New Zealand has a long and storied history in Thoroughbred breeding and racing and has a track record of producing champion gallopers such as Rough Habit, Sunline and So You Think, as well as many industry-shaping figures that have left a lasting impression on racing globally.
This strong heritage, coupled with a platform for change has seen New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing join forces with TAB NZ and Entain Australia and New Zealand to create a new icon in the New Zealand Thoroughbred racing landscape - The NZB Kiwi.
Adding a new layer of fascination to The NZB Kiwi was the unique process of allocating the race's Slot Holders. Interested parties had the opportunity to acquire a slot in the race, with nine slots auctioned off with a minimum reserve price of NZ$450,000 (+ GST if any). Learn more about the Slot Auction results below.
As part of a revamped Summer Carnival, the opportunity is right to introduce an aspirational slot race into the summer feature period, beginning season 2024/2025 – a race that will become the Southern Hemisphere’s richest 3YO race. Open to three-year-olds and run over 1500m, The Kiwi - sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock, will be held at New Zealand’s racing headquarters, Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, in March each year.
Date: Champions Day in March each year, commencing in 2025
Venue: Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland
Race Distance: 1500m
Conditions: 3YO restricted race, set weights and penalties
Starters: 14
Prizemoney: Base prizemoney of $3.5m in 2025, increasing to $4.5m by 2027. An additional $1m of bonuses will also be available each year.
The NZB Kiwi will celebrate the best of New Zealand’s world-class breeding industry and showcase the premier three-year-olds in the land. The NZB Kiwi is for three-year-olds only that are any of the following:
(i) bred in New Zealand, as determined by NZTR in accordance with the New Zealand Stud Book and Register of Non Stud Book Mares Regulations (as published from time to time by NZTR); or
(ii) prior to the horse's three-year-old season:
a. Is sold through the ring at a Thoroughbred sale (including online sales) conducted by New Zealand Bloodstock Limited or online by its subsidiary, Gavelhouse Ltd: or
b. Is passed through the ring at any such sale and is sold within 30 days of the sale at not less than the price at which the horse is passed-in; or
(iii) conceived in New Zealand.
Within these criteria, it is then entirely up to the Slot Holder on which horse they select for their slot. Horses can be trained in any location (including internationally) and it will be the responsibility of the Slot Holder/connections of the horse to arrange transportation for the race.
| March 2025 | March 2026 | March 2027 | Bonus Pool | |
| Base Prizemoney | $3,500,000 | $4,000,000 | $4,500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Winner | $1,200,000 | $1,200,000 | $1,200,000 | $600,000 |
| 2nd | $575,000 | $600,000 | $600,000 | $250,000 |
| 3rd | $375,000 | $450,000 | $450,000 | $150,000 |
| 4th | $250,000 | $350,000 | $375,000 | |
| 5th | $200,000 | $275,000 | $300,000 | |
| 6th-14th | $100,000 | $125,000 | $175,000 |
In addition to the base prizemoney of The NZB Kiwi, an additional $1 million in bonuses will be available each year to the winners of a number of iconic New Zealand and Australian races in the lead up to the March meeting (1st - $600,000; 2nd - $250,000; 3rd - $150,000). With the bonus component, the winner of The NZB Kiwi could take home $1.8 million in total prizemoney.
To be eligible for a share in the $1 million bonus pool, a horse must win one of the various Bonus Eligible iconic New Zealand and/or Australian races, and also run a top three placing in The NZB Kiwi held on Champions Day (8 March 2025).
The initial list of New Zealand Bonus Eligible races is outlined below.
| Date | Race and Distance | Club and Venue | Winner | Trainer |
| Saturday 6 April 2024 | Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) | Manawatu Racing Club at RACE Trentham | NA Race Results | NA |
| Saturday 26 October 2024 | Group 2 Callander Presnell Stakes (1600m) | Australian Turf Club at Royal Randwick | ||
| Monday 28 October 2024 | Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) | Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse | ||
| Saturday 2 November 2024 | Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) | Victoria Racing Club at Flemington Racecourse | ||
| Saturday 9 November 2024 | Group 1 Barneswood Farm One Thousand Guineas (1600m) | Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park | ||
| Saturday 16 November 2024 | Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) | Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park | ||
| Saturday 11 January 2025 | Group 1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m) | Wellington Racing Club at RACE Trentham | ||
| Saturday 25 January 2025 | Listed TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) | Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse | ||
| Saturday 25 January 2025 | Group 2 Cambridge Stud Alamanzor Trophy (1200m) | Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse | ||
| Saturday 8 February 2025 | Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) | Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse |
In a move to further reward foundation Slot Holders for their support, NZTR will offer a brand new $175k NZB Kiwi Bonus Challenge for three-year-olds participating in the 2025 edition of the NZB Kiwi. Once a Slot Holder has nominated their runner for the 2025 NZB Kiwi, that horse will be able to accumulate points by placing in the top three in any race it enters leading up to Champions Day next year.
The three horses who start The NZB Kiwi with the highest points accumulated before the race will earn a share of the $175k NZB Kiwi Bonus Challenge, with $100k awarded to the winner, $50k to second place and $25k for the third placegetter.
NZB Kiwi Bonus Eligible Race Points
Black-Type and Special Condition Race Points
Non-Black Type Race Points
The Race Committee will, in its absolute discretion, declare four eligible horses to be included in the final Emergency Pool for the Race.The declaration of emergency runners for The NZB Kiwi will be a list and not an order of entry in the event of a scratching.
Yes, NZTR will assist the Slot Holder in contacting the team at NZB Airfreight to ensure their horse travels to New Zealand safely to contest The NZB Kiwi. New Zealand equine airfreight company, NZB Airfreight, offers weekly trips from Australia - departing from Sydney and Melbourne. No quarantine is required for horses exported from Australia to New Zealand. NZB Airfreight has a full range of routes and pre-export information available at nzb.co.nz/airfreight.
NZTR will work alongside the visiting Trainer to ensure they have access to suitable stabling in an area of close proximity to Ellerslie Racecourse.
The NZB Kiwi Race Terms and Conditions