WTR & the NZB Kiwi

Waikato Thoroughbred Racing is proud to be one of the inaugural slot holders in the $4.5m NZB Kiwi and we've loved being involved in 2025 and 2026. Roll on 2027!

The race, which takes place as a part of Champions Day at Ellerslie Racecourse each March is like nothing ever seen before in New Zealand and we are proud to have secured a slot for our stakeholders in the Waikato. 

It's been such an exciting journey each year and we hope you've felt informed every step of the way as we selected our runner, learnt more about them and the process, then cheered them on come raceday.  We were so proud to have Sethito represent the mighty Waikato in 2025 and L'Aigle Noir in 2026, and whilst the result hasn't gone our way (yet!), we're excited to see what unfolds in 2027.  

Please view our content series below to experience WTR's NZB Kiwi journey!

The WTR Journey 2026

Part 1

Join us as we take you through the steps to selecting the WTR NZB Kiwi runner for 2026

Part 2

Who's it going to be? We announce our 2026 runner!

Part 3

The backstory to our exciting runner, L'Aigle Noir.

Part 4

How it all unfolded from the Barrier Draw, to our members' NZB Kiwi Preview Evening, and of course, the day itself!

The WTR Journey 2025

Part 1

We popped down to the Cambridge Track to have a chat to our resident trainers about their prospective NZB Kiwi runners.

Part 2

Our second visit to the Cambridge Track to have a chat to our resident trainers about their prospective NZB Kiwi runners.

Part 3

We chat to WTR CEO, Andrew Castles, about the process WTR went through in electing to be a part of the inaugural NZB Kiwi, how they are selecting their runner and what his hopes are for the day.

Part 4

We chat with Garry Cossey, WTR's form analyst, about his process and why he's excited about the team's choice in Sethito.

Part 5

Meet Sethito - WTR's NZB Kiwi runner. We visited Wexford Stables with owner, Garry Chittick and trainers, Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott to learn more about 'our' girl!

Part 6

The big day arrived and we had an incredible time.