn
Mark Jones
Tate Hopkins
What Else to Watch
With the Woodlands Stud Series and IRT Two-Year-Old Trot Preludes starting in September, there’s added interest in this weekend’s support card racing at both premier venues.
Duchess of Kent Rules in Addington Debut
Southland Stables once again made their presence felt at Addington, launching another bold cup week targetted campaign with the promising filly Duchess Of Kent. Her first road trip culminated in a commanding victory in Round One of the 2025 Nevele R Fillies Championship—an emphatic statement from a jurisdiction steeped in tradition and talent.
A Tribute in Motion
The win carried emotional weight for the Smith family, who were on hand to honour the late Lester Smith. His wish was clear: to see Duchess Of Kent contest all the classics. Julia Smith, alongside her family, began this journey in tribute, and the result couldn’t have been more fitting.
Duchess Of Kent is the final foal from Galleons Honour and shares bloodlines with a royal lineage of standardbred stars—the Dukes of Wellington, Cornwell, and Scotland—all bred by the Smiths. Julia recalls the uncertainty of staking the filly shortly after Lester’s passing. But as NZSS execuitive Martin Pierson remembers, her decision was resolute: “Julia made the easiest choice at such a testing time and ticked the top box, all in!”
Booking a Finals Berth
The filly’s performance left no doubt. “It’s just so pleasing to watch such a superb filly now progress to such heights,” Pierson added, “and book her Nevele R Finals berth so emphatically.”
Ged Mooar of Nevele R Stud drew parallels to last year’s series champion, Treacherous Baby, who also qualified early via a conditioned heat for the Cup Day final.
Other Notables from Heat 1
Looking Ahead
‘The Duchess’ will next target the final heat at Labour Weekend—a notoriously frantic “dance of the desperate.” But for the Smith family and their supporters, it’ll be relaxed viewing. Their seats at the Cup Day banquet are already secured.
NZ Sires’ Stakes Spring Schedule
August 22
Nevele R Fillies Series
Heat 1, Addington
Winner: ‘Duchess of Kent’
August 29
Dunstan Horsefeeds Two-Year-Old Sires Stakes
Heat 1, Auckland.
September 5
Nevele R Series
Heat 2, Addington.
Dunstan Horsefeeds Series
Heat 2, Auckland
Caduceus Two-Year-Old Fillies
Prelude, Addington.
Woodlands Two-Year-Old C&G Sires Stakes
Heat 1, Auckland.
September 12
Nevele R Series
Heat 3, Auckland.
Woodlands Harness 7000
Addington
September 14
Nevele R Series
Heat 4, Oamaru
September 19
IRT 2YO Trot Preludes
Auckland & Addington
Macca Lodge 3YO Filly Trot Classique
Addington
Caduceus 2YO Fillies’
Final, Auckland
Woodlands 2YO Series
Heat 2&3, Auckland & Addington
