LEVIN CLASSIC AT TRENTHAM WINNERS
The Levin Classic conceived in 1981, it has become of the most important for the aspiring thoroughbred champion. From 1989 for fifteen years known as the Bayer Classic, it is the first opportunity for three year olds to meet at set weights, the Classic has often been the stepping-stone to greater things.
Of the fillies, Our Flight and Phillipa Rush have defeated the colts and geldings, going on to win champion status. One in three Levin Classics are won by the fair sex. As a progression from the Guineas races held at Riccarton in November, the race has franked the form remarkably well. Nine of seventeen guineas winners have repeated their success in winning the Classic.
This is a race that defines the top racehorse. Over half the winners of the Classic have ranked in the top three horses of their year. Unsurprisingly, this race attracts more entries than any race for horses of their age. While the stake is seriously large, it’s the prestige associated with the Levin Classic that owners and trainers seek. For many, a win in the Classic will justify a trip across the Tasman in search of greater spoils.
This is a race that makes champions. Horses like, Our Flight, Bonecrusher, Veandercross and O’Reilly have won the Classic. Who will be today’s champion?
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LEVIN CLASSIC (1600m ) |
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Year |
Horse |
Owners |
Sex |
Jockey |
Time |
Trainer |
|
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1981 |
Altitude |
|
Colt |
S R Autridge |
1.36.00 |
B Ford |
|
|
1982 |
Our Flight |
|
Filly |
M R Campbell |
1.36.20 |
E Skelton |
|
|
1983 |
Burletta |
|
Filly |
J A Cassidy |
1.36.00 |
FP Campbell |
|
|
1984 |
Princess Dram |
|
Filly |
M C Lyndon |
1.35.90 |
N Bradley |
|
|
1985 |
Bonecrusher |
|
Gelding |
J A Cassidy |
1.36.90 |
F Ritchie |
|
|
1986 |
The Bishop |
|
Gelding |
M C Lyndon |
1.36.78 |
D Couchman |
|
|
1987 |
Young Indian |
|
Colt |
P G Tims |
1.35.75 |
N Morgan |
|
|
1988 |
Krona |
|
Colt |
P G Tims |
1.35.53 |
R McGlade |
|
|
1989 |
Phillipa Rush |
|
Filly |
L A O'Sullivan |
1.36.20 |
J Campin |
|
|
*1990 |
Eagle Eye |
|
Gelding |
N G Harris |
1.39.64 |
MP Baker |
|
|
1991 |
Veandercross |
|
Gelding |
J Walker |
1.34.35 |
C Turner |
|
|
1992 |
Nimue |
|
Filly |
L A O'Sullivan |
1.33.66 |
D & P O'Sullivan |
|
|
1993 |
Al Akbar |
|
Colt |
G J Grylls |
1.43.97 |
C Wood |
|
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1994 |
Avedon |
|
Colt |
D G Bradley |
1.34.81 |
FP Campbell |
|
|
1995 |
Prussian Blue |
|
Colt |
S R Udy |
1.34.97 |
Mrs D Waddell |
|
|
1996 |
O'Reilly |
|
Colt |
L A O'Sullivan |
1.35.74 |
D & P O'Sullivan |
|
|
1997 |
Love De tor |
|
Filly |
G Childs |
1.33.69 |
M Moroney |
|
|
1998 |
Tobruk |
|
Colt |
L G Innes |
1.37.67 |
G Richardson |
|
|
1999 |
Buzz Lightyear |
|
Colt |
O P Bosson |
1.35.28 |
R Priscott |
|
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2000 |
Tit For Taat |
|
Colt |
H S Tinsley |
1.35.11 |
W Herbert |
|
|
2001 |
Final Destination |
|
Filly |
G J Grylls |
1.35.88 |
Mrs V Hillis |
|
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2002 |
Bunker |
|
Colt |
O P Bosson |
1.37.14 |
T & SJ McKee |
|
|
2003 |
Russian Pearl |
|
Colt |
H S Tinsley |
1.34.96 |
B & S Marsh |
|
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2004 |
Ambitious Owner |
|
Gelding |
L G Innes |
1.34.77 |
MP Baker |
|
|
2005 |
Wahid |
|
Gelding |
H S Tinsley |
1.36.18 |
AS Sharrock |
|
|
2006 |
Porotene Gem |
|
Filly |
D J Walker |
1.40.10 |
K Gray |
|
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2007 |
Keepa Cruisin |
|
Filly |
L G Innes |
1.34.85 |
SJ McKee |
|
|
2008 |
Altered Image |
|
Gelding |
M T Coleman |
1.32.50 |
M Moroney |
|
|
2009 |
Eileen Dubh |
|
Filly |
JKB Riddell |
1.35.43 |
F Finnegan |
|
|
2010 |
We Can Say It Now |
|
Filly |
LG Innes |
1.34.27 |
MP Baker |
|
|
2011 |
Distill |
|
Gelding |
RJ Hannam |
1.35.97 |
RB Bergerson |
|
|
2012 |
Southern Lord |
|
Gelding |
KA Myers |
1.34.63 |
A Tait |
|
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Although previously run at Otaki in late November, the Levin Classic was transferred to Wellington Cup Carnival in January 2014 |
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2014 |
Recite |
The Oaks Stud |
Filly |
M Du Plessis |
1.36.10 |
JGG Bary |
|
|
2015 |
Gaultier |
W Eagles Plumbing Supplies Pty Ltd |
Gelding |
MT Coleman |
1.36.67 |
Miss DM Guy |
|
|
2016 |
Dukedom |
DR & SD Cole |
Gelding |
LJ Allpress |
1.36.96 |
SP Cole |
|
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2017 |
Hall of Fame |
Te Akau 24/7 Syndicate (Mgr: D C Ellis) |
Colt |
OP Bosson |
1.35.54 |
SR Autridge & JW Richards |
|
|
2018 |
Age of Fire |
Te Akau 2016 Sydney Breeding Syndicate No.2 (Mgr: D C Ellis) |
Colt |
OP Bosson |
1.36.63 |
SR Autridge & JW Richards |
|
|
2019 |
Madison County |
China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd |
Gelding |
|
1.35.89 |
Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
|
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2020 |
Travelling Light |
C R & I MacRury |
Filly |
Samantha Collett |
1.36.91 |
Ben Foote |
|
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2021 |
Bonham (AUS) |
G E Harding |
Filly |
Lisa Allpress |
01.37.67 |
Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard |
|
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2022 |
Imperatriz | Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership | Filly | Michael McNab | 1.36.43 | Jamie Richards | |
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2023 |
Romancing The Moon | Te Akau Moonstruck Racing Partnership | Filly | Kozzi Asano | 1.37.13 | Mark Walker | |
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2024 |
Quintessa | Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) | Filly | Opie Bosson | 1.35.35 | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | |
* Race transferred from Levin Racecourse to Otaki Racecourse
The 2023 race was the 42nd recorded running of the event