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

• 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