WINNERS OF THE WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE
The first Wellington Steeplechase was run over 3 miles in 1884 (not 1885 as shown in most records). The distance was increased to 3¼ miles in 1906 and to 3 miles 3 furlongs in 1952. The figure-eight course was first used in May 1973, and, with metrication, the distance was altered to 5400 metres in 1974. It was increased by 100 metres the following year and the times below are for the current distance.
There was no meeting in 1915, 1941 or 1946 (due to the Army’s use of Trentham), or in 2004, 2005. The 2006 meeting was held at Awapuni due to reconstruction of the Trentham track while the 2008 meeting was again the victim of atrocious weather and conditions that caused the meetings to be abandoned.
Fastest times:
6:58.18 - Bodle - 2001
6:59.13 - High Impact - 1988
7:01.03 - Long Acre - 1985
7:05.27 - Royal Hush - 1990
Slowest times:
7:50.89 - Hadfield - 1996
7:44.65 - Stitched (run at Awapuni over 5400m) - 2006
7:42.23 - Mi Senor - 2002
7:40.79 - Mr Align - 2011
7:36.63 - Lord Zirito - 1995
Highest winning weights:
12 st 11 lb (81 kg) - Coalition - 1921
12 st 5 lb (78½ kg) - Master Strowan - 1918
12 st 0 lb (76 kg) - Plain Bill - 1900
12 st 0 lb (76 kg) - Brookby Song - 1948
Since metrication in 1974, the highest winning weight carried has been 67.5 kg by Mr Mor in 2015 followed by 66.5kg by Brushman in 2013 (65 kg minimum) , 66kg by both Black Eagle in 2007 and Rangatira in 2014, 65½ kg by Even Terms in 1975 (57 kg min) and Kildary King in 1999 (60 kg min).
Winning mares
The great mare Denbigh set a weight-carrying record for a mare of 11 stone 5 lb (72 kg) when she won this race in 1886 after winning the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase a couple of weeks earlier. She later left the top steeplechasers Ruby (1899 Hawkes Bay Steeplechase) and Moifaa (1901 Great Northern and Hawkes Bay Steeples and 1904 English Grand National).
Other mares to win:Victrix (1893), Nadador (1908), Nedra (1913), Chat (1940), Anini (1943) and Gaiety (1949).
Oldest winners
The oldest winners whose ages are definitely known were Orient in 1890, Haydn in 1907, Teak in 1971 and Lord Zirito in 1995, all aged 12. The only four-year-old to win was Whalebone, which dead-heated with Oeo in 1891.
Horses that have won twice
The following horses won twice:
Gobo (1901, 1902)
Nor’-West (1898, 1903)
Kiatere (1904, 1905)
Master Strowan (1918, 1922)
Omahu (1924, 1925)
Billy Boy (1932, 1934)
Dunray (1959, 1961)
High Chief (1978, 1979)
Kildary King (1998, 1999)
Brushman (2010, 2013)
Jockeys who have won three times are:
Percy Johnson: Whalebone (1891 – dead-heat), Nat (1896), The Friar (1897)
Graeme Walters: Sifta Sam (1970), Bright Blue (1972), Destino (1973)
Isaac Lupton: Black Eagle (2007), Triplepan (2009), Brushman (2013)
The only women jockeys to win
Sue Thompson - Storm - 1987
Michelle Hopkins - Flash Hunter - 1997
Tina Egan - Kildary King - 1998, 1999
Ann and Ken Browne created history when they owned and trained the first three home in 1990 – Royal Hush, Trelay Boy and Injun Joe.
