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2021 New Zealand Derby
The 2021 New Zealand Derby was a Group I horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday 7 March 2021. It was the 146th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Rocket Spade. Because of restrictions around public gatherings following an outbreak of COVID-19 in Auckland, the race was run a day later than its original date and with a limited audience of owners and Auckland Racing Club members. Rocket Spade became the second consecutive son of champion sire Fastnet Rock to win the Derby, following on from Sherwood Forest in 2020. Bred by Sun Kingdom, Rocket Spade was sold for A$425,000 at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale. He is owned by Hermitage Thoroughbreds, and trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Matamata. O'Sullivan was a two-time Derby winner as a jockey but had never previously won the race as a trainer, while Scott saddled Cut the Cake and Xcellent to win back-to-back runnings of the Derby in the early 2000s. Rocket Spade had ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Group One
Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race system introduced in 1971 and monitored by the European Pattern Committee. To attain or maintain a Group One status, the average rating for the first four finishers in the race must be 115 or higher over a three-year period. The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities works to ensure consistent international standards. Group One races may only be restricted to age groups or a stipulated sex: they should not be restricted to horses bred in a certain country (though there are regional exceptions to this rule). Group One (G1) races may be run under Handicap (horse racing), handicap conditions in Australia, but in Europe Weight for Age, weight-for-age conditions always apply. In the United States, Canada, Japan, South Africa, and Brit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Moroney (horseman)
Michael Moroney is a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is notable for having trained Brew to win the 2000 Melbourne Cup and many other Group One races in New Zealand and Australia. Michael's father, Denny, was also involved in the racing industry and he continued to assist Michael. Michael Moroney has trained since the early 1980s on his own account but also in partnership with: * Dave O'Sullivan * Paul O'Sullivan * Graham Richardson * Andrew Scott * Paul Moroney * Chad Ormsby * Pam Gerard While based at Matamata, New Zealand, he twice won the New Zealand training premiership. He moved to Morphetville, Adelaide, Australia in 1999 and then three years later he transferred to Flemington, Victoria. Michael's brother, Paul, who he co-trained with at one stage is a bloodstock consultant and agent. Michael's sister, Sue Moroney was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for the New Zealand Labour Party from 2005 until 2017. Notable horses and victories Michael ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2013 New Zealand Derby
The 2013 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 2 March 2013. It was the 138th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Habibi. With Silent Achiever having won the race 12 months earlier, it was the first time in the history of the race that fillies have won the Derby two years in a row. The runner-up, Fix, is also a filly, and it was just the second time fillies have finished first and second in the race in more than half a century. The race is also notable for being the fifth Derby win for jockey Vinnie Colgan - an all-time record for the race. Habibi's Derby win came in just her seventh career start, and as part of her first racing campaign. She made her debut on her home track, Ruakaka, on October 17, winning over 1200m. A series of increasingly impressive wins followed, including a Group 2 double against males at Ellerslie Racecourse over the Christmas/New Year period. It was then that connections opted to target th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2014 New Zealand Derby
The 2014 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 1 March 2014. It was the 139th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Puccini. Puccini was the favourite for the race on the strength of impressive victories in the Great Northern Guineas, Waikato Guineas and Avondale Guineas. He showed a distinct fondness for front-running tactics in these victories, leading throughout and scoring emphatic victories. The same tactics were widely expected to be repeated in the Derby. But Puccini was slow out of the gates and was fourth last in the 18-horse field after the first 500m. He made a spectacular move halfway down the back stretch, sweeping to the lead. He kicked strongly at the turn and held on for an impressive and convincing two-length win over Rising Romance, with Glorious Lad another four lengths away in third. Puccini's spectacular performance received a rapturous reception from the Ellerslie crowd, and prompted rider Michael ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2015 New Zealand Derby
The 2015 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 28 February 2015. It was the 140th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Mongolian Khan. The race was billed as a match race between the highly rated Mongolian Khan and Volkstok'n'barrell, both of which had made a big impression in stringing together consecutive wins in major races throughout the summer. The eagerly anticipated clash lived up to expectations as the two exciting three-year-olds drew well clear of their rivals and fought a memorable struggle down the home straight. Having been clearly headed by Volkstok'n'barrell, Mongolian Khan fought back and proved too strong in the concluding stages, edging away to win by one length. There was a margin of more than five lengths back to the remainder of the field. It was the first New Zealand Derby win for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and rider Opie Bosson. Mongolian Khan later went to Australia and won the Au ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2016 New Zealand Derby
The 2016 New Zealand Derby was a horse race , which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 5 March 2016. It was the 141st running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Rangipo. In what was widely considered to be an unusually even Derby field, Rangipo brought strong form into the race with wins in the Great Northern Guineas, Waikato Guineas and Avondale Guineas. Being a son of speedy Australian stallion Stryker, the main question mark hanging over his credentials was his stamina for the 2400-metre test. But after sitting midfield behind a solid early pace, Rangipo moved into contention in the home straight and held on strongly to beat the fast-finishing What's The Story by a short head. The winner's stablemate Raghu was third, ahead of fillies Capella and Valley Girl who came with big late finishes from well back in the field. It was the first New Zealand Derby win for trainer Tony Pike and a sixth for jockey Vinnie Colgan. Race details * ''Sponsor:'' BMW * ''Priz ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2017 New Zealand Derby
