A change of plans for promising filly Acquisto will see her shoot for a third New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series bonus at Hawera on Monday as opposed to a Group One prize at Trentham on the weekend.

The Tony Bambry trained three-year-old disappointed her connections with an unplaced run at New Plymouth at her last start although she did have an excuse for the lacklustre performance.

“We thought she would go a good race at New Plymouth as she was on target for the New Zealand Oaks but she ended up near the rear of the field which was a real head scratcher,” explained Bambry.

“When we got her home we had some tests run and it turned out she had picked up a virus which would explain why she went so poorly.

“We gave her a little time off and she has bounced back well but it did mean the Oaks wasn’t an option so we had a look around and decided to have a go at this bonus race.”

Bambry, who owns a share in Acquisto along with wife Judith, daughter Chrissy and several other friends, is a fan of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association administered scheme having already won two Pearl Series events with the filly.

“We are definite supporters of the scheme as it is a great incentive to target these fillies and mares for,” he said.

“If you can pick up a win in this type of race it’s worth more than running second in a Group Three event.

“We’ve been lucky enough to win two bonus races so far with her so I think she would become the first horse to win three if she can perform up to her best.”

The Pearl Series was introduced in 2013 to benefit owners, trainers and breeders of thoroughbred fillies racing in New Zealand. The scheme provides bonuses of almost $2.6 million and prizemoney of nearly $2.8 million across 215 individual races over three seasons’ racing for fillies and mares nominated as yearlings.

Registrations for the third year of the scheme close on 31 July with a fee of $920 applicable.

Full details on the New Zealand Insurance Pearl Series can be found at www.nzthoroughbred.co.nz