New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Entain have today announced the qualifying races in the two Bonus Series that will culminate on the new Champions Day at Ellerslie on Saturday 8 March.

As part of the new Summer Carnival, a revamped Champion Middle Distance Series and a new Champion Sprint Series will be run for a total of $1 million in bonuses, with the final race in each Series to be run on Champions Day, also home to the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi. 

Points will be allocated to the first four placegetters of each race in the respective Series, with a bonus pool of $500,000 being shared amongst the owners of the three highest point scoring horses at the conclusion of each Series.  The top three points earners of each Series will receive $300,000 for first, $150,000 for second and $50,000 for third (with the trainer of the first-place getter receiving 10% of the bonus won).

“Off the back of the success of this Summer’s Middle Distance Series, the two Champion Series include a greater number of races, which are spread over a longer period. This is designed to create more opportunities for participants to compete for the prize pool, whilst also creating interest and excitement in the two Series,” NZTR COO Darin Balcombe said.

“We will be presenting cheques to the winners and placegetters of each Series on an already sensational Champions Day. Total prize money on offer will now exceed $10 million, making this a truly world class racing event.”

The Champion Sprint Series will include four Australian races, with the aim of attracting Australian horses to compete in New Zealand’s major sprint races over the Summer.

There will also be an additional incentive for top-line sprinters to tackle the Series, with the winner having first rights at representing Trackside Media in The Quokka, the A$5 million slot race in Perth next April.

“The trans-Tasman dimension that has been added through the four Australian qualifying races in the Sprint Series as well as the offer of the Trackside slot in The Quokka in Perth provides a genuine road map all through the spring and summer for star Kiwi and Australian sprinters,” Entain Australia and New Zealand Deputy CEO Lachlan Fitt said.

“These two new elements will increase engagement and wagering activity in both countries on all these Sprint Series races. The addition of The Quokka entry also provides a rare opportunity for slot race glory, with six weeks between Champions Day and The Quokka giving connections time to set their sights squarely towards a sprinting grand final at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, on April 19 next year.

The qualifying races and allocation of points for each Series are set out below:

Champion Middle Distance Series – Qualifying Races

G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate - 28 September 2024
G1 Livamol Classic - 12 October 2024
G3 Balmerino Stakes - 5 November 2024
G3 TAB Mile - 13 November 2024
G1 TAB Classic - 7 December 2024
G1 Zabeel Classic - 26 December 2024
G2 Rich Hill Mile - 1 January 2025
G1 Thorndon Mile - 11 January 2025
Aotearoa Classic - 25 January 2025
G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes - 8 February 2025
G1 Otaki WFA Classic - 22 February 2025
G1 Bonecrusher NZ Stakes - 8 March 2025

Champion Sprint Series – Qualifying Races

G3 Counties Bowl - 30 November 2024
G1 Winterbottom Stakes (Perth) - 30 November 2024
G3 George Moore Stakes (Brisbane) - 30 November 2024
Listed Hazlett Stakes - 26 December 2024
Listed Christmas Stakes (Melbourne) - 26 December 2024
Listed Canterbury Sprint (Sydney) - 1 January 2025
G3 Concorde Handicap - 1 January 2025
G1 Telegraph - 11 January 2025
G1 Railway Stakes - 25 January 2025
G1 BCD Sprint - 8 February 2025
G3 Kings Plate - 8 March 2025

Champion Middle Distance Series - Points Allocation

Champion Sprint Series – Points Allocation

To be eligible to win or place in a Series, a horse must compete in at least one Group 1 race in the relevant Series. If two or more horses finish with the same number of points in a Series, the relevant bonus amount will be shared amongst the owners of those horses.