Next Gen winner living the dream

Hannah Traub has always had a "dream of owning a horse". Now it's become a reality.

The 29-year-old has won the 2026 Next Gen "Win a Share of a Racehorse" competition run by Harness Racing New Zealand.

The prize includes a $5000 credit for a share in a Next Gen eligible horse bought at the 2026 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales and also training fees.

In her case Traub has acquired a 5% per cent in a Bold Eagle - Girls On Film filly that was bought at the sales for $80,000 by the Dunns' Diamond Racing.

"It was awesome - just so unexpected," said Traub.

She entered the competition on Instagram - "I just thought - why not give it a shot?"

"I've never owned a horse and it's something that has always been a dream of mine so this is very exciting."

The mother of a 19-month-old, Traub has a number of connections with harness racing.

She is a driver for Majestic Horse Floats, worked for trainer Brendan "Benny" Hill "a long time ago", and has a family connection with Oxford trainers Philippa Wakelin and Stephen Noble - "I'm Stephen's niece."

She's yet to see the Bold Eagle filly in the flesh but "I've watched the replays of her in the sales ring and she is a lovely-looking filly."

Traub joins Josh Mantell as the second ever winner of the Next Gen-inspired competition.

In 2024 he won 3.5% of Republican Party's full brother Tour Party. A $150,000 purchase at the 2024 sales Tour Party has had two wins from as many starts for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety as a 2YO, earning a $5000 bonus in the process.