WINNERS OF THE WELLINGTON HURDLE
The first of what could be considered the Wellington Hurdle (originally the Winter Hurdles) was run in 1885. In addition to there being no meeting in 1915, 1941 or 1946 (due to the Army’s use of Trentham), 1950 when the third day of the Winter meeting was abandoned, or in 2004, 2005 and 2008 when atrocious weather and conditions caused the meetings to be abandoned.
Run over 2 miles for the first four years, it was then reduced to 1¾ miles, returning to 2 miles in 1895. It was increased to 2¼ miles in 1920, converted to 3600 metres in 1974. The current name was first used in 1972. The inside hurdle lane was first used in 1975, resulting in a reduction in the race distance to 3400 metres but was declared unsafe after a safety audit in 2008 with the race returning to the course proper in 2009. The times below are for the current distance.
Fastest times:
3:48.70 - Rand - 2000
3:51.77 - Harbour Lights – 2001
3:57.97 - Pal O’Mine - 1988
Slowest times:
4:39.78 - Thatz David – 2013 (Course Proper)
4:39.45 – Honey – 2011 (Course Proper)
4:35.12 - Counter Punch – 2009 (Course Proper)
4:33 – Hunting Chief – 1978
Highest winning weights:
12 st 0 lb (76 kg) - Chevalier * - 1900
11 st 8 lb (73½ kg) – Nukumai - 1927
11 st 8 lb (73½ kg) - Corineus - 1949
* Chevalier (formerly Cavalier, under which name he won the Great Northern Hurdles a month earlier), dead-heated with Hauriri. The mares’ record is 11 st 5 lb (72 kg) by Tally-ho in 1897. The other mares to win were Marina in 1898, Immensity in 1914, Revision in 1935, Harbour Lights in 2001 and Honey in 2011. Kelly Murray became the first female jockey to win the race when successful on Ricki Roo in 2002, while Shelley Houston joined her when she won on Super Dupa in 2003 and Jo Rathbone on Honey in 2011.
Since metrication in 1974, the highest weights carried have been 67 kg by Van Winkle in 2007 (63kg minimum) and Counter Punch in 2009. 66 kg was carried by Mr Hickey in 1980 and Floodlight in 1983 when the minimum weight was 57 kg.
Most Wins:
Only one horse has won three times - the great Nukumai in 1924, 1927 and 1931, the last time as a 12-year-old.
Dual Winners:
Paddon (1932, 1933)
Corineus (1948, 1949)
Hunting Chief (1978,1979)
Van Winkle (2006 (run at Awapuni) 2007 (Run at Trentham))
The oldest winner
Other than those listed in old records as “aged” and whose age cannot be calculated from either earlier Turf Registers or the Stud Book, was Nukumai in his third win as a 12 year old.
The youngest winners
Were the four-year-olds Shillelagh in 1888, Louis in 1889, Tahae in 1904, Immensity in 1914, Omahu in 1919, First Born in 1923, Evans Head in 1942 and Eager Mars in 1961.
Most wins for a trainer.
Although many trainers have win the race twice, only Evan Rayner has managed three wins since trainers names were first listed in 1926 -Mister Divinsky (1990) and Van Winkle (2006 at Awapuni and 2007).
Only two jockeys have won three times
Gary Bell on Blueit (1972), Warpath (1973), and Lord Lu (1975), and Eddie Lamb on Neils Hope (1996), Ballina Bold (1999) and Rand (2000).
Foxonewa in 1969 gave Matamata owner-trainer Bob Autridge his only riding success over fences.
The following horses have won both the Wellington Hurdles and Wellington Steeplechase races:
Kangaroo - (hurdles 1887, steeples 1888)
Omahu - (hurdles 1919, steeples 1924 and 1925)
Beau Cavalier - (steeples 1927, hurdles 1928)
Good Armour – (hurdles 1945, steeples 1947)
Dunray - (hurdles 1958, steeples 1959 and 1961)
Kumai - (hurdles 1966, steeples 1967)
Mr Hickey - (hurdles 1980, steeples 1984)
(The Wellington Racing Club sincerely thanks Chris McQuaid, New Zealand’s jumping historian and statistician, for supplying the above information.)
