Two of the features on Wingatui's major race day of the season have been issued second warnings from the New Zealand Pattern Committee, in a decision released yesterday.
The group 3 White Robe Lodge Handicap, won this year by Ric O'Shea, has received its second warning, as has the listed Dunedin Gold Cup, won this year by Monachee. Any group 3 race which receives a warning in three consecutive years will be automatically downgraded to listed status.
Otago Racing Club chief executive Andre Klein was not overly concerned by the warnings.
''It's an ongoing battle - it's not the first time they've had warnings,'' he said.
''It's just one of those things. Every one of our races at some stage has had warnings removed or warnings added. It's nothing we're panicking too much about.''
The form from the White Robe Lodge Handicap stacked up well, with Natuzzi going on to win the listed Lightning Stakes at Trentham in March.
''NZTR have given us verbal indication from an international point of view, the international graded stakes people are not bound by too many rules about how many listed races have got to be run in the country, or group 3s.
''Their main focus is group 1s and group 2s, but we're always mindful of it.''
The Counties Cup was the major loser in the North Island, being downgraded from group 2 to group 3.
The group 1 Levin Classic - which will now be run at Trentham in January - is in the firing line after receiving a second warning, as does the group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes for 2yr-olds at Trentham.
The group 1 Thorndon Mile been issued a second warning. The Canterbury Jockey Club Spring Classic and the Riverton Cup - both at listed level - were issued second warnings.
There will be 22 group 1 races, 21 group 2 races and 39 group 3 races in New Zealand this season.