Written by Renee Geelen
Cover image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Sprinters will get the chance to represent Trackside Media in The Quokka if they win the new Champion Sprint Series, while the Champion Middle Distance Series has been revamped.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Entain have announced that their Champions Day series will be extended with more bonus races. The New Zealand Summer Carnival will include a revamped Champion Middle Distance Series and a new Champion Sprint Series which 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.
NZ series gives sprinters a crack at the Quokka
The Champions Sprint Series includes the chance for racehorses to compete for a slot in The Quokka. “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.
“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.” - Lachlan Fitt
“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.”
Lachlan Fitt | Image courtesy of Entain
The addition of a potential run in The Quokka was exciting news for Wexford Stable co-trainer Andrew Scott who campaigned Group 1 winner Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) in the 2024 The Quokka.
“That’s exciting news and we hope we win the series so we can go to The Quokka again,” said Scott. “The experience was so amazing. They took us on a journey which we enjoyed. It was a seamless procedure for the horse, a long distance from here but Waitak coped with the trip well. Perth was incredibly hospitable. The club couldn’t do enough for us once we got there. We couldn’t speak highly enough of our trip to Perth.” 4-year-old gelding Waitak won the G1 NZ Railway H. on New Years Day, a race which is a qualifying leg in the new Sprint Series, then he ran mid-field in the G1 Waikato Sprint before heading over the Perth for The Quokka.
“He acquitted himself well, and we’d love to go there again.”
Waitak (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Champion Sprint Series – Qualifying Races
G3 Counties Bowl - 30 November 2024
G1 Winterbottom S. (Perth) - 30 November 2024
G3 George Moore S. (Brisbane) - 30 November 2024
Listed Hazlett S. - 26 December 2024
Listed Christmas S. (Melbourne) - 26 December 2024
Listed Canterbury Sprint (Sydney) - 1 January 2025
G3 Concorde H. - 1 January 2025
G1 Telegraph - 11 January 2025
G1 Railway S. - 25 January 2025
G1 BCD Sprint - 8 February 2025
G3 Kings Plate - 8 March 2025
Revamped Champion Middle Distance Series
The Champion Middle Distance Series has also been revamped to include more opportunities for horses to earn points and bonus prizemoney.
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.
Darin Balcombe | Image courtesy of Race Images
“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.”
Champion Middle Distance Series – Qualifying Races
G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate - 28 September 2024
G1 Livamol Classic - 12 October 2024
G3 Balmerino S. - 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 S. - 8 March 2025
