NZB Mega Maiden Series Set to Get Underway for 2026-27 Season

Media Release - Monday Aug 3

For the third season since its inception, NZB’s Mega Maiden Series is is set to continue for the 2026/27 season, with the race schedule now available.

The NZB Mega Maiden Series is comprised of 40 non-Saturday Maiden races to be run from September 2026 through to May 2026, split across the three regions in New Zealand.?

A $25,000 bonus is struck if a Karaka Millions eligible horse, three years or older, wins one of the races in the Series. The winning owner(s) will receive $20,000 and the successful trainer $5,000.?

Last season, 12 bonuses were struck across Northern, Central Districts and Southern regions. Winners of the 2025/26 Series included Dorothea (NZ) (Proisir), Frozen Fortune (NZ) (Proisir), Ruby Rush (NZ) (Ribchester), Aishiteru (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), Young Jackson (NZ) (Proisir), Bolli Belle (Shamus Award), Panther (NZ) (Ace High), Chilling Out (NZ) (Savabeel), Khando (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), Approaching (NZ) (Impending), Princess Elsa (NZ) (Frosted), and the first winner, Shameless Star (NZ) (Shamexpress).

Trained by Peter and Trent Didham for owners Exempt Bloodstock Ltd, Chelsea Connections Let, Brendon and Debbie Hart, Shameless Star was a $14,000 purchase from the National Weanling Sale by Woburn Farm, who then re-offered her in Book 2 of Karaka 2024. She was bought by Exempt Bloodstock and Peter Didham Racing for $55,000.

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Co-trainer Trent Didham indicated during the week before their win, that the stable had deliberately targeted the lucrative bonus, saying, “It’s great that the race on a Sunday is a Mega Maidens Bonus race, and we’d love to pick up that bonus for the owners.”

NZTR has published the schedule of races for the NZB Mega Maiden Series for the coming season, with the following conditions applying to the 40 NZB Mega Maiden Series races:?

No horse that is KM eligible will be given preference in terms of entry to a race, normal maiden balloting conditions will apply.?

In the event of a KM Bonus race being divided, KM Eligible horses will be placed in one race. This will be given priority.?

For the full schedule of races and more info about the $1m in bonuses up for grab, visit https://www.nzb.co.nz/maidenseries.

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