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The Race
20 January 2026
NZTR Unveils $500,000 Group 1 Bonus to Drive Elite 4YO Participation
NZTR has confirmed a lucrative new $500,000 Group 1 4YO Bonus that will be available to the first horse that wins a New Zealand-based Group 1 race in its four-year-old season, that runs in the 2026 $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).
Horse Announcements
16 January 2026
Gerard Doubles Down on The NZB Kiwi
Matamata trainer Pam Gerard has doubled her representation in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), with Slot Holder Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) announcing Affirmative Action (AUS).
Horse Announcements
21 December 2025
Lollapalooza Enters $4 Million NZB Kiwi Fray
Last month’s $600,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) is proving to be the early form race for the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), with runner-up Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) announced in the 2026 $4m NZB Kiwi (1500m).

Champions Day

Ellerslise Racecourse

Champions Day is not your average race meeting - it’s Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s headline summer event, where the nation’s best horses, top-tier fashion and vibrant entertainment all collide. Featuring three Group 1 races and the $4 million NZB Kiwi, the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, Champions Day is the pinnacle of New Zealand’s racing calendar. Expect heart-stopping finishes, world-class racing and an atmosphere unlike any other.

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The Race

March 2026

Date: Champions Day - 7 March 2026
Venue: Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland
Race Distance: 1500m
Conditions: 3YO restricted race, set weights and penalties
Starters: 14
Prizemoney: Base prizemoney of $4m in 2026, increasing to $4.5m by 2027. An additional $1m of bonuses will also be available each year.

More Information

Media

Relive all the key moments, announcements and videos from the 2025 edition of The NZB Kiwi.

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