Only two trainers have trained three winners -J J Waller scored with Gaiety (1949), Tabor Islet (1952) and Personality (1953), while Ann Browne trained Royal Hush (1990), Flash Hunter (1997) and Tom's Myth (2012)
(The Wellington Racing Club sincerely thanks Chris McQuaid, New Zealand’s jumping historian and statistician, for supplying the above information.)
|
WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE (5500m Open) |
|||||||
|
Year |
Horse |
Owners |
Jockey |
Time |
Trainer |
Age |
Weight |
|
1884 to 1905 raced over about 3 miles |
|||||||
|
1884 |
Early Bird |
W McConkey |
Mr A Herd |
8.45 |
|
11h |
10.6 |
|
1885 |
Faugh-A-Ballagh |
WY Dennett |
Chambers |
7.32.1/2 |
|
ag |
10.4 |
|
1886 |
Denbeigh |
W Ellingham |
Owner |
7.04.1/2 |
Owner |
6m |
11.5 |
|
1887 |
Echo |
J Rollo |
Owner |
6.46 |
|
6g |
9.10 |
|
1888 |
Kangaroo |
J Leopold |
Pell |
7.02 |
|
8+g |
10.10 |
|
1889 |
Rossiter |
F Bell |
J Cameron |
6.42 |
|
5g |
9.3 |
|
1890 |
Orient |
A McColl |
A J Death |
not taken |
|
12g |
10.4 |
|
|
non-Stud Book - “aged” when first raced |
||||||
|
1891 D/H |
Whalebone |
R McRae |
P Johnson |
6.53.1/2 |
|
4g |
10 |
|
1891 D/H |
Oeo |
C Richard |
Erewin |
|
10g |
10 |
|
|
1892 |
Ingorangi |
J McAlister |
Williams |
7.54 |
|
ag |
10.7 |
|
1893 |
Victrix |
Hon. J D Ormond |
Gillett |
7.42.1/2 |
|
5m |
9.10 |
|
1894 |
Timothy |
W Henry |
Gravestock |
6.58 |
|
8+g |
9.7 |
|
|
non-Stud Book - “aged” when first raced |
||||||
|
1895 |
Austral |
H Peter |
Peters |
7.04 |
Owner |
6g |
9.8 |
|
1896 |
Nat |
WH Keith |
P Johnson |
7.37 |
|
9g |
9.9 |
|
1897 |
The Friar |
M Mill |
P Johnson |
6.56 |
|
5g |
9.12 |
|
1898 |
Nor'-West |
P Chaafe |
A Williams |
6.29.1/5 |
|
5g |
10.3 |
|
1899 |
Morag |
Hon. J D Ormond |
P Williams |
9.15* |
|
10g |
10.2 |
|
|
* even allowing for an extremely heavy track, this time seems excessively slow |
||||||
|
1900 |
Plain Bill |
T Scott |
F Cochrane |
7.04 |
|
6g |
12.0 |
|
1901 |
Gobo |
D Gordon |
R Arnott |
6.43.1/5 |
|
6g |
9.8 |
|
1902 |
Gobo |
D Gordon |
A Hall |
6.41.2/5 |
|
7g |
11.3 |
|
1903 |
Nor'-West |
E Cecil |
D Wright |
7.13.3/5 |
|
10g |
11 |
|
1904 |
Kaitere |
S Darragh |
S Howie |
6.22.1/5 |
|
7g |
10.8 |
|
1905 |
Kaitere |
S Darragh |
J McGregor |
6.36.2/5 |
|
8g |
11.12 |
|
1906 to 1951 raced over about 3 1/4 miles |
|||||||
|
1906 |
Rongoa |
J Frank |
W O'Connell |
7.07.2/5 |
|
7g |
9.7 |
|
1907 |
Haydn |
W Davies |
A Julian |
6.58.4/5 |
|
12g |
10.13 |
|
1908 |
Nadador |
Sir William Russell |
J Hall |
7.36 |
|
8m |
10.7 |
|
1909 |
Te Arai |