|
WELLINGTON HURDLES (3400m Open) (Winter Hurdles until 1971) |
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|
Year |
Horse |
Owners |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Time |
Age |
Weight |
|
1885 to 1888 the distance was about 2 Miles |
|||||||
|
1885 |
Erebus |
D Fulton |
|
Mr A Herd |
|
5g |
10.8 |
|
1886 |
Orient |
F B Gentry |
|
Mr F B Gentry |
4.16 |
8g |
10.1 |
|
1887 # |
Kangaroo |
H Hill |
|
T Winteringham |
4.14.1/2 |
ag |
10.3 |
|
assume that all runners fell or that the distance was much further, as other times on the day were not so slow as to be comparable with this |
|||||||
|
1888 |
Shillelagh |
J B Williamson |
|
W Hadfield |
4.03 |
4g |
9.10 |
|
1889 to 1894 the distance was about 1 3/4 miles |
|||||||
|
1889 |
Louis |
C O'Connor |
|
Mr C O'Connor |
3.34 |
4h |
10.4 |
|
1890 |
Raven |
R Gooseman |
|
J Hickey |
3.55.1/2 |
ag |
10.12 |
|
1891 |
Ival |
S H Gollan |
|
J Gallagher |
3.31 |
8g |
9.10 |
|
1892 |
Waterbury |
W Douglas |
|
Matthews |
3.51.3/5 |
6g |
11.10 |
|
1893 |
Unity |
G Hawkins |
|
J McTaggard |
3.34 |
5g |
9.2 |
|
1894 |
Oaklands ^ |
T T Watt |
|
Mr R Kingan |
3.4 |
8+g |
10 |
|
|
^ non-Stud Book - already “aged” when first raced |
||||||
|
1895 to 1919 the distance was about two miles |
|||||||
|
1895 |
Langley the Devil |
J Boyd |
|
G Galbraith |
4.01.1/2 |
7g |
9.3 |
|
1896 |
Kauri Gum |
W Carr |
|
A Mitchell |
4.12.1/2 |
7g |
9.8 |
|
1897 |
Tally Ho |
R Connop |
owner |
C Mitchell |
4.16 |
6m |
11.5 |
|
1898 |
Marina |
JL Proctor |
owner |
R Arnott |
4.00.2/5 |
6m |
9.4 |
|
1899 |
Shylock |
J Taylor |
|
H Phillips |
4.16 |
6g |
9.12 |
|
1900 Dead heat |
Chevalier * |
L Harris |
|
P Johnson |
4.10 |
6g |
12.0 |
|
|
*formerly Cavalier (under which name he won the 1900 Great Northern Hurdles) |
||||||
|
1900 Dead heat |
Hauriri |
J S Palmer |
|
J walls |
4.10 |
6g |
9.0 |
|
1901 |
Hotu |
Mrs Batchelor |
|
J Watson |
4.05 |
6g |
10.7 |
|
1902 |
Royal Conqueror |
T Wylie |
|
J Wilson |
4.13.1/5 |
6g |
11.7 |
|
1903 |
Slow Town |
WJ Taggart |
|
BE Harley |
4.11.2/5 |
6g |
9.10 |
|
1904 |
Tahae |
FG Parker |
|
E Howard |
4.02.1/5 |
4g |
9.3 |
|
1905 |
Pushful |
JB A'Deane |
|
D Watt |
4.03.3/5 |
7g |
10.4 |
|
1906 |
Shrapnel |
D Thompson |
|
J McGregor |
4.00.3/5 |
7g |
10.2 |
|
1907 |
Lull |
A Hall |
|
H Telford |
3.52.4/5 |
7g |
9.4 |
|
1908 |
Compass |
J Casserley |
|
Tait |
4.04.3/5 |
5g |
9.5 |
|
1909 |
Tauira |
JR McDonald |
|
H Telford |
4.02.1/5 |
6g |
9.0 |
|
1910 |
Paisaino |
GB Orman |
|
W Young |
4.05.1/5 |
6g |
10.10 |
|
1911 |
The Rover |
AM Wright |
|
C Price |
