FASHION | The road to The Ned Prix de Fashion 2025

27 Sep 2024
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing

Fashion lovers, this is it.  The Ned Prix de Fashion, New Zealand’s national fashions in the field final, is just around the corner. 

Sasha Boyens, Supreme Winner of The Ned Prix de Fashion 2024

Sasha Boyens, Supreme Winner of The Ned Prix de Fashion 2024

 

Taking place on the inaugural running of Champions Day, 8 March 2025, it’s the culmination of a busy summer of qualifying fashions in the field events nationwide AND this season celebrates its 20th running.

The competition’s winner takes home not only the coveted Supreme Winner title, but a $15,000+ prize package from The Ned with other prizes to be announced.

Today we outline how the competition works, what nationwide events are qualifiers for The Ned Prix de Fashion AND cover off some FAQs. 


How does The Ned Prix de Fashion work?

To enter The Ned Prix de Fashion, you must earn a qualifying spot through:

1. Regional Qualifier Competitions

Held by racing clubs nationwide across the 2024/25 season, these competitions grant their winner (and second placegetter, in one instance), a “Semi Finalist” spot in The Ned Prix de Fashion 2025. 

This season, 11 women will qualify as semi-finalists via these competitions.

Keep reading to see which competitions make up this season’s qualifiers

How to enter

Check-in with the racing clubs online (websites and/or social media) to view their competition’s entry details.


2. Champions Day ‘Wildcard’ Qualifier 

This phase of the competition happens on Champions Day, just before The Ned Prix de Fashion, and offers one final chance to reach the Semi-Finals.

The top four point scorers, as judged by our panel, will claim the last semi-finalist spots, be sashed, and join the other semi-finalists on stage for The Ned Prix de Fashion.

How to enter

Contestants can either enter on the day at Ellerslie or enter online prior to the event (keep an eye on this website or our Fashionably Racing Facebook Group for details closer to the event date).   

Entry into the competition is free, however a raceday ticket is required in order to gain entry into the racecourse. 

The Ned Prix de Fashion wildcard qualifiers 2024

Last season’s wildcard winners who won here at Ellerslie on Trackside Derby Day.

 


3. The Ned Prix de Fashion 

The competition begins with the Semi-Finals, featuring 15 contestants consisting of the 11 regional qualifiers and the four ‘Wildcard’ winners from the Champions Day qualifier.

The Ned Prix de Fashion 2024 semi finalists

The Ned Prix de Fashion 2024 semi finalists on stage at Ellerslie.

 

Judges will score contestants, with the top five being announced and sashed as Grand Finalists.

As in the past four seasons, a points-based judging system will be used for 2025.

The Ned Prix de Fashion Grand Finalists 2024 with the day's SkyCity Menswear Award winner

The Ned Prix de Fashion Grand Finalists 2024 with the day’s SkyCity Menswear Award winner


4. Grand Final

Judges will score the Grand Finalists, with the highest points scorer being announced and sashed as the Supreme Winner.

That person will take home the winner-takes-all prize package, the all-important sash and one year’s worth of bragging rights to being the New Zealand’s fashions in the field titleholder for the 2024/25 racing season.

All winner announcements for The Ned Prix de Fashion 2025 will be announced within the fashion precinct.

Supreme Winner of The Ned Prix de Fashion 2024, Sasha Boyens

Sasha Boyens, immediately after being announced as Supreme Winner of The Ned Prix de Fashion 2024.


Regional Pre-Qualifying Competitions 2024/25

Be announced the winner* of one of the below competitions and you’ll pre-qualify for the semi final of The Ned Prix de Fashion 2025.

Keep your eyes peeled because we have two new competitions this season and welcome back Matamata Racing Club.

 

  • 2 November |  Bayleys Community Carnival at the Races – Tauranga Racing Club *NEW for 2024*
  • 5 November | Grand Casino Melbourne Cup Day – Otago Racing Club
  • 16 November | New Zealand Cup Day – Canterbury Jockey Club
  • 23 November | TAB Counties Cup Day – Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Pukekohe Park
  • 14 December | SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Day – Waikato Racing Club
  • 26 December | SkyCity Boxing Day Races, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Ellerslie (*Two qualifying spots)
  • 18 January | NZCIS Wellington Cup Day – Wellington Racing Club
  • 14 February | Valentines Raceday – New Plymouth Raceway *NEW for 2025*
  • 15 February | Invercargill Gold Cup Day – Southland Racing Club
  • 15 February | J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes Raceday – Matamata Racing Club *Returning for 2025*
  • 8 March | Champions Day – Ellerslie (4 wildcard spots) followed by The Ned Prix de Fashion

FAQs

I’ve won a semi-finalist spot for The Ned Prix de Fashion, do I have to wear the same outfit I wore when winning my qualifying competition?

The conditions remain the same for 2025’s competition as they always have – winners of the Regional Pre-Qualifying Competitions may, but do not have to, wear the same outfit they wore when winning their local competition. If you did not win a Regional Pre-Qualifying Competition but instead entered on Champions Day and were announced as a Wildcard Finalist, the look you competed in for that competition will be what you are judged on in the national final.

 

How much does it cost to enter The Ned Prix de Fashion?

Nothing! Like all the fashion competitions held by Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, entry into the competition is free for all females aged 18yr+. A ticket may be required to get into the racecourse, however.

 

I won a Regional Pre-Qualifying Competition. Does that mean I can’t enter another?

No. If you have already won a Regional Pre-Qualifying Competition you can still enter another Regional Pre-Qualifying Competition. However, in the event you are announced the winner of a second Regional Pre-Qualifying Competition, while you will get to take home its listed prizes, the runner-up or second placegetter will instead qualify for a spot in the final of The Ned Prix de Fashion. (One person cannot qualify twice).

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