C Morse |
F Porter |
7.21 |
|
7h |
9.11 |
|
1910 |
Capitol |
J Twohill |
P Brady |
7.16 |
|
8g |
11.0 |
|
1911 |
Hoanga |
W Montogomery |
R Thompson |
7.00.1/5 |
|
5g |
9.8 |
|
1912 |
Captain Jingle |
J Hennah |
J O'Connell |
8.06 |
Owner |
7g |
10.5 |
|
1913 |
Nedra |
CF Vallance |
WJ Porter |
7.07.1/5 |
|
7m |
9.9 |
|
1914 |
Captain Jack |
WS Dalton |
E Rae |
6.58.2/5 |
E J L Rae |
8+g |
10.10 |
|
|
non-Stud Book - “aged” when first raced |
||||||
|
1915 |
No Race |
||||||
|
1916 |
Bransfield |
CF Vallance |
B Poulgrain |
7.08.2/5 |
|
10g |
9.7 |
|
1917 |
Crib |
J Parson |
JR Kaan |
7.17 |
|
6g |
10.10 |
|
1918 |
Master Strowan |
FS Easton |
R McSeveny |
7.13.4/5 |
McCauly |
7g |
12.5 |
|
1919 |
Vascular |
WB Clarkson |
F Gray |
6.54 |
|
8g |
10.2 |
|
1920 |
First Line |
McIver & Wright |
H McSweeney |
7.05 |
A M Wright? |
6g |
10.8 |
|
1921 |
Coalition |
E Riddiford |
H McSweeney |
7.16 |
|
10g |
12.11 |
|
1922 |
Master Strowan |
FS Easton |
W Young |
7.03 |
|
11g |
10.10 |
|
1923 |
Oakleigh |
G & F Peach |
J Roach |
7.56 |
|
9g |
11.2 |
|
1924 |
Omahu |
J Bull |
LG Morris |
7.25 |
|
9g |
11.5 |
|
1925 |
Omahu |
J Bull |
LG Morris |
8.56 |
|
10g |
11.9 |
|
|
* even allowing for an extremely heavy track, this time seems excessively slow |
||||||
|
1926 |
Birkenella |
FA Jensen |
E Garrett |
7.49.3/4 |
W Garret |
8g |
9.1 |
|
1927 |
Beau Cavalier |
AG Quartley |
S Henderson |
7.25 |
S Tooman |
7g |
10.7 |
|
1928 |
Pouri |
HD Mathew |
E Warner |
7.24 |
J F Titchen |
7g |
9.9 |
|
1929 |
King's Guard |
R Hannon |
L Dulieu |
7.34.1/2 |
Owner |
8g |
9.11 |
|
1930 |
Mangani |
Bradney & Wood |
H Dulieu |
7.11 |
Owners |
7g |
10.3 |
|
1931 |
Paris |
WT Hazlett |
C Dempster |
7.31.7/4 |
F J McKay |
8g |
9.0 |
|
1932 |
Billy Boy |
GJ Quirke |
DJ Burgess |
7.05.1/2 |
R W A Lewis |
7g |
11.13 |
|
1933 |
Omeo |
A Lile |
A Jenkins |
7.11 |
L Knapp |
9g |
9.4 |
|
1934 |
Billy Boy |
GJ Quirke |
F Thompson |
7.10. |
R W A Lewis |
9g |
11.5 |
|
1935 |
Valpeen |
G Campbell |
WJ Bowden |
7.25.3/4 |
Owner |
7g |
11.4 |
|
1936 |
Diamond |
T Newman |
RK Smith |
7.19 |
T R George |
6g |
10.4 |
|
1937 |
Santoff |
WH & WB Orbell |
RP Register |
7.26.3/4 |
F Trilford |
7g |
9.0 |
|
1938 |
Erination |
JH Greenhead |
JH McRae |
7.30.1/4 |
Owner |
8g |
10.2 |
|
1939 |
Survoy |
S Findlay |
AE Ellis |
7.21.1/4 |
E J Ellis |
7g |
9.13 |
|
1940 |
Chat |
CP Thorburn |
SA Wright |
7.33.1/4 |
A M Wright |
6m |
9.2 |
|
1941 |
No Race |
||||||
|
1942 |
Foxiana |
LH Collinson |
DW Redstone |
7.22 |
L G Morris |
6g |
10.10 |
|
1943 |
Anini |
AL McCormick |
DW Redstone |
7.10. |
H S Greene |
8m |
9.3 |
|
1944 |
Khurja |
AB William |
AE Lord |
7.39 |
Mrs L A E Campbell |
6g |
9.13 |
|
1945 |
Master Meruit |
HH Dods |
A Midwood |
7.05.1/2 |
W D Young |
6g |
9.4 |
|
1946 |
No Race |
||||||
|
1947 |
Good Armour |
AJF Walker |
FJ Hain |
6.58.1/2 |
C Walker |
7g |
9.8 |
|
1948 |
Brookby Song |
HE Whitford |
J Chaplin |
7.01 |
R Hall |
7g |
12.0 |
|
1949 |
Gaiety |
AW & CL Lyster |
M Andrews |
7.11 |
J J Waller |
6m |
10.1 |
|
1950 |
First Act |
GS Walton |
W Reid |
6.59 |
D V Craddock |
8g |
9.10 |
|
1951 |
Roman Ned |
JD Kemp |
LG White |
7.19.1/2 |
J D Kemp |
10g |
9.3 |
|
1952 to 1973 raced over about 3 miles 3 furlongs |
|||||||
|
1952 |
Tabor Islet |
CH Prouse |
JP Carter |
7.29.1/2 |
J J Waller |
5g |
10.3 |
|
1953 |
Personality |
EN Fitzgerald |
K Nuttall |
7.34.1/4 |
J J Waller |
7g |
9.10 |
|
1954 |
Lay Off |
TJ O'Leary |
BJ Langford |
7.29.1/2 |
E Temperton |
6g |
9.1.1/4 |
|
1955 |
Aligarah |
BJ Clark |
JW Harris |
7.28 |
N Crawford |
6g |
9.1 |
|
1956 |
Cabana |
C Walker |
I Noanoa |
7.33.1/2 |
M J Burridge |
8g |
10.4 |
|
1957 |
Conkeda |
W J Tims |
JL Tims |
7.22.1/2 |
W J Tims |
6g |
10.3 |
|
1958 |
Spring Fair |
AN Gibbon |
AG Walsh |
7.15.3/4 |
L W Ford |
8g |
10.4 |
|
1959 |
Dunray |
Mrs MG Meikle |
JR Potter |
7 |
D J Meikle |
6g |
9.11 |
|
1960 |
Peter Keith |
CJ Winder |
RJ Turnwald |
7.10.1/2 |
W C Winder |
9g |
9.3.1/2 |
|
1961 |
Dunray |
Mrs MG Meikle |
JR Potter |
7.06.1/2 |
R T Cotter |
8g |
10.5 |
|
1962 |
Lochwood |
RJ Allan & CJ Sowry |
BL Hillis |
7.26.1/4 |
B L Hillis |
10g |
9.2 |
|
1963 |
Braemar |
E Montgomery |
RJ Turnwald |
7.13.3/4 |
J W Winder |
8g |
9.11 |
|
1964 |
Solitude |
RE Punch |
CM McGovern |
7.10.1/4 |
I Bradbury |
9g |
9.6 |
|
1965 |
Cretan |
N Grafas |
JH Hely |
7.37.3/4 |
N Grafas |
10g |
10.0 |
|
1966 |
Prince Robin |
J R Haworth |
MD Peters |
7.41.1/4 |
J R Haworth |
9g |
9.10 |
|
1967 |
Kumai |
TKS Sidey |
BL Hillis |
7.17 |
H A Anderton |
9g |
11.4 |
|
1968 |
Hi There |
Mrs GR Grace |
RA Jenkins |
7.26.1/4 |
C J Bradley |
8g |
9.12 |
|
1969 |
Fleeting Moment |
HW Blackmore & ME Tod |
MJ Dombroski |
7.10.0 |
J W Harris |
10g |
10.1 |
|
1970 |
Sifta Sam |
Mrs N H Walker |
GA Walters |
7.10.1/4 |
Mrs N H Walker |
11g |
9.3 |
|
1971 |
Teak |
Miss E F White |
PR Whiteman |
7.25.1/2 |
Miss E F White |
12g |
9.8 |
|
1972 |
Bright Blue |
WE Hazlett |
GA Walters |
7.25 |
W J Hillis |
6g |
9.2.1/4 |
|
The figure-eight course was used for the first time at Trentham on 5th May 1973 |