4.02.1/5 |
5g |
9.5 |
|
1912 |
White Cockade |
J Westerman |
|
F Douglas |
4.20.3/5 |
8g |
9.2 |
|
1913 |
Marton |
G Morris |
Rayner ? |
W Adams |
3.57.4/5 |
7g |
10.7 |
|
1914 |
Immensity |
T Byrne |
Cameron |
F McCabe |
4.01 |
4m |
9.12.1/2 |
|
1915 |
No Race |
||||||
|
1916 |
Marconi |
J O E Jackson |
C W Coleman |
S Henderson |
3.55 |
5g |
9.11 |
|
1917 |
Leonta |
TS Bristol |
|
E Copestake |
4.01 |
7g |
10.6 |
|
1918 |
Gladful |
WR Kemball |
|
S Reed |
4.00.3/5 |
7g |
11.0 |
|
1919 |
Omahu |
J Bull |
|
A McDonald |
3.45.3/5 |
4g |
9.8 |
|
1920 to 1973 the distance was about 2 1/4 miles |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
1920 |
Slowcoach |
Hon. EW Alison |
|
H Turner |
4.32 |
5g |
9.9 |
|
1921 |
Alteration |
J George |
|
H McSweeney |
4.24 |
7g |
9.3 |
|
1922 |
Rorke's Drift |
FA & VN Price |
|
AS Ellis |
4.29 |
10g |
9.0 |
|
|
Was 12th favourite in field of 15 – press reports refer only to it paying “a good price” |
||||||
|
1923 |
First Born |
JB Gaisford |
|
RS Bagby |
4.32 |
4g |
9.2.1/2 |
|
1924 |
Nukumai |
SG Davidson |
A M Wright? |
WJ Bowden |
4.29.2/5 |
5g |
9.13 |
|
1925 |
Lucullent |
RFG Werner |
|
NV Rowe |
4.59 |
7g |
9.5.1/2 |
|
1926 |
Zircon |
J Paterson |
W H Patterson |
E Warner |
4.39 |
7g |
9.9 |
|
1927 |
Nukumai |
SG Davidson |
A M Wright |
WJ Bowden |
4.33.1/4 |
8g |
11.8 |
|
1928 |
Beau Cavalier |
AG Quartley |
S Tooman |
S Henderson |
4.33 |
8g |
10.2 |
|
1929 |
Overhaul |
Ricardson & Wilson |
D P Wilson |
A Hobson |
4.46 |
6g |
9.3 |
|
1930 |
Carinthia |
WH & CL Orbell |
F Trilford |
F Thompson |
4.26.1/2 |
5g |
9.9 |
|
1931 |
Nukumai |
SG Davidson |
M Conway |
R Mills |
4.41.1/2 |
12g |
10.1 |
|
1932 |
Paddon |
W James |
owner |
J Burgess |
4.14.3/4 |
9g |
9.2 |
|
1933 |
Paddon |
W James |
owner |
L Dulieu |
4.45.1/2 |
10g |
10.7 |
|
1934 |
Rasouli |
H Elworthy |
E J Ellis |
E Mackie |
4.34.1/2 |
7g |
9.0 |
|
1935 |
Revision |
Mrs WA Fuller |
J O E James |
G Ridgway |
4.45 |
8m |
9.9 |
|
1936 |
Travelling Agent |
JE Tutchen |
owner |
J Fergus |
4.25 |
8g |
9.8 |
|
1937 |
John Charles |
NEF Loisel |
H S Greene |
A Lord |
4.39.1/2 |
9g |
9.6 |
|
1938 |
Courtyard |
D Neill |
A McMullan |
G Ridgway |
4.56.1/2 |
8g |
10.2 |
|
1939 |
Curie |
WM McKinnon |
owner |
J McLaughlin |
4.57 |
10g |
10.4 |
|
1940 |
Jewelled Girdle |
Mrs EM Sloane |
owner |
HC Maria |
4.56.1/2 |
10g |
10.13 |
|
1941 |
No Race |
||||||
|
1942 |
Evan's Head |
G Seifert |
A L Seifert |
D MacKinnon |
4.47.3/4 |
4g |
9.12 |
|
1943 |
Town Survey |
WS Goosman |
A Winder |
LC Brown |
4.25.1/4 |
6g |
10.0 |
|
1944 |
Borak |
C Matthew |
