The 2014 New Zealand Derby was a

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

which took place at

Ellerslie Racecourse Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand, for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit in the suburb of Ellerslie, with a circumference of just under 1,900 metres. Racing is conducted in a clockwi ...

on Saturday 1 March 2014. It was the 139th running of the

New Zealand Derby The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day o ...

, and it was won by

Puccini Giacomo Puccini (Lucca, 22 December 1858Bruxelles, 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he was descended from a long lin ...

. 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 Walker to declare that Puccini was the best horse he'd ever ridden. Rising Romance made up ground from near the back of the field to finish second. She is by the same sire and trained by the same stable as 2013 Derby winner Habibi. Glorious Lad took third.

Race details

* ''Sponsor:'' TV3 * ''Prize money:'' NZ$750,000 * ''Track:'' Good * ''Number of runners:'' 18 * ''Winner's time:'' 2:28.39

Full result

Winner's details

Further details of the winner,

: * ''Foaled:'' 25 September 2010 in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

* ''Sire:''

Encosta De Lago Encosta De Lago (27 October 1993 – 6 October 2018) was an Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse that won three group races from eight starts including the Group One (G1), Vic Health Cup against older horses. He was the Leading sire in Aust ...

; ''Dam:'' Miss Opera (Paris Opera) * ''Owner:'' Monovale Farm * ''Trainer:'' Peter & Jacob McKay * ''Breeder:'' Monovale Farm * ''Starts:'' 14 * ''Wins:'' 5 * ''Seconds:'' 1 * ''Thirds:'' 3 * ''Earnings:'' $676,925

The road to the Derby

Early-season appearances in 2013–14 prior to running in the Derby.

* Puccini – ''4th

New Zealand 2000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas is a Group One set-weight Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 metres at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch New Zealand cup week The New Zealand 2000 Guineas is hel ...

, 1st Great Northern Guineas, 4th

Levin Classic The Group One Levin Classic - formerly the Bayer Classic - is one of the premier races for three-year-old thoroughbreds in New Zealand. History The race, first run under the name Levin Turf Classic, was originally run at Levin Racecourse until t ...

, 1st Waikato Guineas, 1st Avondale Guineas'' * Rising Romance – ''1st Trevor Eagle Memorial, 3rd Eight Carat Classic, 1st Royal Stakes, 2nd Avondale Guineas'' * Glorious Lad – ''2nd Wellington Stakes, 4th Waikato Guineas, 3rd Avondale Guineas'' * Kentucky Son – ''4th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 9th Great Northern Guineas, 15th Waikato Guineas, 15th Avondale Guineas'' * We'regoingtogetcha – ''8th

, 8th

, 3rd Waikato Guineas'' * Fast Dragon – ''3rd Trevor Eagle Memorial, 4th

Championship Stakes The Championship Stakes, run at Ellerslie Racecourse, is a Group 2 horse race run for three-year-olds at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. When the New Zealand Derby was moved from December to March in the 2005-06 season, the race w ...

, 3rd Karaka Mile, 6th Avondale Guineas'' * Chipandchase – ''8th

, 10th Karaka Mile'' * Maygrove – ''9th

'' * Blizzard – ''2nd

, 6th Waikato Guineas, 7th Avondale Guineas'' * Thorn Pass – ''7th

, 10th Avondale Guineas'' * Lucky Feather – ''3rd Wellington Guineas, 3rd Wellington Stakes, 10th

, 4th Avondale Guineas'' * The Fire Inside – ''7th Eulogy Stakes, 3rd Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic'' * Colonel Carrera – ''13th Great Northern Guineas, 5th Championship Stakes, 2nd Waikato Guineas, 11th Avondale Guineas'' * Spellbinder – ''2nd Sarten Memorial, 3rd

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 Satu ...

, 1st Karaka Mile, 2nd Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic'' * Habitual Offender – ''6th Great Northern Guineas'' * King Savinsky – ''6th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 10th Waikato Guineas'' * Stand Your Ground – No stakes races * Mr Frankey – No stakes races

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Subsequent wins at Group 1 level by runners in the 2014 New Zealand Derby. * Rising Romance –

Australian Oaks The Australian Oaks is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies at set weights run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. The Aust ...

* Puccini –

Thorndon Mile The Thorndon Mile (formally WRC George Adams Handicap) is a Group One (G1) Thoroughbred horse race contested at Trentham Racecourse by the Wellington Racing Club. The race is run on Wellington Cup day, traditionally the last Saturday of January. ...

References

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