New Zealand Derby

for the trotting event, see: New Zealand Trotting Derby

Group I race
New Zealand Derby

Location	Ellerslie Racecourse Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated	1860
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Ellerslie Racecourse
Race information
Distance	2,400 metres (12 furlongs)
Track	Turf, right-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	Set-Weights
Purse	NZ$2.2 million

The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, 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 of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2 million. ^[1]

History

The race combines two races which were the New Zealand Derby, run since 1860 in Riccarton, Christchurch and the Great Northern Derby, run since 1875 in Ellerslie, Auckland. Both were run over 12 furlongs, and were equally prestigious derbies.^[2] The combining of the two races into one was achieved in 1973, when the New Zealand Derby was moved from Christchurch up to Auckland, and the Great Northern Derby was no longer run.

In 1973, the "combined" New Zealand Derby was held in Ellerslie. Riccarton was instead given two 1,600 m races for three-year-olds in place of the Derby, the One Thousand and Two Thousand Guineas. After its May debut, the race was soon moved to New Year's Day, and then finally to Boxing Day. It continued to be run on this day for many years and became a popular traditional social occasion for Aucklanders until it was moved to the first day of the new Auckland Cup Week in March. The first March running of the Derby in 2006 was won by Wahid, from the stable of Allan Sharrock in New Plymouth.

Only a small number of fillies have ever won the Derby against the male horses including the great Desert Gold. Three have done so since 1980 - Our Flight in 1983, Tidal Light in 1987 and Popsy in 1994, all exceptional fillies.

Many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses feature on the New Zealand Derby's/Great Northern Derby's winners' lists, including Nightmarch, Kindergarten, Balmerino, Desert Gold, Mainbrace, Gloaming and Bonecrusher. ^[3] Several horses features on both lists, including the great Defaulter, who won the 1938 NZ Derby and then the 1939 Great Northern Derby.

Winners of the New Zealand Derby

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2011	Jimmy Choux	Jonathan Riddell	John Bary	Chouxmaani Investments Ltd.	2:38.35
2010	Military Move	Michael Walker	Shaune Ritchie	Steven Lo	2:27.91
2009	Coniston Bluebird	Scott Seamer	Bede Murray	Murray Livestock, J O'Brien, J & R Standford & J Wilson	2:31.04
2008	C'est La Guerre	David Walker	Kevin Myers	K Barker et al.	2:33.47
2007	Redoute's Dancer	Vinnie Colgan	Tim Martin	P. Silvestro	2:27.24
2006	Wahid	Leith Innes	Allan Sharrock	Noel H. & Ron T. Stanley	2:27.42
2004	Xcellent	Michael Coleman	Michael Moroney	G W Breingan et al.	2:32.01
2003	Cut The Cake	Michael Coleman	Michael Moroney	N M Anderson/G W Breingan et al.	2:28.88
2002	St Reims	Greg Childs	Chris McNab	Rob McAnulty et al.	2:28.57
2001	Leica Guv	Scott Seamer	Jeff McVean	R A and Mrs R J Scarborough	2:28.98
2000	Hail	Noel Harris	Bruce Marsh	A J Cunningham & R B Marsh	2:32.27
1999	Hades	Vinnie Colgan	Roger James	Mrs F E & R A Dixon	2:27.57
1998	So Casual	Damien Oliver	Ross Taylor	G C P Beadel et al.	2:24.80
1997	Zonda	Vinnie Colgan	Roger James	Hundalee Derby Syndicate	2:31.58
1996	Great Command	Darren Beadman	Michael Moroney	H J & J Chan, R R McAnulty & D Tsang	2:27.97
1995	Roysyn	Vinnie Colgan	Roger James	Mrs B P & J B Harvey	2:30.10
1994	Look Who's Talking	Grant Cooksley	Nigel Tiley	Unifaith Limited	2:28.18
1993	Popsy	Lance O'Sullivan	D & P O'Sullivan	Barnaby & Co Ltd	2:27.24
1992	The Phantom Chance	Robert Vance	Colin Jillings	W B Ballin	2:25.98
1991	Cavallieri	Grant Cooksley	Laurie Laxon	L K Laxon, S Shew & F & Mrs Z Sing	2:29.18
1990	Surfers Paradise	Lance O'Sullivan	D & P O'Sullivan	F Cheung, K Chong, G Fong & J D Smith	2:28.02
1989	Castletown	Bruce Compton	Patrick Busuttin	P M Busuttin, B J McCahill & K P Morris	2:29.28
1988	The Gentry	Greg Childs	Ray & Kerry Verner	L W Davis, H K Haub, P J Walker & Haunui Farm	2:27.49
1987	Satisfy	Maurice Campbell	N D Nicoloff	N D & P H Nicoloff	2:35.41
1986	Tidal Light	Grant Cooksley	Jim Gibbs	S A Taylor	2:28.63
1985	Bonecrusher	Gary Stewart	Frank Ritchie	Peter J. Mitchell	2:29.47
1984	Jolly Jake	Chris McNab	Alan Jones	I W Allan	2:27.39
1983	I'm Henry	Robert Vance	Colin Jillings	A J & M M Bates	2:29.78
1982	Our Flight	Maurice Campbell	Errol Skelton	J W Rusher	2:32.48
1981	Isle Of Man	Robert Vance	Davina Waddell	R F Langsford and D L Waddell	2:28.89
1980	Ring The Bell	Nigel Tiley	Neville Atkins	E M Mackley and B P Wild	2:30.23
1979	Ruling Lad	Garry Phillips	Brian Deacon	E N Baker	2:35.38
1978	Kaiser	Alwin Tweedie	Neville Atkins	T J and Mrs Doole	2:29.42
1977	Uncle Remus	Robert Vance	Colin Jillings	K F Clotworthy and Mrs G M Donaldson	2:29.51
1976	Silver Lad	D Wyatt	B Petley	D and Mrs Nicholls and R R Peel-Walker	2:29.76
1975	Balmerino	Maurice Campbell	Brian Smith	R K Stuart	2:31.21
1974	Mansingh
1973	Furys Order

