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.
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:
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 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 ($600,000 - 1st; $250,000 - 2nd; $150,000 - 3rd). With the bonus component, the winner of The NZB Kiwi could take home $1.8 million in total prizemoney.
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 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