New Zealand Derby - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (12 furlong

Furlong

A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....

s) at Ellerslie Racecourse

Ellerslie Racecourse

Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit of approximately 1,900 m.-History:The first race meeting was held at Ellerslie on 25 May 1874...

in Auckland

Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...

, New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week

Auckland Cup Week

Auckland Cup Week is one of New Zealand's major racing carnivals. Held in Auckland in the first week of March, the carnival includes Thoroughbred, Harness, and Greyhound racing. The carnival was first run in 2006. The main features are the Auckland Cups for each code, with the thoroughbred version...

. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2 million.

History

The race combines two races which were the New Zealand Derby

New Zealand Derby (Riccarton)

The New Zealand Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch, New Zealand. The inaugural running of the Derby was in 1860, when racing was held at Riccarton Racecourse...

, run since 1860 in Riccarton

Riccarton, New Zealand

Riccarton is a suburb of Christchurch. It is due west of the city centre, separated from it by Hagley Park. Upper Riccarton is to the west of Riccarton.-History:...

, Christchurch

Christchurch

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...

and the Great Northern Derby

Great Northern Derby (race)

The Great Northern Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. Since it was run for the first time as the ARC Auckland Derby Principal race over 12F in 1875, the race had become New...

, run since 1875 in Ellerslie, Auckland. Both were run over 12 furlongs, and were equally prestigious derbies. The combining of the two races into one was achieved in 1973, when the New Zealand Derby was moved from Christchurch up to Auckland, and the Great Northern Derby was no longer run.

In 1973, the "combined" New Zealand Derby was held in Ellerslie. Riccarton was instead given two 1,600 m races for three-year-olds in place of the Derby, the One Thousand and Two Thousand Guineas. After its May debut, the race was soon moved to New Year's Day, and then finally to Boxing Day. It continued to be run on this day for many years and became a popular traditional social occasion for Aucklanders until it was moved to the first day of the new Auckland Cup Week in March. The first March running of the Derby in 2006 was won by Wahid

Wahid (horse)

Wahid is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 2006.The son of Almutawakel grabbed everyone's attention with his stunning debut win at Trentham , and was rarely out of the limelight for the remainder of his two year-old season...

, from the stable of Allan Sharrock in New Plymouth

New Plymouth

New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....

.

Only a small number of fillies have ever won the Derby against the male horses including the great Desert Gold

Desert Gold

Desert Gold was a famous and successful New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who raced at the time of World War I. She raced in Australia and New Zealand, winning 36 races, including a still-standing record of 19 in succession ....

. Three have done so since 1980 - Our Flight

Our Flight (horse)

Our Flight is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1984, one of the very few fillies to have done so in the history of the race....

in 1983, Tidal Light

Tidal Light

Tidal Light was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the champion filly of her year and beat the colts in the 1987 New Zealand Derby.After finishing second in her debut, Tidal Light won ten of her next 13 races, including the Derby, Avondale Guineas, Waikato Guineas, Canterbury Guineas and a Group 1...

in 1987 and Popsy

Popsy (horse)

Popsy is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1993, one of very few fillies to have achieved the feat.In a stunning season for the Matamata training stable of Dave and Paul O'Sullivan in three year-old races, Popsy brilliantly beat the males in the Derby at Ellerslie while her...

in 1994, all exceptional fillies.

Many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses feature on the New Zealand Derby's/Great Northern Derby's winners' lists, including Nightmarch

Nightmarch

Nightmarch, foaled in 1925 was an outstanding New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse known as The Kiwi. He won the New Zealand Derby and Dunedin Cup as a three-year-old before going to Australia where he became the first horse to win both the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate in the same year, as well...

, Kindergarten

Kindergarten (horse)

Kindergarten was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse that raced during the early 1940s. He won many of the premier events in New Zealand including the Wellington Cup and Auckland Cup for more than £16,000 in stake money, which was a large amount during the War.-Breeding:He was a bay colt by...

, Balmerino, Desert Gold

Desert Gold

, Mainbrace

Mainbrace

Mainbrace was a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who won 23 of his 25 race starts and was placed second in the other two. When he broke down he had won 17 races in succession, which was only two behind Gloaming and Desert Gold's Australasian record. He, also, on eight different occasions...

, Gloaming

Gloaming (horse)

Gloaming was an outstanding Thoroughbred racehorse, owned, trained, and based in New Zealand. He set many records which includes the Australasian record of 19 successive wins, many in Principal Races. Gloaming was unusual that he was a champion who won many major races in both Australia and New...

and Bonecrusher

Bonecrusher (horse)

Bonecrusher Is a retired champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who was widely admired in both Australia and New Zealand. Bred by Bill Punch, his dam's sire was a son of a French champion, Tantieme. Bonecrusher was purchased by Peter Mitchell for just $3,250 at the Waikato Yearling Sales,...

.
Several horses features on both lists, including the great Defaulter, who won the 1938 NZ Derby and then the 1939 Great Northern Derby.

Winners of the New Zealand Derby

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2011 2011 New Zealand Derby The 2011 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 5 March 2011. It was the 135th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Jimmy Choux....	Jimmy Choux Jimmy Choux Jimmy Choux is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. On 5 March 2011, he won the 135th running of the New Zealand Derby. In doing so, he became the first horse since Surfers Paradise in 1990 to win both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the New Zealand Derby....	Jonathan Riddell	John Bary	Chouxmaani Investments Ltd.	2:38.35
2010 2010 New Zealand Derby The 2010 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 6 March 2010. It was the 134th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Military Move...	Military Move Military Move Military Move is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. On March 6, 2010, he won the 134th running of the New Zealand Derby.The gelding is trained by Shaune Ritchie, who was the strapper for the hugely successful and popular 1985 Derby winner Bonecrusher. Bonecrusher was trained by Ritchie's...	Michael Walker Michael Walker (jockey) Michael Walker is New Zealand jockey of Māori ancestry. He was born in Rotorua, New Zealand in the central districts of the North Island, although his family later moved to Waitara. At the age of 11 Walker approached noted thoroughbred trainer Allan Sharrock, asking for work with his horses....	Shaune Ritchie	Steven Lo Steven Lo Steven Lo Kit-Sing is a Hong Kong and Macanese businessman active in the entertainment world.Born in Hong Kong, Steven Lo had his upbringing and education in Macau. After graduation from high school, he worked in the banking industry and then started up a European cars dealership business...	2:27.91
2009	Coniston Bluebird Coniston Bluebird (horse) Coniston Bluebird is a thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2009 New Zealand Derby. Trainer Bede Murray had the New Zealand Derby in mind for Coniston Bluebird after the horse had shown promise as a stayer in Australia, including a win over 2100m...	Scott Seamer Scott Seamer -External links:*http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Scott_Seamer/summary.html...	Bede Murray	Murray Livestock, J O'Brien, J & R Standford & J Wilson	2:31.04
2008	C'est La Guerre C'est La Guerre C'est La Guerre is a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who on 1 March 2008 won the New Zealand Derby by four lengths, the largest winning margin of the race in ten years....	David Walker	Kevin Myers	K Barker et al.	2:33.47
2007	Redoute's Dancer Redoute's Dancer Redoute's Dancer is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 2007.Having competed in Sydney throughout the early part of his three year-old season, the connections of the son of Redoute's Choice decided to chase a Group 1 win for the colt and high prize money in New Zealand.He had...	Vinnie Colgan	Tim Martin	P. Silvestro	2:27.24
2006	Wahid Wahid (horse) Wahid is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 2006.The son of Almutawakel grabbed everyone's attention with his stunning debut win at Trentham , and was rarely out of the limelight for the remainder of his two year-old season...	Leith Innes	Allan Sharrock	Noel H. & Ron T. Stanley	2:27.42
2004	Xcellent Xcellent Xcellent is a thoroughbred racehorse who was trained by Michael-Patrick Moroney.He won 6 races from his first 9 career starts, including four Group Ones - The New Zealand Derby and New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie Racecourse, and the Mudgway Stakes and Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings...	Michael Coleman	Michael Moroney	G W Breingan et al.	2:32.01
2003	Cut The Cake	Michael Coleman	Michael Moroney	N M Anderson/G W Breingan et al.	2:28.88
2002	St Reims St Reims St Reims is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 2002.A million-dollar yearling, big things were always expected of the son of Zabeel, and although he didn't break his maiden until his fifth start he soon started to live up to expectations...	Greg Childs	Chris McNab	Rob McAnulty et al.	2:28.57
2001	Leica Guv Leica Guv Leica Guv is a thoroughbred racehorse who in a brilliant three year-old season won the New Zealand Derby in 2001. Unfortunately he was never able to match the ability he showed in 2001 in the remainder of his career....	Scott Seamer	Jeff McVean	R A and Mrs R J Scarborough	2:28.98
2000	Hail Hail (horse) Hail is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 2000.In 7 years of racing, Hail established for himself a reputation of reliability, strength and durability...	Noel Harris	Bruce Marsh	A J Cunningham & R B Marsh	2:32.27
1999	Hades Hades (horse) Hades is a Thoroughbred racehorse who, when he won the New Zealand Derby in 1999, gave trainer Roger James his third Derby win in five years....	Vinnie Colgan	Roger James	Mrs F E & R A Dixon	2:27.57
1998	So Casual So Casual So Casual is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in record time in 1998.Although not the star in his two-year-old year, So Casual ran extremely well in his first season of racing and never finished further back than third...	Damien Oliver	Ross Taylor	G C P Beadel et al.	2:24.80
1997	Zonda Zonda (horse) Zonda is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1997. His career faced unfortunate setbacks from injury...	Vinnie Colgan	Roger James	Hundalee Derby Syndicate	2:31.58
1996	Great Command Great Command Great Command is a Thoroughbred racehorse who never finished further back than fifth in his career and won the New Zealand Derby in 2000, giving trainer Mike Moroney the first of his three New Zealand Derby victories to date and owner Rob McAnulty the first of his two.After being fifth on debut on...	Darren Beadman	Michael Moroney	H J & J Chan, R R McAnulty & D Tsang	2:27.97
1995	Roysyn Roysyn Roysyn is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1995, giving trainer Roger James his first of three Derby wins and rider Vinny Colgan the first of his four....	Vinnie Colgan	Roger James	Mrs B P & J B Harvey	2:30.10
1994	Look Who's Talking Look Who's Talking (horse) Look Who's Talking is a thoroughbred racehorse who surprisingly won the New Zealand Derby in 1994.The son of Grosvenor only won two races in his career, a maiden race and the Group 1 New Zealand Derby. He ended his career with a record of 2 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 21 races.Look Who's...	Grant Cooksley	Nigel Tiley	Unifaith Limited	2:28.18
1993	Popsy Popsy (horse) Popsy is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1993, one of very few fillies to have achieved the feat.In a stunning season for the Matamata training stable of Dave and Paul O'Sullivan in three year-old races, Popsy brilliantly beat the males in the Derby at Ellerslie while her...	Lance O'Sullivan Lance O'Sullivan Lance Anthony O'Sullivan was one of New Zealand's best-known jockeys, now retired.He won a record number of races totalling 2479, mainly in the 1980s including the 1989 Japan Cup on champion mare Horlicks, which broke the world record over 2400m...	D & P O'Sullivan	Barnaby & Co Ltd	2:27.24
1992	The Phantom Chance The Phantom Chance The Phantom Chance is a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1992 and Cox Plate in 1993, earning over $2 million in his 44-race career....	Robert Vance	Colin Jillings	W B Ballin	2:25.98
1991	Cavallieri Cavallieri Cavallieri is a thoroughbred racehorse only known for winning the 1991 New Zealand Derby, when he defeated subsequent champion racehorse Veandercross...	Grant Cooksley	Laurie Laxon	L K Laxon, S Shew & F & Mrs Z Sing	2:29.18
1990	Surfers Paradise Surfers Paradise (horse) Surfers Paradise was a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who is best remembered for winning the Cox Plate in 1991. By Crested Wave, Surfers Paradise was named after Queensland's iconic beachside strip....	Lance O'Sullivan Lance O'Sullivan Lance Anthony O'Sullivan was one of New Zealand's best-known jockeys, now retired.He won a record number of races totalling 2479, mainly in the 1980s including the 1989 Japan Cup on champion mare Horlicks, which broke the world record over 2400m...	D & P O'Sullivan	F Cheung, K Chong, G Fong & J D Smith	2:28.02
1989	Castletown Castletown (horse) Castletown is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse who won over $2 million in prize money and is best known for winning one of New Zealand's toughest staying tests, the Wellington Cup, on three occasions. He had over 100 starts, from two to eight years of age, including a record 13 races over...	Bruce Compton	Patrick Busuttin	P M Busuttin, B J McCahill & K P Morris	2:29.28
1988	The Gentry The Gentry The Gentry is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1988.Born in 1985, he is the only classic-winning son of the brilliant galloper McGinty, who beat the best on both sides of the Tasman in his racing career and with an ounce of luck should arguably have been the first New...	Greg Childs	Ray & Kerry Verner	L W Davis, H K Haub, P J Walker & Haunui Farm	2:27.49
1987	Satisfy Satisfy (horse) Satisfy is a Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known for winning the New Zealand Derby in 1987.Satisfy only won six races in his career, but two came at Group 1 level in the form of the Derby and the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes. He also ran third in the 2000 Guineas.His Derby win though is more...	Maurice Campbell	N D Nicoloff	N D & P H Nicoloff	2:35.41
1986	Tidal Light Tidal Light Tidal Light was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the champion filly of her year and beat the colts in the 1987 New Zealand Derby.After finishing second in her debut, Tidal Light won ten of her next 13 races, including the Derby, Avondale Guineas, Waikato Guineas, Canterbury Guineas and a Group 1...	Grant Cooksley	Jim Gibbs	S A Taylor	2:28.63
1985	Bonecrusher Bonecrusher (horse) Bonecrusher Is a retired champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who was widely admired in both Australia and New Zealand. Bred by Bill Punch, his dam's sire was a son of a French champion, Tantieme. Bonecrusher was purchased by Peter Mitchell for just $3,250 at the Waikato Yearling Sales,...	Gary Stewart	Frank Ritchie	Peter J. Mitchell	2:29.47
1984	Jolly Jake Jolly Jake Jolly Jake is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1985.It took five attempts for the colt to clear maiden company, which he did at Pukekohe four months before his Derby triumph, but he steadily improved, performing consistently throughout...	Chris McNab	Alan Jones	I W Allan	2:27.39
1983	I'm Henry I'm Henry I'm Henry is a non-stud book Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1984, a record fourth winner of the race for trainer Colin Jillings I'm Henry is a non-stud book Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1984, a record fourth winner of the race for trainer Colin...	Robert Vance	Colin Jillings	A J & M M Bates	2:29.78
1982	Our Flight Our Flight (horse) Our Flight is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1984, one of the very few fillies to have done so in the history of the race....	Maurice Campbell	Errol Skelton	J W Rusher	2:32.48
1981	Isle Of Man Isle Of Man (horse) Isle Of Man is a thoroughbred racehorse known mainly for winning the New Zealand Derby in 1982, a race marred by the demise of the undefeated Altitude....	Robert Vance	Davina Waddell	R F Langsford and D L Waddell	2:28.89
1980	Ring The Bell Ring The Bell (horse) Ring The Bell is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1981, the second Derby win in three years for trainer Neville Atkins....	Nigel Tiley	Neville Atkins	E M Mackley and B P Wild	2:30.23
1979	Ruling Lad Ruling Lad Ruling Lad is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1976.He produced an extraordinary performance to win the Derby for rider Garry Phillips, but never showed that ability in the rest of his career. In the 15 starts he had after his Derby win, he never finished closer than seventh....	Garry Phillips	Brian Deacon	E N Baker	2:35.38
1978	Kaiser Kaiser (horse) Kaiser is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1979. He was trained by Neville Atkins and ridden in the 1979 Derby by Alwin Tweedie....	Alwin Tweedie	Neville Atkins	T J and Mrs Doole	2:29.42
1977	Uncle Remus Uncle Remus (horse) Uncle Remus was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby and New Zealand 2000 Guineas in the 1977-78 season. He is rated among the best Derby winners of the last 30 years....	Robert Vance	Colin Jillings	K F Clotworthy and Mrs G M Donaldson	2:29.51
1976	Silver Lad Silver Lad Silver Lad was a Thoroughbred racehorse and sire who won the New Zealand Derby in 1976. In Australia he was known as Sir Silver Lad to differentiate him from another Silver Lad....	D Wyatt	B Petley	D and Mrs Nicholls and R R Peel-Walker	2:29.76
1975	Balmerino	Maurice Campbell	Brian Smith	R K Stuart	2:31.21
1974	Mansingh
1973	Furys Order Furys Order Furys Order , 1970 was a thoroughbred horse, who raced successfully in New Zealand and Australia. He is notable for winning major races including the Cox Plate, Australia's premier weight-for-age race , and the New Zealand Cup....

Not run in 2005 with change of date (Dec 04 - Mar 06)

Earlier winners (New Zealand Derby)

Note that the New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby (Riccarton)
The New Zealand Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch, New Zealand. The inaugural running of the Derby was in 1860, when racing was held at Riccarton Racecourse...

and the Great Northern Derby
Great Northern Derby (race)
The Great Northern Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. Since it was run for the first time as the ARC Auckland Derby Principal race over 12F in 1875, the race had become New...

were combined into one race in 1973.

Earlier winners (Great Northern Derby)

Note that the New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby (Riccarton)
The New Zealand Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch, New Zealand. The inaugural running of the Derby was in 1860, when racing was held at Riccarton Racecourse...

and the Great Northern Derby
Great Northern Derby (race)
The Great Northern Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. Since it was run for the first time as the ARC Auckland Derby Principal race over 12F in 1875, the race had become New...

were combined into one race in 1973.

History

Winners of the New Zealand Derby

Earlier winners (New Zealand Derby)

Earlier winners (Great Northern Derby)

See also