Canterbury Jockey Club (CJC) and the connections of ROMANOFF have reached agreement for the gelding to be their nomination in the 2026 NZB Kiwi and represent the Slot owned by the Canterbury Jockey Club.
When buying a slot in the NZB Kiwi the Board of the CJC did so with a strategy to market and promote participation in the Club’s two most prestigious races the AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI NEW ZEALAND TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS® and BARNESWOOD FARM NEW ZEALAND ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS® and use the Slot to provide an added benefit for running in one of those races
CJC Chair Dianne Logie said “The CJC is delighted that the strategic direction the Club took when buying a Slot has continued this year with the winner of the NZ 2000 Guineas, ROMANOFF, representing the Club. On behalf of the CJC I wish to thank the owners for reaching an agreement with us”.
The CJC is also delighted that there is a Canterbury connection with trainer Pam Gerard hailing from Methven and gaining much of her early racing education under the guidance of then Riccarton Park trainers Peter and Dawn Williams. A further connection is through a stable favourite HARLECH who has done much racing from a temporary base at Riccarton Park in the same colours as ROMANOFF. HARLECH ran second in the 47th NZ 2000 Guineas, won the Avon City Ford Easter Cup and twice finished second in the Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup all at Riccarton Park.
Hugh Fletcher said “The owners of ROMANOFF are thrilled to have secured the CJC slot for the second running of the NZB Kiwi. On returning from Christchurch ROMANOFF had a brief break at Pam Gerard's spelling farm and is now back in work, looking bright and stronger than ever. Current plans are to run in the Group 2 Levin Classic at Trentham and the 3yo Karaka Millions as lead-ins to the NZB Kiwi. The owners of ROMANOFF are proud to represent the CJC in the NZB Kiwi.”
Said Pam Gerard “Ballymore Racing is excited and proud to have taken up the CJC slot for the NZB Kiwi. It was a brilliant win in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton and picking up the opportunity to run for an extra million-dollar bonus. Being a Cantabrian myself makes the opportunity of the slot even more special and we are really looking forward to representing the CJC and the wider Canterbury area.”
Numerous winners of the NZ 2000 Guineas® have gone on to wonderful racing careers. The very first winner in 1973 FURY’S ORDER, BALMERINO, SURFERS PARADICE, DARCI BRAHMA and SACRED FALLS just to name five. It is hoped that ROMANOFF can replicate this level of success at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 7 March 2026.