Message From NZTR's CEO
Welcome to the second issue of THE RUNDOWN. Spring is in the books, and we’re heading into a huge summer of feature racedays, Cup meetings and the build-up to the $4m NZB Kiwi on Champions Day, with plenty to look forward to right across the country.
New Zealand Cup Week was a huge effort from the Canterbury Jockey Club. The weather didn’t exactly play ball - sunshine one minute, snowballs the next, but a sell-out crowd of 15,000 on course is a tremendous result. On the track, we saw the boys and girls swap weekends, with Well Written (NZ) winning the G1 Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas and Romanoff (NZ) taking the G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 2000 Guineas for Pam Gerard, who also trained the runner-up Affirmative Action (NZ). Well Written has since become the first horse locked in for the 2026 NZB Kiwi in the TAB slot. She is now also part-owned by Yulong, which indicates a strong signal of international interest and investment in our racing.
The NZB Ready to Run Sale held in November was another big positive. All the key sales indicators were up, with a record aggregate, record median and record average across the two days. That says a lot about the quality of horses being produced here and the confidence buyers have in our product. On behalf of NZTR, I want to congratulate Sir Peter Vela and the New Zealand Bloodstock team, along with vendors and preparers, on an outstanding result. It sets things up nicely as NZB heads towards Karaka 2026 and the 100th National Yearling Sale, a centenary worth celebrating.
This week, I’m in Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation conference, Applying Science to the Care of the Thoroughbred Racehorse, alongside our Chair, Russell Warwick, Chief Handicapper, Bruce Sherwin, as well as Sam Fursdon, GM - Welfare and Industry Capability. The focus is on the latest research into racehorse safety, injury prevention and life after racing, and it’s a good chance to make sure we’re up to date with global best practice while strengthening New Zealand’s international connections.
We were also guests at the Longines Hong Kong International Races on Sunday, where Kiwi-bred horses performed incredibly, winning four of the 10 races on the card. That included Cool Boy (NZ) (Per Incanto), trained by our own Jamie Richards, in Race 3, and New Zealand-breds filling the first four home in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). It was special to see Ka Ying Rising (NZ) again stamp himself as a the world's best sprinter - a timely reminder of how strong Kiwis perform on the world stage.
Yours in racing,
Matt Ballesty
Chief Executive Officer
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
Planning Our Venue Network
As many of you will know, Project Stamina is the joint venue-planning project between NZTR and HRNZ, supported by TAB NZ. RCP have been appointed as independent consultants to help develop a single masterplan for racing and training venues nationwide - giving us a long-term view of where and how we should invest across both codes, and linking that investment to more reliable tracks, a consistent racing product and stronger wagering returns to reinvest back into the sport.
We’ve now published the Terms of Reference and engagement overview for this work here. The process will run in two stages through to mid-2026, starting with analysis and subject-matter input, then moving to wider industry engagement through surveys, workshops and meetings before a preferred masterplan is finalised. No decisions have been made at this stage and industry feedback will play a central role in shaping the final outcome. A monitored inbox has been set up for the project (stamina@tabnz.org), and we encourage you to send questions or feedback directly. You can read the full update on the NZTR website here.
Hastings Recambering
The Hastings track recamber is looking in good order, and everyone involved is happy with the progress.
The bottom turn has been significantly re-levelled, raised by about 1.2 metres at the 1600m start, and now has a 3.5% camber to help horses balance more comfortably. The top turn into the home straight will also be re-cambered, with around 4,000m³ of soil added around the 1400m start. Grass has been harvested on site, lifted, and relaid once each section is re-levelled. The work is broken into four quarters of the track, with soil laid in 150mm layers that are compacted, left to settle, then de-compacted before the next layer goes on. Evergreen are leading the project in partnership with local civil contractors.
Overall, we’re really pleased with how the project is tracking and are working towards a return to racing at Hastings in spring 2026.
HBRI Racecourse
We’ve also reached another important milestone in the Hawke’s Bay. Following a recent Special General Meeting, Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc. Members have formally approved the proposed Greenfields racecourse development, giving the HBRI Board a clear mandate to move the project into its next phase.
This is a really positive step towards a modern, long-term home for racing in the region. There is still plenty of detail to work through, including final funding arrangements and the usual planning and consenting processes. NZTR will continue to work alongside HBRI, Government and Council partners on those next steps.
Once key milestones and timelines are confirmed, we’ll share a further update with the industry.