A M Wright |
A Midwood |
4.34.1/4 |
5g |
9.0 |
|
1945 |
Good Armour |
AJF Walker |
C E Walker |
FJ Hain |
4.38.1/4 |
5g |
9.11 |
|
1946 |
No Race |
||||||
|
1947 |
Desert Trek |
HA Anderton & WR Grey |
H A Anderton |
JW Winder |
4.32.3/4 |
5g |
9.7 |
|
1948 |
Corineus |
A Yarndley |
owner |
RL Collett |
4.32.1/2 |
5g |
10.12 |
|
1949 |
Corineus |
A Yarndley |
owner |
RL Collett |
4.43 |
6g |
11.8 |
|
1950 |
No Race |
||||||
|
1951 |
Dakota |
G Cobb, FW & JF Lee |
G Cobb |
BJ Langford |
4.53.1/2 |
6g |
9.10 |
|
1952 |
Oklahoma |
NM Bradanovich |
L G Albrey |
AG Waddell |
4.36.1/4 |
7g |
9.12 |
|
1953 |
Cabana |
C Walker |
M J Burridge |
RB Hill |
4.58.1/2 |
5g |
9.12 |
|
1954 |
Knight's Star |
R Demler, CH Ferguson & GH Mitchell |
R Demler |
VH Simpson |
4.51.3/4 |
6g |
9.2.3/4 |
|
1955 |
Amiens |
TD Stewart & SB Wilson |
T D Stewart |
JH Hely |
4.45 |
8g |
9.3 |
|
1956 |
Moghul Emperor |
HD Caro |
J D Frew |
NS Manning |
4.53.1/2 |
6g |
9.0 |
|
1957 |
Armed |
CM Jillings |
owner |
JH Hely |
4.29.1/2 |
7g |
9.0 |
|
1958 |
Dunray |
Mrs MG Meilke |
D J Meikle |
AG Walsh |
4.31.1/4 |
5g |
9.2 |
|
1959 |
Count D'Azure |
PG & W Payne |
Owners |
KJ Cropp |
4.34 |
5g |
9.1.3/4 |
|
|
paid 44 pounds 6s |
||||||
|
1960 |
Big Chief |
A Lavich |
C Owen |
JF Grylis |
4.26.1/2 |
5g |
9.4 |
|
1961 |
Eager Mars |
M Ryan |
B A V Preston |
BJ Langford |
4.27.1/4 |
4g |
9.0 |
|
1962 |
Kenloch |
W Conaghan |
H J Waller |
J Williamson |
4.36.1/4 |
7g |
9.5 |
|
1963 |
Summerford |
AHJ Gudsell |
D Grubb |
CM McGovern |
4.38.1/2 |
5h |
9.0 |
|
|
paid 58 pounds 5s 6d |
||||||
|
1964 |
Smoke Ring |
MC Conway & SG Jones |
M C Conway |
BL Hillis |
4.33.3/4 |
5g |
10.7 |
|
1965 |
Saturnian |
Mrs RM Bull |
E Temperton |
BJ Clements |
4.46 |
6g |
9.11 |
|
1966 |
Kumai |
TKS Sidey |
H A Anderton |
BJ Anderton |
4.24.3/4 |
8g |
10.1 |
|
1967 |
Beyond |
AHJ Gudsell |
A D Whiteman |
G Jenkins |
4.36.3/4 |
7g |
10.6 |
|
1968 |
Garnishee |
FR Jamieson & WM Young |
F C Pratt |
A Skipper |
4.44.1/2 |
7g |
9.4 |
|
1969 |
Foxonewa |
R Autridge |
Owner |
R Autridge |
4.26 |
6g |
10.11 |
|
1970 |
Spray Doone |
AG & Mrs Lye |
C R Lewis |
CR Lewis |
4.38.1/2 |
6g |
9.5 |
|
1971 |
Royal Fleet |
JK Gray |
H Green |
H Green |
4.38.1/4 |
7h |
9.8 |
|
1972 |
Blueit |
LJK & Mrs Hamilton |
G R Bell |
GR Bell |
4.55 |
7g |
9.6 |
|
1973 |
War Path |
CG Brown & PW Hawke |
G R Bell |
GR Bell |
4.44 |
5g |
9.7 |
|
1974 Raced over 3600 metres |
|||||||
|
1974 |
Daylight |
RR Cheak |
M C Conway |
RJ Walsh |
4.54.3/4 |
5g |
60.5 |
|
Raced over 3400 metres (inside hurdle lane) |
|||||||
|
1975 |
