Second Season of Mega Maiden Series Launches at Taupo
16 September 2025
The NZB Mega Maiden Series was a popular new addition to New Zealand racing last season, and the second edition gets underway with the running of the $18,500 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m) at Taupo on Wednesday.
The series is an exciting initiative that was announced last year by NZB and NZTR and generously supported by Entain. It sees $1m in bonuses up for grabs across 40 maiden races each season for a three-year period.
The series is made up of 40 non-Saturday maiden races located throughout New Zealand. A bonus of $25,000 is struck whenever a race is won by a Karaka Millions-eligible horse aged three years or older. The winning owner takes home $20,000 and the successful trainer $5,000.
Multiple bonuses were struck last season across northern, central and southern regions. Notably, prominent owner and racing industry supporter Terry Lines took out two of the bonuses in quick succession in October with Suavetta (NZ) (Almanzor) at Pukekohe Park for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, and seven days later, Reprobate (NZ) (Ace High) at Gore for trainer Kelvin Tyler.
"I was lucky to pick up two of the bonuses and missed another by a nose," commented Lines.
"It's a great inititive for horses that needed time, and for owners involved."
There are five Karaka Millions-eligible runners in Wednesday’s series opener at Taupo – Gossip (NZ) (Proisir), Navy Ensign (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), Marzenie (NZ) (Zousain), Aspiritta (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) and Woman In Charge (NZ) (Farnan).
For the full schedule of races and more info about the $1m in bonuses up for grab, visit https://www.nzb.co.nz/maidenseries
2025/26 NZB Mega Maiden Series Schedule
| Day & Date | Meeting | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 17 September 2025 | Taupo | 1200m |
| Wednesday, 24 September 2025 | Timaru | 1200m |
| Sunday, 28 September 2025 | Waverley | 1200m |
| Wednesday, 8 October 2025 | Avondale | 1200m |
| Wednesday, 15 October 2025 | Te Aroha | 1600m |
| Friday, 17 October 2025 | Otago | 1500m |
| Friday, 24 October 2025 | New Plymouth | 1200m |
| Wednesday, 29 October 2025 | Pukekohe | 1200m |
| Sunday, 16 November 2025 | Waipukurau | 1400m |
| Wednesday, 19 November 2025 | Timaru | 1600m |
| Wednesday, 26 November 2025 | Te Aroha | 2200m |
| Wednesday, 10 December 2025 | Wairarapa | 1600m |
| Wednesday, 17 December 2025 | Whangarei | 1400m |
| Sunday, 28 December 2025 | Timaru | 1200m |
| Thursday, 1 January 2026 | Riverton | 1400m |
| Friday, 2 January 2026 | Tauranga | 1200m |
| Friday, 9 January 2026 | Otaki | 2100m |
| Friday, 16 January 2026 | WTR @ Te Rapa | 1600m |
| Monday, 19 January 2026 | Wanganui | 1340m |
| Thursday, 22 January 2026 | Southland RC | 1600m |
| Friday, 30 January 2026 | WTR @ Te Rapa | 1400m |
| Sunday, 8 February 2026 | Otaki | 1200m |
| Wednesday, 11 February 2026 | Te Aroha | 1200m |
| Wednesday, 18 February 2026 | Riccarton | 2000m |
| Sunday, 22 February 2026 | Wanganui | 1340m |
| Sunday, 22 February 2026 | Taupo | 1400m |
| Sunday, 1 March 2026 | Awapuni | 1600m |
| Wednesday, 4 March 2026 | Riccarton | 1400m |
| Wednesday, 11 March 2026 | Matamata | 2000m |
| Wednesday, 18 March 2026 | Awapuni | 1400m |
| Sunday, 22 March 2026 | Matamata | 1600m |
| Sunday, 29 March 2026 | Tauranga | 1200m |
| Friday, 10 April 2026 | Waverley | 2200m |
| Wednesday, 15 April 2026 | Matamata | 1200m |
| Thursday, 16 April 2026 | Ashburton | 1200m |
| Wednesday, 6 May 2026 | Ellerslie | 1500m |
| Sunday, 10 May 2026 | Wanganui | 1200m |
| Thursday, 14 May 2026 | Riccarton Synthetic | 1400m |
| Sunday, 17 May 2026 | Hawera | 1600m |
| Sunday, 31 May 2026 | Otago | 1600m |
All eligible horses for the Karaka Millions Series are denoted by the ‘KM’ logo on the NZTR website.