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Elle Sourit impresses in Pearl Series Final
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • March 8th, 2026 5:34 pm
Elle Sourit winning the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday | Photo: Megan Liefting (Race Images)
In a thrilling conclusion to New Zealand’s richest raceday, Champions Day at Ellerslie, promising mare Elle Sourit retained her unbeaten record as she powered home to take out the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m).
Racing during the day had been of the highest calibre and the last race on the card didn’t disappoint as the Andrew Forsman-prepared daughter of Ocean Park came from well back in the running with an undeniable run that took her to her fourth win from just four starts.
Given a long break by Forsman following a win at Te Rapa back in August last year, the four-year-old was at peak for her first up performance in a race that Forsman had targeted for her a long way out.
Apprentice Sam McNab only had the one ride on the day and he did it plenty of justice as he allowed Elle Sourit to find her feet early on before improving between runners approaching the home bend.
Swinging for home the mare was travelling sweetly as McNab angled into the clear out wide and headed out after leader Bethany Dee, who had shot to the front at the 250m mark.
Elle Sourit wound up powerfully and claimed Bethany Dee with 100m to run, moving away to win by a length at the line from a game Bethany Dee who clung strongly to second ahead of the late-finishing Transaction.
McNab was delighted with the victory on a mare that gave him an armchair ride.
“She is tough as it was a little bit of a query coming back to 1400m today, but the team had her in lovely order and she is a nice horse,” McNab said.
“When we jumped we were actually first away but she didn’t muster that early speed, but I was happy to be back as she revs up through her gears and gets going late which is exactly what she did today.”
Forsman has high ambitions for his charge who has plenty of opportunities ahead of her in the future.
“We set her for this race a little way out and the owners have been so patient as she had a setback during her last preparation, so we had to stop then bring her back up slowly for this,” he said.
“I’m thankful they allowed us to do that and Sam rode her a treat as she is a genuine good horse, who is unbeaten and is only going to get better.
“She doesn’t need to have a heap of racing in this preparation, will get to a mile fairly quickly and she is going to make a good 2000m horse.
“There is plenty of black type racing for her and she will be a black type performer pretty quickly.”
Elle Sourit is a daughter of the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) winner Bel Sorriso and hails from an extended family that includes outstanding stayer Smiling Like, who numbered the Gr.1 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Gr.2 New Zealand Cup (3200m) amongst her seven career wins, while Group One winners Coventina Bay, Nimue and Sirstaci also feature.
She has now accumulated $120,750 in prizemoney from her four victories.
