Champion mare Volpe Veloce heads a strong field for the 48th running of the Windsor Park Stud Japan New Zealand International Trophy Race at Tauranga tomorrow.

The Graham Richardson trained 5YO Bay mare has notched up 11 wins from 23 starts, including a win last year in the Group 1 Sistema Railway.

They will be looking for the 3rd Group 2 win when she comes up against one of the strongest fields for many years, says Racing Tauranga manager Andrew Love.

Richardson also notched up a win with Villifye back in 2012.

Andrew says this prestigious race, with a prize pool of $100,000 up for grabs, will also see another Richardson trained, Tiptronic, as a strong contender, after a 2nd in the Rich Hill Mile on New Years Day, whilst the Baker Forsmans, True Enough, with six wins under her belt which included 4 in a row before being runner-up in Hawke's Bay on February 27.

Top Weight Endless Drama has had one race in NZ after winning more than half a million in Australia.

The Executive Vice President of Japan Racing Club Mr Katsuhiro Machida and his wife, along with his personal assistant, have flown down to attend the race meeting, says Andrew.
Roger That.

Local trainer Anthony Fuller will be hoping his charge, Roger That, can continue his good form which hasn't seen him out of the prize money in the last 10 starts, which included a tidy 4th in the Avondale Cup, when he races in the Drymix Bay of Plenty Cup.

Artiste, who has had three wins from the last six starts could be the danger.

The Triton Pacific Owens Plate is expected to see Santa Catarina, Short Fuse, Born Dragon and Justacanta fight it out.

The track was irrigated on Wednesday when at a good three.

The Bayleys International Race day sees the first race get under way at 12.38, with the eight race programme finishing just before 5pm.