Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick says inducements attached to key lead-ups clinched the breeding giant’s belated decision to become involved in New Zealand’s first thoroughbred slot race.
One of Australasia’s most decorated breeding operations, Waikato is a recent addition to the slot holder ranks for the NZB Kiwi, a $NZ3.5 million race for three-year-olds.
Waikato secured the No.1 slot vacated by Singapore businessman and prominent owner John Chew who paid $NZ725,000 at an auction in February.
After a successful tender process, Chittick has wasted no time in anointing sparingly performed Sought After as his runner.
Sought After is the first horse to fill one of the 14 slots for the 1500m race on March 8, 2025.
A bona fide Waikato product as a son of Tivaci out of a Savabeel mare, Sought After has raced twice for co-trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, winning his first start before being rated a luckless runner at his next.
He is on a New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas path via a Group Two contest - two races that have been given added significance as part of the countdown to the NZB Kiwi in March.
The Guineas is run at Riccarton under the auspices of the Canterbury Jockey Club, an NZB Kiwi slot holder.
A Group 1 race, the Guineas and the reprogrammed Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial form part of a series of races that make the respective winners eligible for a prize money bonus should they contest the NZB Kiwi.
There will be $1 million to be shared if the winner of 10 selected races can figure as a top-three finisher in the race on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8.
The Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington on Saturday is one of two Australian races offering eligibility for the bonus.
And in a move that aims to 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 $NZ175,000 bonus challenge with $NZ100,000 for the winner, $NZ50,000 for second and $NZ25,000 for third.
“After buying a slot just recently, we’ve done our homework and we’ve had a little bit of help getting our head around the concept of the NZB Kiwi,” Chittick said.
“To be a slot holder and to hopefully have a horse in the race in the Waikato Stud colours is the ultimate (goal).
“Obviously the Kiwi is the big prize at the end of the day but there’s so many little incentives along the way in, as we’ve learnt about.
“We thought we may as well get a part of that pretty quickly with Sought After.”
WS homebred 3YO Sought After (Tivaci x Popular) pulls clear to claim his maiden win on debut under Masa Hashizume at Taupo. Thanks to @WexfordStables for keeping him in good order and our great friends, the Jolly family, for sponsoring the race. Bring on the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas 💪 pic.twitter.com/rFPDVWx8R9
— Waikato Stud (@WaikatoStud) September 20, 2024
As an owner, Chittick has experienced the slot race concept in Australia, with the star sprinter I Wish I Win contesting the past two Everests.
I Wish I Win raced in the slot held by the New Zealand-aligned Trackside Media/Entain partnership and finished second in the $20 million race in 2023.
Chittick says the growth of slot races in Australasia has taken him by surprise but the introduction of The Kiwi can provide a stimulus for New Zealand racing.
“I suppose we're a little bit different here in New Zealand … we're really trying to get our industry going again,” he said.
“So, it certainly helps to create a bit of interest.
“I just hope it's not one of those situations that we do flood the market but it will be interesting to see how it works.”
The auction for nine NZB Kiwi slots raised $NZ6.255 million with the O’Sullivan and Scott training partnership securing a berth for their Wexford Stables operation for $NZ700,000.
As Australasia’s richest race for three-year-olds, the NZB Kiwi was made possible by Entain's long-term investment in New Zealand racing when it signed a 25-year deal in 2023 to run the national TAB.