WTR Greenfields
Waikato Thoroughbred Racing (WTR) has now signed a conditional sale and purchase agreement for a 150ha site on Pencarrow Road, Tamahere, between Hamilton and Cambridge. The land fronts the Waikato Expressway and is bounded by the Te Awa River Ride cycleway and part of Duncan Road - predominantly flat, well-located, and big enough to support a world-class racing and training hub.
It’s an exciting step, but it’s not a done deal yet. The agreement remains conditional and will require the endorsement of WTR Members once due diligence is complete. The Club will hold a Members’ evening in early 2026 to provide a further update on the project. For those wanting more detail, WTR’s full Members’ update is available on their website here.
RACE Awapuni Update
We have decided to pause all racing at RACE Awapuni for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. I know how disappointing this is for our participants, trainers, owners, jockeys, Club staff, volunteers and everyone who has invested so much in this venue.
Over this recent period, there have been a series of short-term fixes and ‘wait and see’ approaches regarding the track. That has been very hard on participants and has understandably affected confidence. We acknowledge this is not good enough for the Central Districts region or the wider industry.
Our focus now is on getting this right for the long term. The next phase of work will be in the hands of world-leading track experts, with clear standards and independent oversight. At this stage, we are not in a position to confirm further details about the future work programme, but as soon as we have further clarity, we will share this with the industry. Awapuni deserves that, and the industry has every right to expect it.
The venue changes for Awapuni’s remaining 2025-26 programmed meetings will be communicated in due course.
NZB Kiwi Announcement
Well Written (AUS) has now booked her place on the big stage in the TAB slot for the 2026 $4m NZB Kiwi (1500m). The unbeaten filly is three from three, including her dominant Group 1 Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas (1600m) win at Riccarton, and is quickly shaping as one of the stars of the summer. View the full release here.
Northern Cups Bonus Series
With six of the seven legs now run in the Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series, there is just one race to go, the $100,000 Harcourts Taupō Cup (2000m) on 28 December at Taupō Racecourse.
After wins in the Listed $80,000 Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) and $80,000 Pete's Kitchens Feilding Cup (2100m), Agera (NZ) (Complacent) sits alone at the top of the leaderboard on 10 points, with a cluster of challengers [including Enright (NZ) (Power), Just Charlie (NZ) (Zed), Pacheco (NZ) (Makfi), and Sailor Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry)] sitting just behind on five points each.
It sets things up nicely for a genuine finale to the Series, with the $50,000 winner-takes-all bonus still very much on the line, especially with 12 points on offer to the winner of the Harcourts Taupō Cup. View the full Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series leaderboard here.
Cure Kids Christmas Raceday
At Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, the Cure Kids Christmas Raceday at Ellerslie was another highlight. Race 2, the Cure Kids 2400, was won by Santa Catalina (NZ) (Puccini) wearing co-branded Cure Kids x LOVERACING.NZ colours, and trainers Peter and Shaun McKay generously matched NZTR’s donation. This initiative builds on a longstanding connection between Thoroughbred racing and Cure Kids, which has grown from a single raceday at Ellerslie into a series of feature days that raise both funds and awareness. Our thanks to the ATR team and everyone involved for continuing to get behind the cause.
Rural Guardian Trust Equine Crematorium
We were proud to be part of the blessing and formal opening of the Rural Guardian Trust Equine Crematorium in the Waikato, an important step in recognising the end of a horse’s life with dignity and respect. The real credit sits with those who gave their time and expertise to make the facility a reality, and thank you to our Chair, Russell Warwick, who opened the facility. The crematorium provides horses with dignity in life and in death, through purpose-built facilities, modern equipment, and cremation services that meet internationally recognised best-practice standards for equine care.
National Thoroughbred Week
From 20 to 24 November, we held the first-ever National Thoroughbred Week across New Zealand and Australia, a chance to invite people in for a closer look at the Thoroughbred. In New Zealand, more than 750 people attended 23 events nationwide, from trackwork mornings to farm visits and aftercare open days.
A huge thank you to everyone who opened their gates and made time in the middle of a very busy breeding and racing period, trainers, stud farms, agistment properties, retrainers, Clubs and their teams. We know how full your days already are, and it was genuinely appreciated to see so many of you welcoming the public, answering questions and showing what goes into running your businesses and caring for our horses.
The feedback from attendees has been really positive, and we’ll be looking to build on that momentum with even more New Zealand venues involved next year. Check out some highlights below.
