The 2022 New Zealand Derby was a

Group I Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N * Group On ...

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 on Saturday 5 March 2022. It was the 147th 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

Asterix ''Asterix'' or ''The Adventures of Asterix'' (french: Astérix or , "Asterix the Gaul") is a ''bande dessinée'' comic book series about a village of indomitable Gaulish warriors who adventure around the world and fight the Roman Republic, wi ...

. 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 Mark John Greatbatch (born 11 December 1963) is a former New Zealand international cricketer. He scored more than 2,000 runs in his 41 Test matches for New Zealand. A left-handed batsman and very occasional right-arm medium pace bowler in first ...

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 Tauranga on February 16. The Derby was a massive step up in class for the emerging stayer, who was sent out as one of the outsiders of the field at 45-to-one. Pre-race attention was dominated by the high-class filly La Crique, who had scored runaway victories in the

Desert Gold Stakes The Desert Gold Stakes is a horse race held by the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham Racecourse named in honor of the great filly, Desert Gold. The horses taking part are 3 year-old fillies which race over 1600 metres. History The race was firs ...

and Avondale Guineas in her two previous starts. But after biding his time at the back of the field, Asterix and Johnathan Parkes began to creep forward out wide as the field made their way down the side of the track. Asterix swooped around the extreme outside at the home turn and challenged for the lead at the top of the straight, bounding clear with less than 200 metres to run. La Crique was in an awkward position at the turn and took a crucial few seconds to work her way into the clear, by which time Asterix was well out of reach, winning by a length and a half. The race time, 2:27.24, was the equal fourth-fastest time in the history of the New Zealand Derby.

Race details

* ''Sponsor:'' Vodafone New Zealand * ''Prize money:'' NZ$1,000,000 * ''Track:'' Dead * ''Number of runners:'' 12 * ''Winner's time:'' 2:27.24

Full result

Winner's details

Further details of the winner,

: * ''Foaled:'' 10 November 2018 * ''Sire:'' Tavistock; ''Dam:'' Mourasana (Shirocco) * ''Owner:'' D & B Kelt, A & L Scott &

* ''Trainer:'' Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott * ''Breeder:'' Go Bloodstock New Zealand Ltd * ''Starts:'' 4 * ''Wins:'' 2 * ''Seconds:'' 0 * ''Thirds:'' 0 * ''Earnings:'' $607,200

The road to the Derby

Early-season appearances prior to running in the Derby. * La Crique – 3rd Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial, 1st

, 1st Avondale Guineas * Regal Lion - 5th Waikato Guineas, 7th Avondale Guineas * Soldier Boy - 1st Wanganui Guineas, 6th Hawke's Bay Guineas, 9th Sarten Memorial, 4th Wellington Stakes, 8th Waikato Guineas * Nest Egg - 5th Wanganui Guineas, 10th

Hawke's Bay Guineas The Hawke's Bay Guineas is a major Thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand for three-year-old horses. In 2003 the stake was boosted to $100,000 and the race was moved to the first Saturday in October, meaning that it is run on the same day as the S ...

, 9th Avondale Guineas * White Noise - 1st Wellington Stakes, 6th Auckland Guineas, 1st Gingernuts Salver, 4th Avondale Guineas * Montre Moi - 11th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 3rd Karaka Million 3YO Classic, 4th Waikato Guineas * Arjay's Flight - 3rd Gingernuts Salver, 4th Waikato Guineas, 2nd Avondale Guineas * Marchand - 8th Sarten Memorial, 3rd Uncle Remus Stakes, 3rd Avondale Guineas

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Subsequent wins at Group 1 level by runners in the 2022 New Zealand Derby. * La Crique - 2022

Arrowfield Stud Plate The Arrowfield Stud Plate is a New Zealand Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay. The race is registered as the Horlicks Plate and has been previously known as: * the Windsor Park Plate. In 2022 the race sponsor and na ...

, 2024

Otaki-Maori Weight for Age The Otaki-Maori Weight For Age Stakes is a group 1 flat horse race held at Otaki racecourse in New Zealand, racing under the name El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic. History The race is held annually in February and is run under weight for age (WFA) ...

* Pinarello – 2022

Queensland Derby The Queensland Derby is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at, set weights, run over a distance of 2400 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia in June during the Queensland Winter Racing Carniv ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Zealand Derby

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