First Next Gen bonuses to be paid out

Two Nathan Purdon-trained two-year-olds have become the first horses to earn the $5000 Next Gen two-start bonuses.

On Friday both Coal Fire and Princess Kreka had their second career starts in the Young Guns series at Alexandra Park, with Coal Fire making it two wins in a row.

Both were bought at the 2025 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Karaka  - Coal Fire for $85,000 and Princess Kreka for $32,500.

The pair are Next Gen eligible through their ownership groups. They have at least 30 per cent new or young owners.

With their second starts their connections get a $5000 bonus. The pay out is split between the owners ($4000) and the trainer ($1000).

This bonus is capped at 90 horses per year, and a maximum annual payout of $450,000.

The first Next Gen eligible horse home in all three of the Harness Million Races will get a $50,000 bonus. The owners gets $35,000, the trainer $10,000 and the breeder $5000. The races are for 2YO Pacing Colts and Geldings, 2YO Pacing Fillies and 2YO Trotters. They are held at Addington around October.

The next round of Young Gun Heats will be held at Alexandra Park on March 6 with the two $100,000 Group 1s, the Delightful Lady Stakes for the Fillies and the Cardigan Bay Stakes (Colts and Geldings) held at the same venue on March 20. 

To be Next Gen eligible one of the following three criteria must be met :

- The ownership group must consist of at least four people, with a minimum of 30% being first-time HRNZ owners or individuals aged under 40 (as of January 1, 2025)

- The horse is trained by a trainer or training partnership where no member has won a NZ or Australian Group 1 race as of a specified date (e.g., January 1, 2025, for horses purchased at the 2025 sales).

- The horse is sired by a stallion with his first, second, or third New Zealand or Australian crop, whatever is the later.