Runner By Runner Guide | The NZB Kiwi

Ellerslie again plays host to the second running of the NZB Kiwi this year, the highlight race of what is an outstanding day of racing on Champions Day.

Another quality field of 3YOs has been assembled for the NZB Kiwi, headlined by the star unbeaten filly, Well Written.

Read on for our expert runner by runner 2026 The Kiwi guide!

1 Romanoff

Another contender in the race for trainer Pam Gerard, and winner of the 2025 Gr.1 2000 Guineas. Similar to his stablemate, he had excuses in the Karaka Millions 3yo last start but was finding the line fairly well from the back after being slowly away. Drawn 10, he needs to jump much better than last start and position himself closer to the front end to be a factor against this sort of company. May need to find a couple of lengths to finish in the first few here. Roughie.

2 To Bravery Born

Another for the Tangerine who comes into this off a 7th in the Gr.3 Uncle Remus Stakes behind Belle Cheval, where he was held up early in the straight before letting down fairly once clear. Although the handy draw looks good on paper, I expect he’ll settle well back in the field as per his usual racing pattern. Needs to find a few lengths to be finishing in the first three or four here. Outsider.

3 Well Written

She simply needs no introduction. Last start winner of the Karaka Millions 3yo, extending her unbeaten streak to 5/5 in extraordinary fashion. Regular pilot Matt Cartwright remains in the saddle for this and the low draw should see her afforded every chance again here. She’s just one out of the box and only bad luck beats her here. Should be makingit 6/6.

4 Affirmative Action

He comes here as the highest rated male competitor engaged in the race and was last seen running in the Karaka Millions 3yo back in January, where he was eased out of the race and pulled up with excuses that day. He’s much better than that, as he showed when running 2nd in the Gr.1 2000 Guineas three starts back, as well as his 3rd behind Well Written in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas two back. His regular pilot George Rooke is aboard here, and the low draw should see him positioned handy to the speed throughout. Place chance if he brings his “A-Game”.

5 La Dorada

She bounced back and showed her true ability two starts back when winning the Gr.2 Levin Classic, and she followed that effort with a decent showing for 3rd in the Karaka Millions 3yo. She’s trialled fairly since that last start effort, where stablemate and race rival He Who Dares looked much sharper in the trial. From the middle draw, she maps to land back in the field off a strong tempo. Should be getting home well late but looks a rough place chance at best.

6 Asakura

He’s the sole Australian trained competitor in this year’s NZB Kiwi, who comes here at just his 5th start for the Mitch Freedman stable. He was last sighted finishing 2nd in the CS Hayes Stakes to subsequent Gr.1 Australian Guineas placegetter, Sixties, which reads very well for this. His regular pilot Dean Yendall makes the trip across the Tasman to ride him here. Whilst the draw looks bad on paper, he has the tactical speed to follow He Who Dares across early and take up a handy position. Still looks very untapped and could measure up well against our local 3yos.

7 Zivou

3yo son of Bivouac who arrives here off a last start 7th in the Gr.3 Uncle Remus Stakes here two weeks ago. He was far from disgraced last start, where he had to do plenty of work wide without cover mid-race and wasn’t beaten far thereafter. From the inside draw, he will likely find himself buried three or four pairs back on the fence but will be afforded an economical run in transit by the same token. Needs to find a few lengths to be matching it with some of these. Outsider.

8 He Who Dares

Royally bred colt who was the best of the beaten brigade behind Well Written in the Karaka Millions 3yo last start, as he was two starts back in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas. His subsequent trial effort behind Alabama Lass couldn’t have been much better, where he trucked to the line on her heels. Opie Bosson takes the reins again and I expect he’ll look to be positive early from the wide draw. Looks a solid place chance again if he doesn’t have to overdo it early.

9 Panther

He’s one of the new kids on the block for Team Wexford, coming here at just his 5th start. He was last sighted finishing 2nd here behind Belle Cheval in the Gr.3 Uncle Remus Stakes, where he got home well producing the fastest last 200m of the race. Craig Grylls staying in the saddle for this looks a big positive and he maps to hold a handier position this time, where he could well end up following the star filly Well Written throughout. Might find a few of these too sharp but could be worth including for thin end of exotics.

10 L’Aigle Noir

He was one of, if not the run of the race in the Gr.3 Uncle Remus Stakes behind Belle Cheval last start, where he didn’t have all favours in the straight and found the line strongly once clear. From the middle draw, he maps to get back off a strong tempo under Joe Doyle, where he’ll likely be saved for one run at them late. With a repeat of his last start, he could be a rough place chance with some luck late in the piece.

11 Belle Cheval

Impressive last start winner of the Gr.3 Uncle Remus Stakes last start, where she had the measure of many of her rivals here. She looked to have a gear or two up her sleeve that day and it looked an ideal lead-in assignment heading here. The draw doesn’t look ideal, however, she was likely to settle back off a strong tempo regardless of where she drew. She has been one of the most progressive 3yo’s this season behind Well Written and looks the next best in the race behind her here also. Quinella/Trifecta must.

12 War Princess

Despite being beaten 8.9L, she ran a good race for 4th in the Karaka Millions 3yo last start – but was afforded the best run of the race from the inside draw. The wider draw won’t make things easier for her here, where she will be one of many likely to try and take up a handy position from wider draws. Expect she will require plenty of luck and may also need to find a couple of lengths to be finishing in the first three/four. Rough place chance best.

13 Lollapalooza

She comes here off a last start 7th in the Karaka Millions 3yo behind Well Written. She only looked to be hitting her straps late in the piece that day, after looking a touch one-paced early in the straight. The drop back to 1500m has to be a slight knock on her chances, as she’ll likely be getting well back in the field from her wide draw. Michael McNab jumping aboard looks a positive and a strong tempo will aid her chances. Will be finishing off hard late but will also be giving away a big headstart to a few key chances. One to include in thin end of exotics.

14 Convinced

3yo Super Seth filly who is the least experienced runner in this year’s NZB Kiwi, coming here at just her third start and only debuting in late January. While she likely has a lot of improvement to come, she was accounted for by many of these in the Gr.3 Uncle Remus Stakes last start. From the middle draw under Samantha Collett, I’d expect her to be ridden positively in search of a handy position. Would need to find a few lengths to be a factor. Outsider.

The NZB Kiwi Tips

Mitch Davis’ The NZB Kiwi tips & selections: