Dorothea (NZ) Dominates Mega Maiden

The NZB Mega Maiden Series had one of its most emphatic winners of the 2025-26 season when Dorothea (NZ) (Proisir) outclassed her opposition on the Riccarton synthetic track on Wednesday.

The $17,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1400m) was the first win of a 10-race career for the three-year-old filly, who has also recorded a placing and has now earned $20,515 in stakes – an amount that more than doubles with the inclusion of Wednesday’s $25,000 Mega Maiden bonus.

Dorothea was offered in the Highline Thoroughbreds draft during Book 1 of Karaka 2024, where the TAB Racing Club, Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Ballymore Stables NZ and Catheryne Bruggeman bought her for $150,000.

Dorothea began her career in the North Island and was rated highly enough to compete in Group Three company, finishing seven lengths behind Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) in the Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) last spring.

Following the closure of the TAB Racing Club, Dorothea was sent to the South Island to be trained by David Walsh at Riccarton.

Wednesday’s race was Dorothea’s second start from her new stable, and she was sent out as a $1.70 favourite.

Dorothea was ridden by Amber Ridell and sat on the outside of the leader before pushing forward and taking command before the home turn.

The race was all over within a few bounds as Dorothea dashed away. She opened up more than a six-length margin halfway down the home straight, and under a hands and heels ride from Riddell, cruised through the final 100 metres to win by three and a quarter lengths.

Connections will receive $20,000 of the NZB Mega Maiden Series bonus, with $5000 going to the trainer. 

Dorothea is out of the stakes-placed Volksraad mare Attalla (NZ), which makes the Mega Maiden winner a half-sister to three winners including the Group Three Matamata Slipper (1200m) winner Alabama Gold (NZ) (Turn Me Loose). She is also a close relative of the dual Group One winner Vinaka (NZ) (Volksraad).

The NZB Mega Maiden Series is an exciting initiative by NZB and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, generously supported by Entain. It sees $1m in bonuses up for grabs across 40 non-Saturday maiden races throughout New Zealand each season.

Dorothea became the 11th horse to strike a Mega Maiden bonus in the 2025-26 season.

The next race in the NZB Mega Maiden Series is the $25,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1500m) at Ellerslie next Wednesday.

Breeding	Proisir – Attalla
Sale	Lot 593, Karaka 2024 Book 1, $150,000
Vendor	Highline Thoroughbreds
Purchaser	TAB Racing Club / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Ballymore Stables NZ / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato)