History Awaits in Inaugural $3.5m NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie

New Zealand racing will move into an exciting new era with the first running of the $3.5m NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Proudly sponsored by NZB, the Kiwi is New Zealand’s first thoroughbred slot race. It will be the richest race ever run in New Zealand and the richest three-year-old race in the Southern Hemisphere.

The NZB Kiwi will be run at New Zealand’s racing headquarters, Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, in March of every year. Open to horses bred or conceived in New Zealand or sold through NZB, it will celebrate the best of New Zealand’s world-class breeding industry and showcase the premier three-year-olds in the land.

The 14 slots were auctioned during 2024 and were enthusiastically snapped up by buyers from around New Zealand, Australia and as far afield as Malaysia.

Saturday’s inaugural running of the NZB Kiwi has assembled a field worthy of the record-breaking stake. A trio of well-credentialled three-year-olds have ventured across the Tasman from Australia – Group winners Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon), along with five-win filly Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca).

Opposing them will be a formidable home contingent that includes black-type winners Checkmate (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace), Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns), Sethito (NZ) (Super Seth) and Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan).

Karaka graduates make up a significant chunk of Saturday’s NZB Kiwi field.

• Public Attention was offered by Carlaw Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where he was bought by Tom Magnier for $160,000. The Coolmore-owned colt has had six starts for two wins including the Group Two Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m), earning more than $410,000.
• Penman (NZ) (Contributer) was bought by Toro Bloodstock for $60,000 from Mapperley Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He was later passed in at the Ready to Run Sale. Penman’s five-race career has produced three wins, two seconds and $83,145 in stakes.
• Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) was passed in with a $50,000 reserve at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale. He has earned $172,935 from a 12-start, two-win career.
• Perfumist was offered by Westbury Stud at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale, where Bjorn Baker Racing, OTI, Phill Cataldo Bloodstock and Clarke Bloodstock bought her for $190,000. She has had 10 starts for five wins, three seconds and more than $295,000.
• Damask Rose is a graduate of Milan Park’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023, where David Ellis purchased her for $200,000. She has recorded three wins and two placings from six starts, earning more than $1.02m.
• Pivotal Ten is one of the stories of the season, having been bought for only $15,000 from the 2022 National Weanling Sale. The three-time Listed winner has had seven starts for five wins, a placing and $197,550 in stakes.
• Hankee Alpha (NZ) (Proisir) was a $35,000 purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman from Book 2 of Karaka 2023, where she was offered by Highline Thoroughbreds. She has won two of her four starts and $33,735.
• First Dance (NZ) (Zousain) was offered by Haunui Farm in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where Cambridge Stud bought her for $280,000. She has had seven starts for a win, two placings and $31,455.
• Zormella (NZ) (Almanzor) was a member of Landsdown Park’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. She failed to meet her $30,000 reserve. She has won one of her two starts, earning $14,745.

The winner of Saturday’s NZB Kiwi will earn $1.2m, with $575,000 for second, $375,000 for third, $250,000 for fourth and $200,000 for fifth. Every other runner in the field will earn $100,000.

The NZB Kiwi will be run as Race 8 on a star-studded Champions Day at Ellerslie on Saturday, with the groundbreaking slot race scheduled to jump at 4.32pm.