Next Gen to extend to NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale

HRNZ's Next Gen ownership model is about to take its next step.

Next Gen is all about attracting new and especially younger owners into the sport and encouraging emerging trainers and stallions.

Still in its infancy, Next Gen made its "debut" at this year's NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Karaka and Christchurch. It was a big success with 56 Next Gen sired yearlings being sold and a number of newcomers getting involved in the sport.

Off the back of the successes from the Yearling sales, HRNZ is excited to announce that Next Gen will extend to the NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale as well. That will be held in conjunction with the NZB Thoroughbred National Weanling sale at Karaka on Thursday, June 6.

That means that weanlings sold at that sale will be eligible for a range of two-year-old bonuses in 2027 as long as they met the Next Gen criteria.

To be eligible you have to meet ONE of the following :

1. Buy a weanling by a Next Gen sire 

2. Have an ownership group that comprises of at least four people, where the horse is owned 30% or more by people who are born after 1985 or have never previously been registered HRNZ owners.

3. Horses must be trained by someone who has not trained a Group 1 winner (as of January 1, 2026)

"The yearling sales were a big success all round with Next Gen creating a lot of buzz in the industry," says HRNZ's Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden, "and the timing of the Weanling sales couldn't be better. We have the Yearling sales at the start of the year and the weanlings right in the middle of it in June."

"It's a great way to carry that momentum right through the year."

All Next Gen weanlings bought at the sales are eligible for the three Harness Million races - Colts and Geldings, Fillies and Trotters if paid into the series.

A $50,000 bonus ($35,000 will go to the owner, $10,000 to the trainer and $5000 to the breeder) will be awarded to the first Next Gen eligible horse across the line in each of those three races.

A $5000 2YO Second Start bonus ($4000 to the owner, $1000 to the trainer) will also be awarded to any Next Gen eligible horses that have two race day starts during their 2YO season.

This will be capped at 90 horses, with a total payout of $450,000 per year.

The following stallions are newly-eligible Next Gen sires should their progeny be represented at the sale:

Bitamuscle
Bulldog Hanover
Culler Me Native 
Dancinginginthedark M
Ecurie D
E L Titan
Habibi Inta
King of the North
Pebble Beach
Perfect Sting
Ride High
 
Sires they were Next Gen eligible at the 2025 Yearling Sales that are no longer eligible are :

Captain Crunch
Lather Up
McWicked
Stay Hungry
Timoko

Entries for the Weanling Sale are now open and close Thursday, April 24. 

For more information about the NZB Standardbred National Weanling sales click here