NZB Kiwi 2026

[hesi]

5 slots to fill and the cupboard is bare

Here's an interesting scenario, if they do decide to run Ohope Wins in the Derby, will the connections of That's Gold consider switching to the Kiwi.

Not an ideal prep, but he seems to have enough turn of foot to come back to 1500m

[Chief Stipe]

9 minutes ago, hesi said:

5 slots to fill and the cupboard is bare

Here's an interesting scenario, if they do decide to run Ohope Wins in the Derby, will the connections of That's Gold consider switching to the Kiwi.

Not an ideal prep, but he seems to have enough turn of foot to come back to 1500m

I thought Panther went well today.  Belle Cheval has improved heaps since the Guineas.

[hesi]

Belle Cheval already in

[Chief Stipe]

9 minutes ago, hesi said:

Belle Cheval already in

I know that.  Just thought Panther went well against her and is improving.

[Huey]

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

I thought Panther went well today.  Belle Cheval has improved heaps since the Guineas.

Can it beat Well Written?

[Chief Stipe]

54 minutes ago, Huey said:

Can it beat Well Written?

She isn't that far away.  Go back and have a look at her run in the 1000 Guineas.  She's improved a lot since then and has been running similar sectionals.

Your opinion?

[Huey]

17 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

She isn't that far away.  Go back and have a look at her run in the 1000 Guineas.  She's improved a lot since then and has been running similar sectionals.

Your opinion?

Its a chance

[hesi]

No chance

[Murray Fish]

x

 

Edited 21 hours ago by Murray Fish

[Chief Stipe]

21 minutes ago, hesi said:

No chance

No horse in a race has no chance.

[hesi]

2 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

No horse in a race has no chance.

All those that raced against Black Caviar might think differently

[Huey]

5 minutes ago, hesi said:

All those that raced against Black Caviar might think differently

Ask Moonlight Cloud.

[curious]

They all have a chance as @Chief Stipe said. Even Black Caviar might have gone amiss in a race. If you can assess that chance more accurately than the bookies, then you can make a profit. That's the fundamental principal behind successful punting.

[curious]

On 21/02/2026 at 8:22 PM, Chief Stipe said:

She isn't that far away.  Go back and have a look at her run in the 1000 Guineas.  She's improved a lot since then and has been running similar sectionals.

Your opinion?

I don't have her improving from the Guineas at all in her two runs this year. On my ratings her runs this year are exactly the same. Older horse good R75 level and maybe open class competitive. Lengths off Well Written. How do you reach a conclusion that she has improved a lot?

Edited 21 hours ago by curious

[Murray Fish]

Meeting News

NZB Kiwi Conditions and Indicative Weights

 

NZB Kiwi Conditions and Indicative weights

New Zealand’s richest race the NZB Kiwi is now only two weeks away and forms an integral part of the Champions Raceday programme.

For clarity, the race is run under 3yo Set Weights and Penalties conditions.

The base weights are – 57.0kgs Colts/geldings and 55.0kgs Fillies

Penalties (not cumulative):

Group 1 winner – 3.0kgs

Group 2 winner – 2.0kgs

Group 3 winner, or winner of 3 or more races – 1.5kgs

Listed winner, or winner of 2 races – 1.0kg

Maiden allowance of -1.0kg

 

Indicative weights, as at Friday 20 February:

Well Written (S)	58.0	92
La Dorada (S)	58.0	82
Lollapalooza (S)	56.5	82
Romanoff (S)	60.0	81
He Who Dares (S)	57.0	80
War Princess	56.5	79
Affirmative Action (S)	58.0	78
Belle Cheval (S)	56.5	78
Asakura (S)	58.0	75
To Bravery Born	58.5	74
Bulgari	57.0	71
Landlock	57.0	70
Fairy Dream	56.5	70
Argo	58.0	69
Zivou	58.0	68
L'Aigle Noir	57.0	67
Tale Of the Gipsy	56.0	67
Panther	57.0	64
Battle Tycoon	57.0	63
Convinced	55.0	63
O'Sweet Darling	55.0	63

 

Unbeaten filly Well Written obviously dominates headlines, markets and discussion ahead of the race. Her performances have been given deserved credit in preliminary international ratings. She has been assigned an international rating of 115 for her TAB Karaka Million 3yo display. This would be the highest 3yo rating in recent memory (when factoring in 4-point fillies’ allowance).

The challenge though for the Pattern race ratings is for the opposition to keep with Well Written, with the race rating being based on the first 4 placings. Her dominance places a ceiling on the ratings for placegetters. For example, in her most recent win by 6.05L, He Who Dares (2^nd) cannot be higher than 106 – 2.1points/L at 1600m (-12.7), plus 4 points for 2kgs extra carried.

On the positive side Well Written’s 115 season peak rating will be applied to the race rating of any race she has contested this season.