Next Gen bonuses on line at Addington this Friday

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

A total of 13 2YOs will be vying for three $50,000 Next Gen bonuses on Harness Million night at Addington on Friday.

Five eligible 2YOs will be in the NZB Standardbred Harness Million races for the Trotters while four will take their place in the Listed races for the Fillies and the Colts and Geldings.

Under the scheme the first Next Gen eligible horse across the line in each of the three races will get a $50,000 bonus in addition to the stakemoney on offer.

A total of $35,000 will go to the owner, $10,000 to the trainer and $5000 to the breeder.

The 13 horses are (with their purchase price at the sales and current TAB odds) :

2YO Trotters

Apollo Eleven $90,000 @ $10
Donovan $42,000 @ $61
Duke Of Bourbon $240,000 @ $5
La Venture $25,000 @ $27
Lipstick Cherry $110,000 @ $31

2YO Fillies

Bliss Philly $35,000 @ $23
Daisy Bay $20,000 @ $7.50
Suva Baby $40,000 @ $4.40
Victory March $12,000 @ $151

2YO Colts and Geldings

Bamm Bamm $45,000 @ $16
Chiggsy $37,500 @ $21
Coal Fire $85,000 @ $34
Tour Party $150,000 @ $3.50

Tour Party will be the third favourite in the $200,000 Colts and Geldings behind Faith Not Fear ($2.50) and Lucky Luka ($2.60) while Suva Baby and Daisy Bay are at single figure odds in the Fillies race dominated by I'm The Boss ($1.26). 

The unbeaten Eyes Wide Open is also red hot in the Trot at just $1.55 with Duke Of Bourbon and Apollo Eleven next in the market.

It's the first time the bonuses have been on offer. They are a key component of the Next Gen scheme that was launched in late 2024.

To be eligible all horses had to be purchased at the 2025 NZB National Standardbred Yearling Sales at Karaka and Christchurch and then meet Next Gen guidelines.

They have to either

1. Trained by a Next Gen trainer (non Group 1 winning)
2. Owned by a Next Gen ownership group, with at least 30% of members being first-time HRNZ owners or individuals under the age of 40.
3. (or) Sired by a stallion in his first three New Zealand or Australian crops.

Next Gen will continue until 2027, but not beyond that.

It was established as a three-year initiative, with funding of $600,000 per annum.

With funding support for the scheme not continuing HRNZ will not extend the programme into a third year. Importantly, all commitments already made in respect of horses purchased through the 2025 and 2026 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales will be honoured and Next Gen incentives will remain in place for eligible two-year-olds racing in 2026 and 2027.

Beyond that, horses will not be eligible for bonuses. They include horses sold through the 2026 National Weanling Sale in June that would otherwise have been eligible as two-year-olds in 2028, and horses being prepared for the 2027 National Yearling Sale.

To see the field for the $75,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Trot click here

To see the field for the $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Fillies click here

To see the field for the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Colts and Geldings click here