|||||||
|
1973 |
Destino |
R Autridge & CC Mountier |
GA Walters |
7.03.1/2 |
R Autridge |
11g |
9.2.1/2 |
|
1974 raced over about 5400 metres |
|||||||
|
1974 |
Frederik |
Mrs B Madsen |
BI Waerea |
7.19 |
E B Skelton |
8g |
62 |
|
1975 onwards raced over about 5500 metres |
|||||||
|
1975 |
Even Terms |
W D Myers |
N Treweek |
7.21 |
W D Myers |
9g |
65.5 |
|
1976 |
Idunno |
GW & Mrs Pepper |
WP Myers |
7.36 |
G W & Mrs Pepper |
9g |
63.5 |
|
1977 |
Chumson |
RS Donald & EG Mackie |
MJ Gillies |
7.21 |
A S Kaye |
5g |
63 |
|
1978 |
High Chief |
Mrs PR Wilson |
LB Cavanagh |
7.30. |
P R Wilson |
7g |
58 |
|
1979 |
High Chief |
Mrs PR Wilson |
LB Cavanagh |
7.36.00 |
P R Wilson |
8g |
61 |
|
1980 |
No Retreat |
SR Carleton |
MJ Gillies |
7.31.25 |
E Temperton |
8h |
57.5 |
|
1981 |
The Assassin |
FN & TB Moore |
GP Harris |
7.08.00 |
I Bradbury |
8g |
61 |
|
1982 |
Grey Warbler |
Mrs JM Boon, LH & RA Robinson |
DM Gray |
7.13.00 |
WL Robinson |
7g |
59.5 |
|
1983 |
Orca |
Mrs PA Hickey & LJ Tarrant |
GF Julius |
7.21.73 |
LJ Tarrant |
7g |
60 |
|
1984 |
Mr Hickey |
Mr NS Littlejohn |
CJ Wood |
7.21.95 |
BM Claydon |
9g |
61.5 |
|
1985 |
Long Acre |
D Akast & Mrs BP West |
CJ Wood |
7.01.03 |
CJ Wood |
7g |
61 |
|
1986 |
Arthur Carwen |
LN Fisher & JF Twomey |
R Thompson |
7.24.47 |
JF Twomey |
8g |
58.75 |
|
1987 |
Storm |
Mr & Mrs PS Nelson |
SJ Thompson |
7.12.86 |
PS Nelson |
10g |
58.5 |
|
1988 |
High Impact |
Mrs JM Sutcliffe |
TN Wheeler |
6.59.13 |
Mrs JM Sutcliffe |
8g |
59.5 |
|
1989 |
Braeman |
Est late M R M Hathaway |
ED Lamb |
7.22.91 |
MRM Hathaway |
8g |
59.5 |
|
1990 |
Royal Hush |
Mrs A Browne & Mr K S Browne MBE |
CW Thornton |
7.05.27 |
A & KS Browne |
7g |
59 |
|
|
Note. The Brownes owned and trained the first three runners home - Royal Hush, Trelay Boy and Injun Joe |
||||||
|
1991 |
Noble Heritage |
Messrs B S Gillovic & J M & Mrs R M & T J O'Connor |
TG Autridge |
7.12.20 |
GA Rogerson |
8g |
61 |
|
1992 |
Go Noble |
The Argonaut Jumping Syndicate |
DM Gray |
7.28.65 |
TW Cole |
6g |
60.5 |
|
1993 |
Fox Hunt |
Messrs N E Schick, B G Taylor, R K Wood & D W Wright |
WP Hillis |
7.10.10 |
C Wood |
7g |
61 |
|
1994 |
Consequence |
RP Harris, Mrs D Phillips & GA Shaw |
WP Hillis |
7.18.58 |
GA Shaw |
8g |
61 |
|
1995 |
Lord Zirito |
Ms H Foster, Mrs LL Hawtin, Messrs GC Macrae & GA Rogerson |
MB Scott |
7.36.63 |
KW Hawtin & GA Rogerson |
12g |
64 |
|
1996 |
Hadfield |
CC & Mrs JE Lupton |
ED Lamb |
7.50.89 |
CC Lupton |
7g |
63 |
|
1997 |
Flash Hunter |
Mrs A Browne & KS Browne MBE |
