Haunui graduates secure NZB Kiwi slots

Excitement is building ahead of the 2026 NZB Kiwi and Haunui Farm graduates are right amongst the action.

Last month’s $600,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) is proving to be the early form race for the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), with runner-up Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) announced in the 2026 $4m NZB Kiwi (1500m).

The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained filly will join Well Written (AUS) (Written Tycoon) and Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, after being selected by the Barneswood Brady Nakhle Slot Holder partnership.

Well Written was the horse every NZB Kiwi Slot Holder wanted, but after Entain New Zealand (TAB) secured the unbeaten filly earlier this month, the Barneswood Brady Nakhle partnership moved quickly to lock in their next target.

Slot Manager Daniel Nakhle was rapt to seal a deal with Lollapalooza's owners - Social Racing Premier Dynamic Duo Syndicate and Richardson Racing Carnival Syndicate.

“Well Written was at the top of everyone’s list, but you can only have one of those, and Lolla was certainly on the radar,” Nakhle said. “She was by far and away our choice thereafter. 

“It (1000 Guineas) is the best form line, we think, through the three-year-olds. She has been beaten by an absolute freak (Well Written), it is great form.

“We are very stoked to be on the ride with the wonderful ownership group. The discussions with the team were fantastic; they were so great to deal with.

“Brent and Wendy Cooper (Social Racing) are just fantastic friends and wonderful people in their own right, and Graham and Rogan, you don’t get much better in terms of conditioners of a horse,” he said.

The Barneswood Brady Nakhle partnership learned a thing or two from the first edition of The NZB Kiwi, waiting till within weeks of the race before confirming their representative, and they were intent on not letting the pressure mount in their second foray into the race.

“We put the pressure on ourselves (earlier this year),” Nakhle said. “We didn’t leave ourselves much runway, and with the wide draw, it didn’t quite pan out, but it was a great experience.

“This time, it almost feels like the pressure is off, we can sit back now. To a certain degree, our work is done, and we will just leave it to the experts and Lolla now,” he said. 

Nakhle saw Lollapalooza in the flesh on Friday at Matamata, where she was beaten by his Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) in their 1100m Group and Listed trial, and he was pleased with what he saw.

“She looks an absolute treat and is a credit to the team,” he said. “It was nice to see her having that pipe opener and I am sure Graham will have her primed up for when she steps out on raceday.

“Fingers-crossed she can be there in the finish,” Nakhle said.

Bred by Don Pye & Dame Wendy Pye, Lollapalooza is by El Roca and out of Group Three-winning Showcasing mare Carnival (NZ).

She was offered through New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale under Haunui Farm’s draft, where she was purchased by Richardson Racing Stables and Social Racing for $30,000.

She has proven to be a bargain buy, going on to win one and place in four of her seven starts to date, including victory in the $150,000 Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and runner-up performances in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and $150,000 Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m), earning just shy of $250,000. 

Meanwhile the Canterbury Jockey Club have announced Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) as their representative for the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day, 7 March 2026.

When purchasing their slot for the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, the Club decided to use it as an added incentive to compete in their two elite-level three-year-old features over New Zealand Cup Week - the $600,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and $700,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 53rd New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) - with the victor of the former having the first seat at the negotiating table.

As the winner of last month’s 2000 Guineas, the connections of the Pam Gerard-trained Romanoff were duly given first right of refusal, and a deal was brokered this week. 

“The CJC is delighted that the strategic direction the Club took when buying a slot has continued this year, with the winner of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Romanoff, representing the Club,” CJC Chair Dianne Logie said.

“On behalf of the CJC, I wish to thank the owners for reaching an agreement with us.”

Romanoff is raced by a 13-strong ownership group and carries the Fletcher tartan silks of part-owner Hugh Fletcher, and he is delighted his gelding will be a part of the spectacle of New Zealand’s biggest day of racing.

“The owners of Romanoff are thrilled to have secured the CJC slot for the second running of The NZB Kiwi,” Fletcher said. 

Bred by Marie Leicester, Romanoff was purchased by Ballymore Stables, in conjunction with bloodstock agents Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman, from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale. He was secured out of Haunui Farm’s draft for $75,000.

Being Karaka Millions eligible, next month’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) looms as an obvious target, with Romanoff likely to resume at RACE Trentham next month.

“On returning from Christchurch, Romanoff had a brief break at Pam Gerard's spelling farm and is now back in work, looking bright and stronger than ever,” Fletcher said.

“Current plans are to run in the Levin Classic (Gr.2, 1400m) at Trentham and the Karaka Millions 3YO as lead-ins to The NZB Kiwi.”

The 2000 Guineas is becoming a memorable race for Gerard, having quinellaed this year’s running with Romanoff and Affirmative Action (AUS) (Yes Yes Yes), and winning last year’s edition with Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel).

While Savaglee chased other targets, Gerard is excited to have her first runner in next year’s NZB Kiwi, with victory in the Guineas also making Romanoff eligible for $1 million in bonuses up for grabs in The NZB Kiwi.

“It was a brilliant win in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton and picking up the opportunity to run for an extra $1 million bonus,” Gerard said. 

It is also fitting for Gerard to partner with the Canterbury Jockey Club, with the Matamata-based horsewoman hailing from the region.

“Being a Cantabrian myself makes the opportunity of the slot even more special,” she said.

“We are really looking forward to representing the CJC and the wider Canterbury area.”

- New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing