WINNERS OF THE WELLINGTON CUP
The History of the Wellington Cup
Every major Thoroughbred Racing Club must arrange the classic racing events over varying distances to provide racing competition for sprinters, middle distance and stayer racing.
The Wellington Jockey Club came into being and held its first race meeting in 1867 at Hutt Park and at that meeting the Wellington Cup became news for the first time. In April of 1868 the meeting was attended by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh of that time. It was extremely well attended but in those days with no cars or trains the only way to get there was by horse or a horse drawn carriage. Although not run under the "Wellington Racing Club" name until the change from the "Wellington Provincial Jockey Club" in 1879, the next Cup was held in 1874 and the 2 mile event was from then run annually at Hutt Park till 1906 when it was transferred to its new home Trentham where it has been an annual event up to the present day including the years during the 1st & 2nd world wars.
The distance for the race was set at 2 miles (3200m) and has for the majority of years been at that distance except from 1890 to 1941 the distance was set at a mile and a half (2400m). Since 2009 the distance has again been 2400m.
In 1892 the President, Mr H. D. Bell and his committee decided that their best race, the classic 2 mile Wellington Cup should have a high quality Cup trophy and they arranged to have five Cups made in England by a leading silversmith & goldsmith of the time, M/s Mappin & Webb. This company has been a silversmith & silver manufacturer from 1774, has held a royal warrant 115 years and today is silversmith to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The club is in possession of one of these magnificent trophies the 1894 Cup which was won by Mr. Thomas Sheenan’s 4 year old chestnut horse “ Vogengang” carrying 7stone 10lb and ridden by the jockey Derrent in the time of 2:41 for the 2400 metre distance. This trophy is one of the most elegant Cups possible to view made in the Victorian era. It is crafted in sterling silver and has a silver horse and jockey mounted on the Cup lid. To have the manufactured trophy today in sterling silver would cost in excess of $120,000.00 NZD. These Cups were discontinued in 1902 and the manufacture of the trophy returned to New Zealand and trophies over the years have taken on differing shapes and sizes. In the 1970s and 80s the Cup was handcrafted by experienced silversmiths at Walker & Hall. These were all handmade in sterling silver and gold plated. Many of these Cups are held by the families of winning owners.
The committee under President Rod Preston came to the decision that the Cup, whilst well made needed to be upgraded to compete with other trophy’s promoting other popular 3200 metre staying events. They decided that the main Cup for the owner should be supported by two smaller Cups presented to the trainer and jockey of the winning horse. After an examination of goldsmith and silversmith handcraft manufacturers available in New Zealand a contract was awarded to “The Village Goldsmith” of Wellington. They took the elegant 1894 Cup as a model and requested it be copied to 50% of the original size, a vase style with attached gold leaves and gold handles. The excellent profile they produced was manufactured by a master craftsman on their staff, Mr Dan Palmer.This continued until 2011 when a new manufacturer commenced supply of the Wellington Cup along with miniatures for the winning trainer and jockey.
The beautiful trophies have were well received by all winning connections. Sir Patrick Hogan of Cambridge Stud won the Wellington Cup in 2001 with Smiling Like and he has stated that of all the many trophies he has been fortunate to win the most magnificent trophy is the Wellington Cup.
The Wellington Cup returned to a 3200m format in 2016.
Sponsors of the Wellington Cup
Up to 1981 Wellington Cup
1982 – 1984 Wrightson Wellington Cup
1985 – 1986 Evening Post Wellington Cup
1987 – 1999 Foster’s Wellington Cup
2000 - 2004 Lion Brown Wellington Cup
2005 - 2006 Dulux NZ
2007 - 2011 Century City Developments
2012 - 2013 Pacific Jewellers
2014 - 2015 Platinum Homes
2016 - 2018 Wallaceville Estate
2019 - 2023 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup
Triple Wellington Cup winners
1890, 1891, 1892 Cynisca
1961, 1962, 1963 Great Sensation
1991, 1992, 1994 Castletown
Most Successful Jockeys
Derrett: 1880, 1881, 1885, 1892, 1894, 1898
Roy Reed: 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1928, 1932
(Tragically died after a race fall during the Presidents Handicap at Trentham.17 March 1936)
R J Skelton: 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1969
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WELLINGTON CUP (Open) |
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The first two runnings of the Cup were unofficial events run under the first Wellington Jockey Club and not recognised by the NZ Turf Register. The first running under the "Wellington Racing Club" was run in 1879. |
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Year |
Horse |
Owner(s) |
Jockey |
Time |
Trainer |
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1867 |
Policy |
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1868 |
Numa |
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From 1874 to 1889 distance was two miles. |
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1874 |
Castaway |
R Campbell |
J Cotton |
4.05 |
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1875 |
Tambourini |
D O'Brien |
O'Brien |
4.05 |
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1876 |
Korari |
H Redwood |
Lyford |
3.57.00 |
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1877 |
Guy Fawkes |
H Redwood |
Lyford |
3.52.00 |
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1878 |
Lara |
F Boulton |
Campbell |
3.44.2 |
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1879 |
Maritana |
R Ray |
Ray |
3.48.2 |
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1880 |
Foul Play |
A Robinson |
Derrett |
3.37.25 |
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1881 |
Natador |
W Robinson |
Derrett |
3.38.00 |
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1882 |
Hilda |
G Bates |
Thompson |
3.45.00 |
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1883 |
Mischief |
P Martin |
Wattie |
3.41.5 |
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1884 |
The Poet |
G Bates |
Wratford |
3.48.5 |
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1885 |
Tasman |
D O'Brien |
Derrett |
3.38.00 |
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1886 |
Nelson |
FN George |
Brown |
3.38.00 |
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1887 |
Pasha |
TH Hill |
Clifford |
3.36.75 |
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1888 |
Beresford |
GG Stead |
Huxtable |
3.37.75 |
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1889 |
Dudu |
E Cutts |
Brown |
3.37.00 |
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From 1890 to 1941 distance was a mile and a half. |
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1890 |
Cynisca |
G Hunter |
Sweeney |
2.39.5 |
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1891 |
Cynisca |
G Hunter |
Lindsay |
2.40.00 |
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1892 |
Cynisca |
G Hunter |
Derrett |
2.43.00 |
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1893 |
Retina |
F Martin |
Ross |
2.40.00 |
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1894 |
Vogengang |
T Sheenan |
Derrett |
2.41.00 |
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1895 |
Mahaki |
H Te Kan i Pere |
T Taylor |
2.39.00 |
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1896 |
Brooklet |
W Douglas |
D Watt |
2.36.50 |
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1897 |
Strath Braan |
WJ Jorgensen |
F Kingan |
2.39.00 |
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1898 |
Uniform |
GG Stead |
Derrett |
2.37.8 |
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1899 |
Daunt |
Hon. JE Ormond |
F Davis |
2.37.00 |
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1900 |
Djin Djin |
E Cutts |
J Pine |
2.38.00 |
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1901 |
Renown |
Hon. JD Ormond |
F Davis |
2.35.40 |
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1902 |
St. Michael |
GG Stead |
LH Hewitt |
2.38.20 |
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1903 |
Advance |
D Gordon |
C Jenkins |
2.34.20 |
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1904 D/H |
Gladsome* * |
JB Reid |
FD Jones |
2.33.4 |
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(Subsequently disqualified for being ridden by an apprentice unlicensed to ride) |
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1904 D/H |
Convoy |
W Young |
C Jenkins |
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1905 |
Nightfall |
GG Stead |
LH Hewitt |
2.35.00 |
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1906 |
Ropa |
D Ross |
S Reid |
2.33.00 |
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1907 |
Achilles |
J Monk |
C Jenkins |
2.35.00 |
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1908 |
Moloch |
G Cork |
L Wilson |
2.33.8 |
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1909 |
Blue Ribbon |
F Dorset |
E Lowe |
2.35.00 |
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1910 |
Crucinella |
WF McBeth |
W Ryan |
2.34.2 |
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1911 |
Miss Mischief |
GD Greenwood |
H Gray |
2.34.4 |
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1912 |
Undecided |
W Smart |
L Wilson |
2.35.8 |
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1913 |
Sir Solo |
F Dorset |
E Lowe |
2.35.6 |
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1914 |
Kilrain |
EV Riddiford |
H Gray |
2.32.4 |
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1915 |
Pavlova |
Mr Marton |
H Young |
2.32.0 |
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1916 |
Bee |
HG Taylor |
A Reed |
2.31.6 |
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1917 |
Bunting |
EJ Watt |
A Reed |
2.31.6 |
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1918 |
Nobleman |
WJ Phillips |
H Young |
2.35.6 |
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1919 D/H |
Red Ribbon |
F Dorset |
B Deeley |
2.33.6 |
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1919 D/H |
Rewi Poto |
W Raleigh |
R Reed |
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1920 D/H |
Kilmoon |
GL Stead |
R Reed |
2.35.00 |
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1920 D/H |
F Preston |
Oratress |
M McCarten |
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1921 |
Maioha |
Est Late WJ Douglas |
R Reed |
2.31.0 |
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1922 |
Insurrection |
JW Lowe |
HN Wiggins |
2.31.0 |
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1923 |
Rapine |
A B Williams |
R Reed |
2.31.8 |
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1924 |
Loughrea |
LC Hazlett |
AE Ellis |
2.32.0 |
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1925 |
Surveyor |
J Paterson |
J O'Shea |
2.34.0 |
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1926 |
Enthusiasm |
TA Duncan |
M McCarten |
2.31.0 |
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1927 |
Rapier |
GG Holmes |
W Brown |
2.32.25 |
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1928 |
Star Stranger |
AB Williams |
R Reed |
2.31.0 |
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1929 |
Vertigern |
C Elgar |
BH Morris |
2.32.0 |
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1930 |
Concentrate |
RJ Murphy |
BH Morris |
2.34.25 |
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1931 |
Stanchion |
WE Bidwell |
S Gerrand |
2.37.5 |
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1932 |
Compris |
PF Campbell |
R Reed |
2.29.0 |
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1933 |
Royal Artist |
RT Reid |
K Voitre |
2.31.5 |
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1934 |
Grand Jury |
D Lourie |
WJ Broughton |
2.33.25 |
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1935 |
Vintage |
DW Westenra |
AE Ellis |
2.30.25 |
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1936 |
Queen Of Song |
PT Hogan |
JW Jennings |
2.30.5 |
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1937 |
Ponty |
E & N Rutherford |
P Atkins |
2.32.5 |
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1938 |
Padishah |
JA Hennah |
P Atkins |
2.31.0 |
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1939 |
Defaulter |
HD Greenwood |
LJ Ellis |
2.32.25 |
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1940 |
Old Bill |
HH Pharazyn |
GR Tattersall |
2.31.75 |
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1941 |
Kindergarten |
EN Fitzgerald |
HN Wiggins |
2.33.75 |
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From 1942 - 2008 distance was two miles |
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1942 |
Happy Ending |
JD McDougall |
N Vaughan |
3.42.75 |
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1943 |
The Joker |
JA Brown |
A Messervy |
3.23.0 |
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1944 |
Don Quex |
J & L McMillan |
AG Waddell |
3.22.5 |
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1945 |
Lambourn |
JT Bridgman |
C McDonald |
3.28.25 |
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1946 |
Golden Souvenir |
EN Fitzgerald |
LJ Ellis |
3.24.0 |
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1947 |
Bruce |
S Ramsay |
WJ Broughton |
3.25.25 |
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1948 |
Spare Part |
HO Batchelor |
KR Ford |
3.33.0 |
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1949 |
Royal Tan |
GA Lang |
K Nuttall |
3.23.75 |
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1950 |
Beaumaris |
JS Shaw |
LJ Ellis |
3.26.5 |
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1951 D/H |
Almora |
Mrs GM Newland |
AC Messervy |
3.22.0 |
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1951 D/H |
Prawns |
A Chisholms |
WF Ellis |
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1952 |
Reformed |
AJ Brown |
EG Low |
3.23.75 |
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1953 |
Crimson King |
J McNeill |
MJ Jennings |
3.22.0 |
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1954 |
Golden Tan |
GW Hartstone |
J Garth |
3.22.5 |
Ashley Hamilton Christmas |
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1955 |
Golden Galleon |
Sir Matthew Oram |
LJ Hodren |
3.22.5 |
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1956 |
Fox Myth |
Harry S Limmer (Owner trainer) |
DJ Wyatt |
3.21.25 |
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1957 |
Sombrero |
Mrs G Wall |
WJ Broughton |
3.21.0 |
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1958 |
Yeman |
H Korman & SN Sparks |
RJ Jury |
3.19.0 |
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1959 |
Ark Royal |
GJ Barton |
RJ Skelton |
3.20.25 |
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1960 |
Jalna |
HC Adams & PG Henwood |
WA Smith |
3.18.00 |
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1961 |
Great Sensation |
DW Brown |
RJ Skelton |
3.17.5 |
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1962 |
Great Sensation |
DW Brown |
RJ Skelton |
3.20.00 |
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1963 |
Great Sensation |
DW Brown |
RJ Skelton |
3.19.00 |
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1964 |
Gay Filou |
DD Fea & Reece Smith |
GF Hughes |
3.21.25 |
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1965 |
Eiffel Tower |
WE Hazlett |
EJ Didham |
3.22.75 |
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1966 |
Red Crest |
IA McMullin & JF Rendle |
BF Andrews |
3.27.5 |
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1967 |
Michael Molloy |
S Caddigan & Est H Long |
MA Long |
3.19.75 |
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1968 |
Loofah |
A O'Malley |
WD Skelton |
3.20.25 |
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1969 |
City Court |
AK Sharp |
RJ Skelton |
3.17.5 |
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1970 |
Il Tempo |
WB Priscott |
ND Riordan |
3.16.75 |
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1971 |
Ansin |
MI Matulich |
DA Peake |
3.19.25 |
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1972 |
Simon De Montfort |
Mrs TG Whelan |
BS Dodds |
3.17.75 |
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* Paid $180.10 to win on the tote and its owner did not back him. |
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1973 |
Rustler |
JC & Mrs Fletcher |
DA Peake |
3.20.75 |
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1974 |
Battle Heights |
R & Mrs Douglas |
AJ Tweedie |
3.23.5 |
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1975 |
Timon |
GR Pollock |
GL Willetts |
3.23.00 |
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1976 |
Guest Star |
IJ Tucker |
MR Campbell |
3.20.75 |
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1977 |
Good Lord |
ML Hines |
BS Compton |
3.24.5 |
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1978 |
Good Lord |
ML Hines |
DA Peake |
3.18.00 |
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1979 |
Big Gamble |
DP McLennan, HJ & Mrs Tapper |
TG Autridge |
3.19.25 |
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1980 |
Cubacade |
R & Mrs Gallagher |
JW Walker |
3.23.51 |
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1981 |
Koiro Trelay |
DG Canning |
PB Smith |
3.18.75 |
E Temperton |
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1982 |
Ruanuku |
Mr MH Tims and Est late WJ Pratt |
SR Autridge |
3.19.25 |
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1983 |
Kiwi |
Mr & Mrs ES Lupton |
JA Cassidy |
3.20.29 |
ES Lupton |
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1984 |
Secured Deposit |
NG Atkins, Mesdames E M Mackley & DJ Ralph |
NJ Hain |
3.22.6 |
NG Atkins |
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1985 |
Imaprince |
JC Bell |
PJ Mercer |
3.22.27 |
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1986 |
Samasaan |
MR Bell, IH Harrison & GA Jackson |
CW Johnson |
3.23.22 |
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1987 |
Rastes |
KN Allen, Miss PS Brough, PJ Marron Jnr & Mrs RD Sievers |
PA Taylor |
3.22.56 |
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1988 |
Daria's Fun |
DA Hodgetts, DW Mayers & DM Richardson |
GM Stewart |
3.15.59 |
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1989 |
Noble Khan |
RJ Fleetwood, Mrs MC Kuzmich, DG Terry & JA Willmott |
PG Ayres |
3.19.21 |
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1990 |
Flying Luskin |
JF Karam, TJ McKee, PJ Walker & JA Wells |
PD Johnson |
3.20.52 |
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1991 |
Castletown |
PM Busuttin Jnr, BJ McCahill Snr & KP Morris |
NG Harris |
3.18.37 |
PM Busuttin |
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1992 |
Castletown |
PM Busuttin Jnr, BJ McCahill Snr & KP Morris |
NG Harris |
3.19.33 |
PM Busuttin |
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1993 |
Dancing Lord |
KS Lee |
L Isherwood |
3.18.19 |
Stephen & Trevor McKee |
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1994 |
Castletown |
PM Busuttin Jnr, BJ McCahill Snr & KP Morris |
NG Harris |
3.18.63 |
PM Busuttin |
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1995 |
Ed |
AJ & Mrs LM Crooks |
DM Oliver |
3.18.25 |
AC Beckett |
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1996 |
Yes Indeed |
DJ & Mrs MA Deegan |
RW Caddigan |
3.17.85 |
MD Moroney |
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1997 |
Ed |
AJ & Mrs LM Crooks |
LA O'Sullivan |
3.17.39 |
ND Eales |
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1998 |
Aerosmith |
Messrs AB & DG Smith |
GL Cooksley |
3.22.62 |
PJ & Mrs NA Hurdle |
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1999 |
Miss Bailey |
Mesdames A Bailey & KJ Eckhold |
L Isherwood |
3.21.91 |
GM Cullen |
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2000 |
Second Coming |
A J Burdon, Sir Owen Glenn, P S Lindberg, P A Moroney & G G Peterson |
MT Coleman |
3.20.93 |
M & P Moroney |
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2001 |
Smiling Like |
Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan |
MJ Walker |
3.22.04 |
G Rogerson & K Hawtin |
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2002 |
Cyclades |
DN Pye & Mrs WE Pye MBE |
LA O'Sullivan |
3.20.20 |
C Evans |
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2003 |
Oarsman |
Mrs BE & Mr RW Punch |
GJ Grylls |
3.19.53 |
P Duncan |
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2004 |
Cluden Creek |
BA Barber, Mrs Ali Macdonald & NA Purvis |
AJ Calder |
3.26.49 |
J Boon |
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2005 |
Zabeat |
AM Goodwin & Mrs DM Logan |
PD Johnson |
3.20.73 |
D and D Logan & C Gibbs |
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2006 |
Envoy |
Mrs BJ & KS Kelso, Mrs J & RE White |
GL Cooksley |
3.22.38 |
K Kelso & T Russell |
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2007 |
Willy Smith |
Mrs MK Hain & M McPhail |
M Cameron |
3.22.11 |
D Haworth & M Dixon |
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2008 |
Young Centaur |
JG Sargent & A Soon Shiong |
MJ Walker |
3.22.15 |
JG Sargent |
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From 2009 the distance was 2400m |
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2009** |
Megapins |
WR Campbell, Miss GA & IA McMullin, Mrs AJ & MM Nooyen & KJ Sowman |
TD Thornton |
2.28.84 |
JF & Mrs KG Parsons |
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2010 |
Red Ruler |
RJ Arculli, A R Meehan & GB Sargent |
MR Du Plessis |
2.27.42 |
JG Sargent |
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2011 |
Spiro |
PJ & Mrs SL Kay, Mrs AJ, BT, JE & RL Maetzig |
KA Smith |
2.28.84 |
Mrs SL Kay |
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2012 |
Six O'Clock News |
Six O'Clock News Syndicate |
LG Innes |
2.31.33 |
Busuttin/Young |
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2013 |
Blood Brotha |
M S & R M Connors |
LJ Allpress |
2.31.32 |
R Connors |
|
2014 |
Graphic |
C R & Mrs S Grace |
CJ Grylls |
2.29.30 |
Moroney/Ormsby |
|
2015 |
Maygrove |
JML Bloodstock Ltd (Mgr L Petagna) & P W O'Rourke |
M Cameron |
2.26.65 |
MP Baker & AC Forsman |
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From 2016 the distance reverted to 3200m |
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2016 |
Mister Impatience |
R Legh, G G Syndicate Ltd, K Millar, G Sharp, A Locantro, H Hansen, J O'Neill, G Van Ameyden, P Merton & L Neradovsky |
SC Spratt |
3.21.60 |
M Moroney & C Ormsby |
|
2017 |
Savaria |
D P & Mrs K C Fleming |
HS Tinsley |
3.21.90 |
RJ Bergerson |
|
2018 |
Magic Chai |
M A & Mrs S L Treweek |
MJ McNab |
3.25.19 |
AW Pike |
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2019 |
Gorbachev |
P Bardell, F J P Huwyler, B K O'Dea & K T O'Donnell |
Ryan Elliot (A) |
3.22.49 |
Bryce Newman |
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2020 |
Soleseifei |
David & Emma Haworth |
Trudy Thornton |
3.20.03 |
Jaimee-Lee Lupton |
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2021 |
Waisake |
L R Butler, Mrs J M & K A Horner, Mrs A & N J Maindonald, B & Mrs E Menzies, P V Mullin, B C & Mrs M C Schumacher & S A Sharrock |
Samantha Collett | 3.22.85 | Allan Sharrock |
| 2022 | Lincoln King |
Lincoln Farms Bloodstock Ltd, Wellfield Holdings Ltd, Exempt Bloodstock Ltd, Stephen Marsh & Peter Gillespie |
Craig Grylls | 3.23.21 | Stephen Marsh |
| 2023 |
Leaderboard |
Fortuna Leaderboard Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin) | Joe Doyle | 3.33.01 | Mark Walker |
|
2024 |
Mary Louise | E M & N A Bourke & A R Piercy | Craig Grylls | 3.24.04 | Robbie Patterson |
The 2024 race was the 151st recorded running of this event