MR Hopkins |
7.18.50 |
Mrs A & KS Browne |
9g |
61.5 |
|
1998 |
Kildary King |
EG & Mrs SM Cryer |
TM Egan |
7.32.95 |
EG Dryer |
9g |
63 |
|
1999 |
Kildary King |
EG & Mrs SM Cryer |
TM Egan |
7.25.41 |
EG & SM Dryer |
10g |
65.5 |
|
2000 |
Harrison Ford |
Messrs TW Cole, RJ Knight & GJ Morgan |
NW Hanley |
7.06.11 |
TW Cole |
8g |
60 |
|
2001 |
Bodle |
Messrs AR MacGregor & GJ Semmens |
JKB Riddell |
6.58.18 |
AR MacGregor |
10g |
61 |
|
2002 |
Mi Senor |
Mi Taco Racing Syndicate |
CG Allen |
7.42.23 |
MK Oulaghan |
8g |
61.5 |
|
2003 |
Cuchulainn |
G G Robb |
TF Leahy |
7.17.59 |
R Autridge |
10g |
61 |
|
2004 |
Meeting abandoned |
||||||
|
2005 |
Meeting abandoned |
||||||
|
2006 |
Stitched *(At Awapuni over 5400m) |
Racehorse Breeders Syndicate 15 |
JKB Riddell |
7.44.65 |
SA Sharrock |
6g |
62 |
|
2007 |
Black Eagle |
BA Collins, KH & Mrs PJ Hughes, Mrs LA Martin, Mrs SJ Townsend & Ets late RG Martin |
IA Lupton |
7.13.78 |
KH Hughes |
7g |
66 |
|
2008 |
Meeting abandoned |
||||||
|
2009 |
Triplepan |
BJ Moss |
IA Lupton |
7.18.57 |
Miss J Moss |
8g |
63.5 |
|
2010 |
Brushman |
MK Oulaghan |
CJ Singer |
7.20.38 |
MK Oulaghan |
7g |
63 |
|
2011 |
Mr Align |
M J Whitby, G A Rogerson, D Howell, M Edwards, Miss C Lusted |
D Oakden |
7.40.79 |
G & D Rogerson |
6g |
64.5 |
|
2012 |
Tom's Myth |
Mrs A Browne & Est late K S Browne MBE |
SC Phelan |
7.25.87 |
Mrs A Browne |
8g |
65 |
|
2013 |
Brushman |
M K Oulaghan |
IA Lupton |
7.24.29 |
MK Oulaghan |
10g |
66.5 |
|
2014 |
Rangatira |
A A Barnes, W S Gulliver & A S Murdoch |
CB Perrett |
7.13.51 |
S Gulliver |
10g |
66.0 |
|
2015 |
Mr Mor |
Bogga Syndicate |
CM Studd |
7.26.92 |
EW & Miss J J Rayner |
10g |
67.5 |
|
2016 |
Eric The Viking |
A B & N J Bidlake, L Boere, B G Krivan & S W E Searle |
MR Cropp |
7.10.11 |
AB Bidlake |
10g |
65.0 |
|
2017 (Transferred to Hastings) |
Amanood Lad |
J D & Mrs S A Blair |
AN Kuru |
8.06.13 |
PS Nelson |
12g |
70.0 |
|
2018 |
Wise Men Say |
M S & R M Connors |
Isaac Lupton |
7.31.96 |
Raymond Connors |
9g |
70.0 |
|
2019 |
Gagarin |
C J B Norwood & A S Trotter |
M Gillies |
7.10.91 |
Kevin Myers |
11g |
66.5 |
|
2020 |
|||||||
|
2021 (Run at Hastings) |
Yardarm | M D N & S N Wallace | S Fannin | 7.21.50 | Kevin Myers | 11 | 66.0 |
|
2022 |
Tittletattle | Chase A Fox Racing Syndicate, D F Cunningham, Mrs J G, Mrs J M & Ken Duncan | G Walsh | 7.26.51 | Dean Cunningham | 9m | 66.0 |
|
2023 |
West Coast | Mrs G T & H A E Williamson, Mrs J M & R M Williamson | S Fannin | 7.31.21 | Mark Oulaghan | 7g | 71.0 |