• Not run in 2005 with change of date (Dec 04 - Mar 06)

Earlier winners (New Zealand Derby)

Main article: New Zealand Derby

• Note that the New Zealand Derby and the Great Northern Derby were combined into one race in 1973.

• 1860 Ada
• 1861 Otto
• 1862 Emmeline
• 1863 Azucena
• 1864 Opera
• 1865 Egremont
• 1866 Nebula
• 1867 Scandal
• 1868 Flying Jib
• 1869 Manuka
• 1870 Envy
• 1871 Defamation
• 1872 Calumny
• 1873 Papapa
• 1874 Tadmor
• 1875 Daniel O'Rourke
• 1876 Songster
• 1877 Trump Card
• 1878 Natator
• 1879 Hornby
• 1880 Sir Modred
• 1881 The Dauphin
• 1882 Cheviot
• 1883 Oudeis
• 1884 Black Rose
• 1885 Stonyhurst
• 1886 Disowned
• 1887 Maxim
• 1888 Manton
• 1889 Scots Grey
• 1890 Medallion
• 1891 Florrie
• 1892 Stepniak
• 1893 Skirmisher
• 1894 Blue Fire
• 1895 Euroclydon
• 1896 Uniform
• 1897 Multiform
• 1898 Altair
• 1899 Seahorse

• 1900 Renown
• 1901 Menschikoff
• 1902 Orloff
• 1903 Roseal
• 1904 Nightfall
• 1905 Noctiform
• 1906 Zimmerman
• 1907 Elevation
• 1908 Husbandman
• 1909 Elysian
• 1910 Danube
• 1911 Masterpiece
• 1912 Bon Reve
• 1913 Cherubini
• 1914 Balboa
• 1915 Desert Gold
• 1916 The Toff
• 1917 Estland
• 1918 Gloaming (AUS)
• 1919 Rossini
• 1920 Duo
• 1921 Winning Hit
• 1922 Enthusiasm
• 1923 Black Ronald
• 1924 Count Cavour
• 1925 Runnymede
• 1926 Commendation
• 1927 Agrion
• 1928 Nightmarch
• 1929 Honour
• 1930 Cylinder
• 1931 Bronze Eagle (AUS)
• 1932 Silver Scorn
• 1933 Nightly
• 1934 Sporting Blood
• 1935 Lowenberg
• 1936 Wild Chase
• 1937 Royal Chief
• 1938 Defaulter
• 1939 Beaulivre