The 2017 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 4 March 2017. It was the 142nd running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Gingernuts. Sold for $5,000 as a weanling and $42,500 as a two-year-old, Gingernuts made a low-key start to his career with two wins in his first five starts – mostly in minor midweek company. The son of Iffraaj was not even nominated for the Derby until 21 February. But everything changed in the Avondale Guineas, a Group Two race two weeks before the Derby. Gingernuts was a 26-to-one longshot in the $100,000 race and dropped back to a distant last after breaking slowly from the starting gate, but he produced a remarkable finishing burst to win by a length and a quarter. The Guineas win earned Gingernuts second-favouritism in the Derby, in which he again produced a formidable finish down the home straight to beat the Australian-trained Rising Red by a length. The win sparked huge celebrations among an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2018 New Zealand Derby
The 2018 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 3 March 2018. It was the 143rd running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Vin De Dance. Vin De Dance was offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale as a two-year-old, but was passed in. A sale was later negotiated for $70,000, with breeder Luigi Muollo retaining a share alongside new owners OTI Racing and the Kilted Taniwha Syndicate. The son of Roc de Cambes was sent to the Cambridge stable of Hall of Famer Murray Baker and his training partner Andrew Forsman. The team has won multiple New Zealand training premierships, and guided Mongolian Khan to victory in the 2015 New Zealand Derby. Vin De Dance made a winning debut at Pukekohe in early September, then was placed in two subsequent appearances at Te Rapa. He was sent to Melbourne, where he finished third at Flemington and fifth in the Moonee Valley Vase. Withdrawn from the Victoria Derby and given several mon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2019 New Zealand Derby
The 2019 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 2 March 2019. It was the 144th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Crown Prosecutor. With a dividend of $105.40 for a $1 win bet, it is considered the biggest upset in Derby history. Crown Prosecutor was bred by Hesket Bloodstock in Victoria, Australia and was bought for A$50,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He is owned by Huntingdale Lodge 2012 Ltd (managed by Harvey Green) and JML Bloodstock Ltd (Lib Petagna) and is trained by Stephen Marsh in Cambridge. Although he had won the Wellington Stakes at Group Three level in November, Crown Prosecutor had been disappointing in two subsequent starts and had the highest odds in the 18-horse Derby field. Ridden by Craig Grylls, Crown Prosecutor raced fiercely in the early stages of the race but settled into a good position trailing the leaders. He was travelling smoothly approaching the home turn and quicken ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2022 New Zealand Derby
The 2022 New Zealand Derby was a Group I horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 5 March 2022. It was the 147th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Asterix. Asterix became the second consecutive winner of the New Zealand Derby for his trainers, the Matamata-based partnership of Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott. He was also the second Derby winner in the green and red colours of the Kelt family, who also owned the 1993 winner Popsy. Former international cricketer Mark Greatbatch also shares in the ownership. Asterix was bred by Sir Owen Glenn's Go Bloodstock, and he was bought for NZ$450,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale by bloodstock agent Bruce Perry. Asterix made his debut less than two months before his Derby triumph, finishing sixth in a 1400-metre race at Matamata on January 12. An eighth placing followed at Te Rapa on February 2, before Asterix stepped up to 2100 metres and recorded a maiden victory at Tauran ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Zealand 1000 Guineas
The 1000 Guineas is a Group One set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run over a distance of 1600 metres (1 mile) at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch New Zealand Cup week It is on the final Saturday of Christchurch's famous Christchurch "Cup Week" held in the second week of November. For thoroughbred horses the week also features: * the New Zealand 2000 Guineas on the first Saturday * the Coupland's Bakeries Mile on the Wednesday * the Stewards Handicap sprint on the final Saturday * the New Zealand Cup on the final Saturday Christchurch Cup week includes premier standardbred meetings at Addington raceway including: * the New Zealand Trotting Cup for pacers on the Tuesday * the New Zealand Free For All for pacers on the Friday * the Dominion Handicap for trotters on the Friday There is also greyhound racing on the Thursday, including the following Group 1 races: * the New Zealand Galaxy - C5f 295m * the New Zealand Greyhoun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Karaka Million
The Karaka Million refers to two major New Zealand horse races for young horses - the original Karaka Million for two-year-old (2YO) horses and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic that started in 2018. Held at Ellerslie Racecourse, they are New Zealand's richest races, with a stake of NZ$1,000,000 each. The races are restricted to horses sold through the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales held at Karaka. The two $1,000,000 races are held on the eve of the National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka. History The 2YO race was run for the first time in 2008, replacing a similar race held at Te Rapa. Up to 2017, horses eligible for the Karaka Million could also be entered in an associated race, the Karaka Three Year Old Mile over 1600m (NZ$200,000), in the following year. However, from 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock introduced a second Magic Million $1,000,000 race for three-year-olds. Whereas a usual New Zealand race meeting may start before 1pm, have up to 10 races, and finish before 6 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |