Black Type & Feature Races
Ellerslie hosts a number of black type and feature races throughout the racing season.
Click on the following links to view a PDF outlining Black Type and Feature Race results and details for the:
OR click on the following links to learn more about Ellerslie's Black Type and Feature Races.
Group I Races
Group II Races
Group III Races
Listed Races
Prestige Jumping Races
Group I Races
Telecom New Zealand Derby
(Telecom Derby Day, Auckland Cup Week, $2.2 million, 2400m)
A Derby is known internationally as a prestigious type of flat race for three-year-old thoroughbreds and was named after the Earl of Derby. The first race bearing that name was Epsom Derby which is still run annually at Epsom Downs Racecourse in England.
The folklore surrounding the (Telecom) New Zealand Derby is littered with tales of triumph and tragedy in a race where an equine athlete only has one chance to add their name to the honour roll of champions amongst the likes of the mighty Kindergarten, Balmerino, Desert Gold, Mainbrace and Bonecrusher.
First raced in New Zealand in 1875, the (Telecom) New Zealand Derby had a mere three horses contend the title. The race was soon moved to New Years' Day and then on to Boxing Day, a day that became embedded in New Zealand's traditional social culture.
With the introduction of Auckland Cup Week in March 2006, the (Telecom) New Zealand Derby was moved once again and this time was to become the race that 'got the party started', being held on the first day of an exciting action-packed week that soon became New Zealand's biggest, richest and most glamourous sporting event.
March 1 2009 saw the Telecom New Zealand Derby run for a record $2.2million making it New Zealand's richest race and the Southern Hemisphere's richest Derby.
The last five winners of the Telecom New Zealand Derby were:
- 2006 - Wahid, ridden by Leith Innes and trained by Allan Sharrock
- 2007 - Redoute's Dancer (AUS), ridden by Vinny Colgan and trained by Tim Martin (AUS)
- 2008 - C'est La Guerre, ridden by David Walker and trained by Kevin Myers
- 2009 - Coniston Bluebird (AUS), ridden by Scott Seamer (AUS) and trained by Bede Murray (AUS)
- 2010 - Military Move, ridden by Michael Walker and trained by Shaune Ritchie
Stella Artois Auckland Cup
(Stella Artois Auckland Cup Day, Auckland Cup Week, $1 million, 3200m)
First contested in 1874, the (Stella Artois) Auckland Cup is an Open Handicap for thoroughbreds run over two miles. It is also the namesake race of Auckland's Biggest Party - Auckland Cup Week, and is New Zealand's most well-known horse race.
The Cup itself was gifted in perpetuity to the Auckland Racing Club by Member Moss Davis in 1928, and was originally made in 1889 by the Crown Jeweller of the time, Robert Garrard. After 80 years in storage, in 1996 the (Stella Artois) Auckland Cup was polished to perfection and is now enjoying its current role as New Zealand's ultimate racing trophy.
The honour role for this race includes legends such as Cuddle, Kindergarten, Il Tempo and Castletown.
The last five winners of the Stella Artois Auckland Cup were:
- 2006 - Pentane, ridden by Michael Walker and trained by Lance O'Sullivan
- 2007 - Prize Lady, ridden by Mark du Plessis and trained by Graeme Sanders
- 2008 - Prize Lady, ridden by Mark Sweeney and trained by Graeme Sanders
- 2009 - Spin Around, ridden by Vinnie Colgan and trained by Steven Cooper
- 2010 - Zavite, ridden by Damien Oliver and trained by Anthony Cummings (AUS)
Blandford Lodge Railway Stakes
(New Year's Day, The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, $250,000, 1200m)
A Railway has been run by the Auckland Racing Club ever since its inaugural summer meeting however until 1890, it was run as a weight-for-age event. The (Blandford Lodge) Railway Stakes then became a handicap race until January 1, 2009 when it was run for the first time as a Set-Weights and Penalties race.
Some of the greatest winners of this race include Mr Tiz, Tudor Light and Gold Hope while the last four horses to win the Blandford Lodge Railway Stakes were:
- 2007 - Donna Rosita, ridden by Lisa Cropp and trained by Piri Ranui
- 2008 - Imananabaa (AUS), ridden by Andrew Calder and trained by Don Selwood
- 2009 - Jacowils, ridden by Mark Hills and trained by Kristine Stead
- 2010 - A Gold Trail (AUS), ridden by Michael Rodd and trained by Gary Portelli
Auckland Diamond Stakes
(SKYCITY Diamond Day, Saturday 13th March, Auckland Cup Week 2010, $200,000, 1200m)
The last four winners of the Auckland Diamond Stakes were:
- 2007 - Alamosa, ridden by Gavin McKeon and trained by Peter McKay
- 2008 - Fully Fledged, ridden by Leith Innes and trained by Murray & Bjorn Baker
- 2009 - Kaaptan, ridden by Craig Grylls and trained by Stephen McKee
- 2010 - Banchee, ridden by Leith Innes and trained by John Sargent
SKYCITY New Zealand Stakes
(SKYCITY Diamond Day, Saturday 13th March, Auckland Cup Week 2010, $200,000, 2000m)
The last four winners of the SKYCITY New Zealand Stakes were:
- 2007 - Gaze, ridden by Mark du Plessis and trained by Roger James
- 2008 - Sir Slick, ridden by Bruce Herd and trained by Graeme Nicholson
- 2009 - MacO'Reilly, ridden by Hayden Tinsley and trained by David Haworth
- 2010 - Vosne Romanee, ridden by Opie Bosson and trained by Jeff Lynds
Zabeel Classic
(Boxing Day, The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, $200,000, 2000m) The last four winners of the Zabeel Classic were:
- 2006 - Mikki Street, ridden by Bruce Herd and trained by Lisa Latta
- 2007 - Sir Slick, ridden by Bruce Herd and trained by Graeme Nicholson
- 2008 - Gallions Reach, ridden by Sam Spratt and trained by Richard Yuill
- 2009 - Vosnee Romanee, ridden by Matthew Cameron and trained by Jeff Lynds
Land Pride Easter Handicap
(Easter Carnival - Day 1, $200,000, 1600m)
This race has been run since 1874 and for the first 11 years was run over a distance of two miles (3200m). This was progressively decreased to the present distance of one mile (1600m) in 1898.
Some of the best milers ever to win a race in New Zealand including Kindergarten, Sleepy Fox, Grey Way and Kiwi Can have won this race.
The last four winners of the Land Pride Easter Handicap were:
- 2006 - Rags To Riches, ridden by Michael Coleman and trained by Ralph Manning
- 2007 - Floydeboy, ridden by Mark Hills and trained by Bernard Dyke
- 2008 - Pasta Post, ridden by Craig Grylls and trained by Graeme & Mark Sanders
- 2009 - Prince Kaapstad, ridden by Samantha Spratt and trained by Richard Yuill
- 2010 - To be raced on Land Pride Easter Handicap Raceday, Saturday 17th April
Group II Races
- Stella Artois City of Auckland Cup (New Year's Day, The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, 2400m)
- The New Zealand Herald Great Northern Guineas (Boxing Day, The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, 2100m)
- Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (Boxing Day, The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, 1600m)
- New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes (New Year's Day, The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, 2000m)
- Rich Hill Mile (New Year's Day, The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, 1600m)
- Championship Stakes (Championship Stakes Raceday, 2100m)
Group III Races
- Darley Plate (Stella Artois Auckland Cup Day, 1200m)
- Nicolas Feuillatte Special Reserve Stakes (Telecom Melbourne Cup Day,2000m)
- Eagle Technology Stakes (Eagle Technology Raceday, 1600m)
- Newstalk ZB Eclipse Stakes (New Year's Day, The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, 1200m)
- Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m)
Listed Races
Karaka Million 2YO
(Karaka Million / Barfoot & Thompson Twilight Summer Series, $1 million, 1200m)
First raced in 2008, the Karaka Million 2YO is the country's richest race for juveniles and is one of just six one-million-plus-dollar races in New Zealand. A joint initiative between the Auckland Racing Club and New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB), the race is open only to graduates from the previous year's NZB Yearling Sales at Karaka. The final field comprises the top 14 stakes earners in the lead up to the Karaka Million 2YO.
The inaugural winner of the race was Vincent Mangano, ridden by Vinny Colgan and trained by Peter McKay while last year's winner was The Heckler (AUS), ridden by Michael Rodd (AUS) and trained by Murray & Bjorn Baker.
The winner of 2010's race was Sister Havana, ridden by Stathi Katsidis and trained byLiam Birchley
- Soliloquy Stakes (1400m)
- Nicolas Feuillatte Newmarket Handicap (Boxing Day, The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival, 1200m)
- Westbury Classic (Stella Artois Auckland Cup Day, Auckland Cup Week, $55,000, 1400m)
- Mercedes-Benz Sunline Vase (Stella Artois Auckland Cup Day, Auckland Cup Week, $55,000, 2100m)
- Network Visuals Champagne Stakes (Day One, Easter Carnival, $50,000, 1600m)
- Great Northern Foal Stakes ($55,000, 1400m)
- Geon Bonecrusher Stakes ($55,000, 1400m)
- Triple Crown Cup ($55,000, 2100m)
- Cornwall Handicap ($55,000, 2200m)
- Mr Tiz Trophy (SKYCITY Diamond Day, Saturday 13th March, Auckland Cup Week 2010, 1200m)
Prestige Jumping Races (Hurdles)
Fully Fledged @ Fairdale Great Northern Hurdles
(Great Northern Day, 4190m)
This, the most prestigious of Auckland Racing Club's hurdles races, was first run in 1892. Between its inauguration and 1903, the distance was two miles (3200m), for the next three years it was run over two and a quarter miles and then from 1907 it has been run as a two and half mile (4190m) race.
The first winner of the Great Northern Hurdles was Belmont while the most recent winners were:
- 2006 - Just Not Cricket, ridden by Jonathan Riddell and trained by Paul Nelson
- 2007 - Just Not Cricket, ridden by Jonathan Riddell and trained by Paul Nelson
- 2008 - Montezuma, ridden by Tom Hazlett and trained by Peter Lock
- 2009 - Kidunot, ridden by Daniel Bothamley and trained by Ellis Winsloe
Prestige Jumping Races (Steeplechases)
Kiwi Bacon Great Northern Steeplechase
(Great Northern Day, $123,000, 6400m)
The Great Northern Steeplechase was instituted in 1885 and has always been one of the most popular events at Ellerslie. With its unique feature, the Ellerslie Hill, no steeplechase in the country compares to the Great Northern, and horses and riders alike require great stamina and fitness to complete this (approx) eight minute, 25 jump race of endurance and skill.
The inaugural race was won by Macaroni from 11 starters. Carrying a phenomenal 12 stone (76kg), Macaroni, brother of one of England's best cross-country horses in Messager, blew away the competition at the last jump to win by some lengths.
The four most recent winners of the Sharp Great Northern Steeplechase were:
- 2006 - Real Tonic, ridden by Brett Scott and trained by John Wheeler
- 2007 - Hypnotize, ridden by Isaac Lupton and trained by Raymond Connors
- 2008 - Hypnotize, ridden by Isaac Lupton and trained by Raymond Connors
- 2009 - Fair King, ridden by James Gillies and trained by Ann Browne
McGregor Grant Steeplechase
(Queen's Birthday Racemeeting, $30,000, 4900m)
The four most recent winners of the McGregor Grant Steeplechase were:
- 2006 - Primo Canera, ridden by Richard Eynon and trained by Ann Browne
- 2007 - Fair King, ridden by James Gillies and trained by Ann Browne
- 2008 - Proposition, ridden by Craig Durden and trained by Ben Foote
- 2009 - Willie Winit, ridden by Paul Boylon and trained by Kevin O'Connor
- 2010 - To be raced at the Queen's Birthday Weekend Carnival, June 2010