Lord Lu |
RA Demler, GT Mitchell & RG Rowe |
R G Rowe |
GR Bell |
4.08.1/2 |
8g |
57.5 |
|
1976 |
Owhata Chief |
CJ Jenkins & WB Sale |
T J McDermott |
AT Hounsell |
4.22 |
6g |
64.5 |
|
1977 |
Royal Mail |
SR Burgess |
H R Isaacson |
GS McIntosh |
4.12 |
6g |
65 |
|
1978 |
Hunting Chief |
WS Davey |
B Robinson |
S Jenkins |
4.33 |
10g |
57 |
|
1979 |
Hunting Chief |
WS Davey |
B Robinson |
LJ Carston |
4.22.3/4 |
11g |
62.5 |
|
1980 |
Mr Hickey |
NS Littlejohn |
GK Sanders |
R Rokela |
4.15.3/4 |
5g |
66 |
|
1981 |
Purcil |
D McK, JG & MJ Duncan |
D McK Duncan |
JG McGifford |
4.06.00 |
5g |
58.5 |
|
1982 |
Demonstrandum |
WD Myers |
WD Myers |
SJ Jenkins |
4.03.75 |
7g |
62.5 |
|
1983 |
Floodlight |
N Martin & L Morehu |
DN Couchman |
MJ Gillies |
4.11.66 |
9g |
66 |
|
1984 |
Mondo Mel |
Messrs EJ McConnell, GN & KW McLean & JA Muir |
EJ McConnell |
PW Membery |
4.08.66 |
7g |
62 |
|
1985 |
Gun For Fun |
KT & WD Myers |
WD Myers |
KA Treweek |
3.59.29 |
10g |
59.5 |
|
1986 |
Vincere |
BJ Allen, BJ Amundsen, J McFadzean & Mrs GL Saunders |
RJ Mudgway |
GJ Lord |
4.21.91 |
8g |
63 |
|
1987 |
Rosenveld |
Mr & Mrs S Brosnan |
Mrs MJ & S Brosnan |
GW Cave |
4.06.10 |
8g |
60.5 |
|
1988 |
Pal O'Mine |
IG Crozier |
KR & N Crawford & Mrs K Fursdon |
DR Miller |
3.57.97 |
7g |
61.5 |
|
1989 |
Valrodian |
P Hogan and D W Samuel |
IJ Adams |
BD Revell |
4.09.47 |
5g |
62.5 |
|
1990 |
Mister Divinsky |
R Allan, J D Dillon, C Rua and G P Scully |
EW Rayner & JW Parker |
CE Clifton |
3.59.80 |
6g |
60.5 |
|
1991 |
Decoy Lad |
J K Costello |
NW Coulbeck |
CW Johnson |
4.00.94 |
6g |
62 |
|
1992 |
Sounds Fair |
Curragh Racing Syndicate |
GR Vile |
RN Elliot |
4.08.13 |
5g |
64 |
|
1993 |
Dunedin |
G B Anderton, P J Kennelly and R P Sullivan |
GB Anderton |
RW Cassidy |
3.58.19 |
5g |
60 |
|
1994 |
Tawhiti Road |
Messrs AC Appleyard, B Mann, RW Sharrock & JA Thomson |
RW & SA Sharrock |
MB Scott |
3.58.94 |
8g |
63.5 |
|
1995 |
Bay Willem |
Mrs A Browne & KS Browne MBE |
Mrs A & KS Browne |
PS Hillis |
4.15.97 |
7g |
61 |
|
1996 |
Neils Hope |
Mesdames E Gardiner & RC Gaume |
GR Vile |
ED Lamb |
4.17.95 |
6g |
60 |
|
1997 |
Kerry Son |
H O'Leary |
KT Myers |
KA Treweek |
4.07.22 |
6g |
60.5 |
|
1998 |
Sir Avion |
Mrs AE & Messrs JM Arnott & KJ & Mrs LG O'Connor |
KJ O'Connor |
RN Elliot |
4.13.74 |
5g |
63 |
|
1999 |
Ballina Bold |
Messrs IM Harris & JN & Mrs MA Wallace |
J Wallace |
ED Lamb |
4.05.05 |
8g |
61 |
|
2000 |
Rand |
Messrs LA Clark & JM Creaven |
MK Oulaghan |
ED Lamb |
3.48.70 |
5g |
60.25 |
|
2001 |
Harbour Lights |
RA Physick |
RA Physick |
