Chief Stipe Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 History Made With First Slot Filled for NZB Kiwi Waikato Stud has made a bold statement of intent by becoming the first Slot Holder to declare their runner in the inaugural $4.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). The powerhouse Thoroughbred nursery has announced the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Sought After (NZ) as their representative in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race to be contested for the first time on the all-new Champions’ Day at Ellerslie Racecourse on 8 March 2025. Sought After is a true-blue product of the Matamata nursery as a son of Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci and the Savabeel mare, Popular. “We think he’s the right horse for us and he has a lot of ability, so we identified him early and we are very happy to have done so,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said. He began his career in perfect style with an impressive debut win over 1200m at Taupo in mid-September, and will be in action at Te Rapa on Monday in the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m). “He’ll go into the Sarten in great order and hopefully we can begin to collect points, that would be a great start,” Chittick said. The Sarten is a qualifying race for the $1million bonus attached to the NZB Kiwi. To be eligible, a horse must win one of the various nominated New Zealand and/or Australian races and also run a top three placing in the NZB Kiwi. In a move to further reward foundation Slot Holders, the three horses who accumulate the highest number of points in the lead-up events to the NZB Kiwi will earn a share of the $175,000 bonus challenge with $100,000 for the winner, $50,000 for second and $25,000 for third. Sought After will also chase bonus points in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. “He’ll go to the Sarten and then the 2000 Guineas before he comes home and a break before the NZB Kiwi,” Chittick said New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Chairman, Russell Warwick, is thrilled to have the first runner confirmed for the country’s biggest-ever race. “We’re delighted to have Waikato Stud involved in the NZB Kiwi, and to have the first runner in the field confirmed adds a whole new layer to the hype that’s starting to build ahead of a new event in New Zealand’s sporting landscape”, Warwick said It takes Waikato Stud’s involvement in Australasian slot races to the next level, having also been involved in the last two runnings at Randwick of the A$20 million The Everest (1200m), which now has Gr.1 status. Their homebred I Wish I Win, raced with co-trainer Peter Moody, finished a luckless runner-up in the 2023 edition before a tough run last weekend. “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but it was great to be involved in a massive day at Randwick and if we can replicate something similar to that then it will be just fantastic for our industry and our country,” Chittick said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 the Excitement Builds! weeeeeeeeeeeeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 1 hour ago, Murray Fish said: the Excitement Builds! weeeeeeeeeeeeee Yeah edge of the seat stuff, its got the real feel good factor around it with it being one of the battlers in the industry having a go in Waikato Stud! Hope Entain are helping them with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzza Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 1 hour ago, Murray Fish said: the Excitement Builds! weeeeeeeeeeeeee Yeah. Yippee effing do. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 26 Author Share Posted October 26 9 minutes ago, Huey said: Yeah edge of the seat stuff, its got the real feel good factor around it with it being one of the battlers in the industry having a go in Waikato Stud! Hope Entain are helping them with this. I take it you don't like The Everest either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 Critics abound when ever something , or someone new comes along Chief. Some at other places even turn to Toilet humour today which was totally as low as they can go. quite pitiful to see what gang mentality does to those previously more thoughtful people. I'm sure the lads here really mean 'Wow Wee' this is Great !!. the way of the future . And they'll be watching for 100% certain when the Kiwi raceday arrives. critic or not. Some old boys get a bit grumpy when you take away their Weetbix they've had for years and replace it with cornflakes.It's A bit more crunchy for the poor chaps but they get used to it in the end. and hopefully teach themselves how to enjoy it better. Go NZ Kiwi !! best of luck to that first entrant. Gotta be in it > to Win It. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 48 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: I take it you don't like The Everest either? Nothing against The Everest its got its place , especially in an industry that is humming. NZB Kiwi is yet another Karaka Millions ... Yawn. What about the battlers??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 26 Author Share Posted October 26 2 minutes ago, Huey said: What about the battlers??? The Everest isn't exactly for "the battlers"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 15 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: The Everest isn't exactly for "the battlers"! One of This years winning owners is like a Chief Stipe too 😂. The big Collingwood AFL player (back in the 90's) Michael Christian is the Match Review decision man for the AFL , and suspends/fines anyone throwing the punches and not playing by the rules. A nice day out at the Everest last week for him. (excellent Willow ride too 🏇, the guys a marvel) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trojan Posted October 30 Share Posted October 30 Geez after yesterdays run by Sought After does anyone think Waikato Stud may have chosen the wrong horse? You'd have thought it would have hung in there a bit longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lane Posted October 30 Share Posted October 30 1 hour ago, Trojan said: Geez after yesterdays run by Sought After does anyone think Waikato Stud may have chosen the wrong horse? You'd have thought it would have hung in there a bit longer. No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trojan Posted October 30 Share Posted October 30 1 hour ago, Pete Lane said: No. Well the market doesn't agree with you. He didn't accumulate many points for the Kiwi B yesterday either. I guess lucky he is owned by a slot holder. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted October 30 Share Posted October 30 The WS slot is actually a great example of why these type of races shouldn't have any blacktype attached to them . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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