Netball star announced as New Zealand’s Melbourne Cup ambassador
NETBALL and horse racing doesn’t quite match up like peas and carrots, but Silver Ferns star Maria Tutaia has been named as New Zealand’s 2017 Melbourne Cup carnival ambassador.
Why does New Zealand need a Cup ambassador you ask? The plan is to attract more Kiwis to the carnival in October/November and Tutaia has experience in the media after being at the forefront of the Auckland Cup carnival.
The striking netballer knows her way around the track and is New Zealand’s go-to sportswoman when it comes to fashion – all the things that make the Melbourne Cup carnival the huge success it is today.
She will travel with the Melbourne Cup as it tours New Zealand in the lead-up to the November 9 feature and feels honoured to be appointed the position.
“The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of the world’s biggest racing, fashion and social events and as much a racing tradition in New Zealand as it is in Australia,” Tutaia said.
“There are not many places in the world where everyone makes such an effort to get dressed up.”
VRC interim chief executive Neil Wilson said the appointment of a New Zealand ambassador is due to strong growth in New Zealand tourism to the Melbourne Cup carnival.
“We have taken giant strides into the New Zealand market over the past three years, with visitation to the Melbourne Cup carnival growing by more than 40 per cent over this time,” Wilson said.
“By engaging Maria we hope even more New Zealanders will be able to share in the celebration that is the Melbourne Cup carnival, to share in the world-class racing, fashion, entertainment and hospitality that makes this one of the world’s great events.”
The Melbourne Cup is big news in New Zealand and is considered “the race that stops two nations” across the Tasman. It’s hard not to see why it’s so popular, given the success New Zealand trained, owned and bred horses have had in the Cup.
Recent winners Prince Of Penzance, Efficient, Ethereal, Brew, Jezabeel and Might And Power all had New Zealand connections and there are a handful of early betting chances for the 2017 edition.
2017 Melbourne Cup betting market
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Humidor and Bonneval have been respected in the market at $34 and are the leading Kiwi chances.
Sydney autumn carnival performers Gingernuts and Who Shot Thebarman will also attract plenty of interest when spring racing rolls around, but likely not as much as Jon Snow ($41 at Sportsbet) which scored a booming win in the Australian Derby in April.