NZ's $3.5M Slot Race Winner Eyes Golden Eagle Spot

Key Takeaways:

• Winner of New Zealand's $3.5m slot race likely to receive Golden Eagle invite
• Racing NSW chief V'landys supports NZ's new race initiative
• New Zealand racing experiencing significant transformation and growth

New Zealand's inaugural $3.5 million slot race, The Kiwi, is set to make waves in the racing world, with potential implications for Australia's prestigious Golden Eagle event.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys has thrown his support behind New Zealand's latest racing initiative, The Kiwi - a $3.5 million slot race for three-year-olds over 1500m at Ellerslie. The event, scheduled for Saturday, has already attracted strong Australian interest, with favorites Evaporate and Public Attention leading the field.

V'landys, founder of The Everest, indicated that the winner of The Kiwi is likely to receive an automatic entry into the $10 million Golden Eagle, a race for four-year-old horses held at Rosehill in November. This move comes as competition for Golden Eagle spots intensifies, with the race attracting global attention in recent years.

"The last couple of times we have had some controversy with who gets into the Golden Eagle because it's so competitive, it's attracted horses from around the world," V'landys said. "It's going to be harder and harder to get into the race. Having an automatic entry to the Golden Eagle is a real bonus for the (Kiwi) race."

The past two editions of the Golden Eagle have seen international success, with Japanese raider Obamburumai winning in 2023 and British-trained Lake Forest taking the title last year under trainer William Haggas.

New Zealand's racing industry appears to be on an upward trajectory, bolstered by a 25-year strategic partnership between Ladbrokes owner Entain and the New Zealand TAB. V'landys praised the transformation of New Zealand racing, describing it as "unbelievable" and noting the industry's shift from "rock bottom to now being dynamic."

The Racing NSW chief also emphasized the importance of leveraging social media platforms like TikTok to promote The Kiwi and attract a younger audience. He sees the new slot race as an aspirational event that could generate significant publicity and elevate New Zealand racing to new heights.

"It's a great initiative, it's an aspirational race and it's going to get its own charisma and attract the younger audience," V'landys said. "It should generate significant publicity that normal race meetings don't. Hopefully this can really take racing in New Zealand to another level."

As The Kiwi prepares for its debut, the racing world watches with interest, anticipating the potential impact on both New Zealand's racing scene and the broader international racing calendar.