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.