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

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. 

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. 

2026/27 NZB Mega Maiden Series Schedule: 

Day & Date	Meeting	Distance
Friday, 11 September 2026	Taupo	1200m
Wednesday, 23 September 2026	Timaru	1200m
Sunday, 27 September 2026	Waverley	1200m
Wednesday, 14 October 2026	Tauranga	1200m
Wednesday, 21 October 2026	Te Aroha	1400m
Sunday, 1 November 2026	Riverton	1400m
Wednesday, 4 November 2026	Hawera	1600m
Sunday, 15 November 2026	Rotorua	1400m
Sunday, 15 November 2026	Waipukurau	1200m
Sunday, 22 November 2026	Invercargill	1600m
Wednesday, 25 November 2026	Te Aroha	2200m
Wednesday, 9 December 2026	Hastings	1600m
Wednesday, 16 December 2026	Whangarei	1400m
Monday, 28 December 2026	Timaru	1200m
Friday, 1 January 2027	Riverton	1400m
Sunday, 3 January 2027	Te Aroha	1150m
Friday, 8 January 2027	Otaki	2100m
Friday, 15 January 2027	WTR @ Te Rapa	1600m
Monday, 25 January 2027	Wanganui	1340m
Thursday, 21 January 2027	Southland RC	1600m
Friday, 29 January 2027	WTR @ Te Rapa	1400m
Sunday, 7 February 2027	Otaki	1200m
Wednesday, 10 February 2027	Te Aroha	1200m
Wednesday, 17 February 2027	Riccarton	2000m
Sunday, 21 February 2027	Taupo	1400m
Friday, 26 February 2027	Hawera	1400m
Sunday, 28 February 2027	Hastings	1600m
Wednesday, 3 March 2027	Riccarton	1400m
Wednesday, 10 March 2027	Matamata	2000m
Wednesday, 17 March 2027	Waipukurau	1400m
Wednesday, 24 March 2027	Matamata	1600m
Wednesday, 31 March 2027	Pukekohe	1200m
Friday, 9 April 2027	Waverley	2200m
Wednesday, 14 April 2027	Matamata	1200m
Thursday, 15 April 2027	Ashburton	1200m
Wednesday, 5 May 2027	Ellerslie	1500m
Sunday, 9 May 2027	Wanganui	1200m
Thursday, 13 May 2027	Riccarton Syn	1400m
Sunday, 16 May 2027	Hawera	1600m
Sunday, 30 May 2027	Otago	1600m

All eligible horses for the Karaka Millions Series are denoted by the ‘KM’ logo on the NZTR website.