The NZB Kiwi: One Year On. Te Akau Ready to Strike Again - Four Fold

Saturday - this time last year, we stood at Ellerslie not quite knowing what history would feel like.

The inaugural running of the NZB Kiwi was more than just a new race on the calendar. It was ambition made real - a bold $3.5 million statement that New Zealand racing could think bigger, reach further, and create an event worthy of the world stage. Fourteen horses lined up on Champions Day, the atmosphere electric, the weight of expectation tangible.

And when Damask Rose surged clear to claim the first running of the NZB Kiwi, something shifted.

Damask Rose didn’t just win a race. She etched her name into history as the first victor of the richest race ever run in this country. It was a moment that validated the vision - for the industry, for the slot holders, and for every owner who dares to dream. The roar at Ellerslie Racecourse that afternoon carried more than celebration. It carried belief.

Twelve months on, that belief has only grown.

The NZB Kiwi now rises to $4 million in prizemoney this year, increasing again to $4.5 million in 2027, with a further $1 million bonus on offer for the first three home should they have won a designated lead-up race. The trajectory is clear. This race is not standing still.

Te Akau committed early to that vision. At the Slot Auction held at Karaka in February 2024, principal David Ellis CNZM secured entry for three years at a cost of $675,000 - an investment not just in a race, but in the future of the sport. On Saturday, we return with four runners representing Te Akau Racing into the second chapter of this remarkable story.

He Who Dares arrives as a colt who has consistently measured himself against the best of his generation. A debut winner and four-time Group and Listed placegetter, he went was a gallant runner up to the hot favourite in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO' having pushed her to a .25 length margin in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas the start prior. Most recently he was strong when runner-up in a Group and Listed trial at Taup?.

By Snitzel and purchased By David Ellis CNZM from Haunui Farm at Karaka Book 1, he has built a profile defined by courage and competitiveness. With Opie Bosson in the saddle, he brings experience, tactical speed, and the kind of constitution required for a race of this magnitude.

Belle Cheval represents The King’s Men slot holders and enters the race in outstanding form. The Savabeel filly has won three of her five starts, including the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy on Karaka Millions' night and, most recently, the Gr.3 Uncle Remus Stakes at Ellerslie. She was also third in the Gr.1 NZ 1000 Guineas, confirming her ability at the highest level. Her recent performances suggest she is peaking at the right time, and her affinity for Ellerslie only adds to her credentials. With former Te Akau apprentice Michael Dee to ride, she carries both class and momentum into Saturday’s contest for her owner /breeders David Archer and Diane Wright.

Then there is La Dorada - the Champion Two-Year-Old and the first juvenile in New Zealand to earn more than $1 million in a single season. La Dorada represents the NZTR and the Clubs, as well as the winners of the NZB Kiwi Golden Ticket as “The People’s Horse,” a title she has worn with pride. Winner of the Gr.2 Levin Classic , she placed in the TAB Karaka Millions' 3YO and finished off her recent Taup? trial very strongly. Purchased by David Ellis CNZM at Karaka from the draft of Waikato Stud, she has amassed five wins from ten starts and nearly $1.4 million in prizemoney. Her journey resonates with racing fans across the country - a filly who has already given so much, now stepping again onto the grandest stage.

We are also proud to have To Bravery Born lining up, written by Rory Hutchings in the Clotworthy Racing/Kerri Spence slot. His presence adds further depth and intrigue to a race that promises to deliver another defining moment. In a field built on opportunity and ambition, his inclusion reinforces what the NZB Kiwi is all about - collaboration, partnership, and the pursuit of something extraordinary. Watch him look to live up to his name!

There is a symmetry in returning to this race one year on. The memory of Damask Rose still remains strong, a reminder of what is possible when preparation meets occasion. Yet racing, by its very nature, looks forward and we simply can’t wait and are so proud to have four chances having a big go at the biggest race in New Zealand.

Saturday is not about defending history. It is about creating it again.

As the gates open on the second running of the NZB Kiwi, the prizemoney may have increased, the spotlight may shine brighter, and the expectations may feel heavier - but the essence remains unchanged. It is a race built on vision. A race for the bold. A race that has already reshaped our landscape.

And once more, Te Akau stands ready to play its part.