WP Hillis |
3.51.77 |
5m |
61 |
|
2002 |
Ricki Roo |
Messrs RM Anderson & TJ Chambers |
TJ Chambers |
KM Murray |
3.31.31 |
6g |
60.5 |
|
|
the official time on a very heavy track was 3:31.31, more than 17 seconds under the record set on a much better track two years earlier. Clockings of the video recording of the race indicate a time of 4:23.07 |
||||||
|
2003 |
Super Dupa |
P D Stewart |
|
SS Houston |
4.04.19 |
8g |
60 |
|
2004 |
Meeting abandoned |
||||||
|
2005 |
Meeting abandoned |
||||||
|
3200 metres (Run at Awapuni) |
|||||||
|
2006 |
Van Winkle * (At Awapuni over 3200m) |
Dr WS Alexander, GJ Blackmore, Dr EW Glenn, RD & SP Irvin, GN Johnson, Est late EJ Deans & Est late WJ Harris |
EW & Miss JJ Rayner |
RE Eynon |
4.09.77 |
9g |
64 |
|
3400 metres (inside hurdle lane) |
|||||||
|
2007 |
Van Winkle |
Dr WS Alexander, GJ Blackmore, Dr EW Glenn, RD & SP Irvin, GN Johnson, Est late EJ Deans & Est late WJ Harris |
EW & Miss JJ Rayner |
JR Gillies |
4.02.36 |
10g |
67 |
|
2008 |
Meeting abandoned |
||||||
|
3400 metres (course proper) |
|||||||
|
2009 |
Counter Punch |
Mrs AP Duncan, Messrs MD Ormsby, MK Oulaghan & SJ Speedy |
MK Oulaghan |
TJ Hazlett |
4.35.12 |
8g |
67 |
|
2010 |
Solid Steel |
I See Red Syndicate |
PS Nelson |
JKB Riddell |
4.31.74 |
10g |
63 |
|
2011 |
Honey |
H T & Miss M J O'Leary |
KT Myers |
JL Rathbone |
4.39.45 |
7m |
63 |
|
2012 |
Waitaha Toa |
R L Campbell, D J Morris & Mrs D C Simpson |
Miss LM Latta |
JKB Riddell |
4.21.98 |
9g |
65.5 |
|
2013 |
Thatz David |
Mrs A B Davies |
Ms AB Davies |
GJ Walsh |
4.39.78 |
7g |
65.5 |
|
2014 |
Just Got Home |
R C Hirst & Kakapo Lodge Ltd |
RP Liefting |
CJ Singer |
4.26.26 |
6g |
65.0 |
|
2015 |
Wee Biskit |
Mrs J M & Ken Duncan |
KM Duncan |
MR Cropp |
4.31.36 |
6m |
66.0 |
|
2016 |
Wee Biskit |
Mrs J M & Ken Duncan |
KM Duncan |
MR Cropp |
4.20.98 |
7m |
66.5 |
|
2017 (Run at Hastings over 3100m) |
The Shackler |
S P Dromgool |
PS Nelson |
AN Kuru |
3.53.95 |
10g |
65.0 |
|
2018 |
Zedeedudadeeko |
J P Phillips & The McInteer Family Trust |
James Phillips |
Charlie Studd |
4.23.25 |
10g |
69.0 |
|
2019 |
No Tip |
Mrs C & P S Nelson |
P Nelson & C McDougall |
AN Kuru |
4.32.82 |
7g |
65.0 |
|
2020 |
|||||||
|
2021 (at Hastings) |
The Cossack | J A Frizzell, D P W & P H Grieve & P S Nelson | P Nelson & C McDougall | S Phelan | 3.41.04 | 7g | 66.0 |
|
2022 |
Nedwin | M F & S L Gardner, Mrs C & P S Nelson | P Nelson & C McDougall | S Phelan | 4.42.05 | 7g | 69.0 |
|
2023 |
Sulliman | I See Red Syndicate | P Nelson & C McDougall | H McNeill | 4.39.16 | 9g | 66.0 |