• 1940 Enrich
• 1941 Battledress
• 1942 Rink
• 1943 Tara King
• 1944 Pensacola
• 1945 Al-Sirat
• 1946 Royal Tan
• 1947 Liebestraum
• 1948 St. Bruno
• 1949 Beaumaris
• 1950 The Unicorn
• 1951 Dalray
• 1952 Programme
• 1953 Idaho
• 1954 Port Boy
• 1955 Syntax
• 1956 Passive
• 1957 William Paul
• 1958 Up and Coming
• 1959 Sol d'Or
• 1960 Blue Lodge
• 1961 Burgos
• 1962 Algalon
• 1963 Royal Duty
• 1964 Trial Offer
• 1965 Roman Consul
• 1966 Fair Account
• 1967 Jazz
• 1968 Pep
• 1969 Piko
• 1970 Fairview Lad
• 1971 Master John
• 1972 Classic Wave

Earlier winners (Great Northern Derby)

Main article: Great Northern Derby

• Note that the New Zealand Derby and the Great Northern Derby were combined into one race in 1973.

• 1875 - Toi
• 1876 - Ariel
• 1877 - Danebury
• 1878 - Venus Transit
• 1879 - Omega
• 1880 - Libeller
• 1881 - Tim Whiffler
• 1882 - Fitz Hercules
• 1883 - Welcome Jack
• 1884 - Nelson
• 1885 - Tigridia
• 1886 - Foul Shot
• 1887 - Disowned
• 1888 - Sextant
• 1889 - Cuirassier
• 1890 - Tirailleur
• 1891 - Medallion
• 1892 - Morion
• 1893 - St. Hippo
• 1894 - Loyalty
• 1895 - Stepfeldt
• 1896 - Fabulist
• 1897 - Nestor
• 1898 - St. Crispin
• 1899 - Blue Jacket
• 1900 - Miss Delaval
• 1901 - Renown
• 1902 - Menschikoff
• 1903 - Wairiki
• 1904 - Gladsome
• 1905 - Gladstone
• 1906 - Multifid
• 1907 - Zimmerman
• 1908 - Boniform
• 1909 - Husbandman

• 1910 - Kilwinning
• 1911 - Danube
• 1912 - Counterfeit
• 1913 - Bon Reve
• 1914 - Cherubini
• 1915 - Reputation
• 1916 - Desert Gold
• 1917 - Sasanof
• 1918 - Estland
• 1919 - Gloaming
• 1920 - Royal Stag
• 1921 - Gasbag
• 1922 - Winning Hit
• 1923 - Enthusiasm
• 1924 - Ballymena
• 1925 - Court Cavour
• 1926 - Star Stranger
• 1927 - Commendation
• 1928 - Martama
• 1929 - Red Heckle
• 1930 - Hunting Cry
• 1931 - Karapoti
• 1932 - Bronze Eagle
• 1933 - Silver Scorn
• 1934 - Red Manfred
• 1935 - Gay Blonde
• 1936 - Greek Shepherd
• 1937 - Essex
• 1938 - Courtcraft
• 1939 - Defaulter
• 1940 - Beau Vite
• 1941 - Kindergarten
• 1942 - Regal Fox
• 1943 - Indian Princess
• 1944 - Expanse

• 1945 - Coronaire
• 1946 - Lady Foxbridge
• 1947 - Beau Le Havre
• 1948 - Sweet Nymph
• 1949 - Tauloch
• 1950 - Sweet Spray
• 1951 - Mainbrace
• 1952 - Dalray
• 1953 - Programme
• 1954 - Fox Myth
• 1955 - Somerset Fair
• 1956 - Syntax
• 1957 - Passive/Gibraltar
• 1958 - Lawful
• 1959 - Gitano
• 1960 - Stipulate
• 1961 - Cracksman
• 1962 - Tatua
• 1963 - Ichtar
• 1964 - Sobig
• 1965 - Peterman
• 1966 - Star Belle

Reference list

1. ^ Race details - Major races NZ Derby and AJC Derby
2. ^ New Zealand Derby Race History since 1860
3. ^ Great horses in the New Zealand Derby and Great Northern Derby

See also

• Horseracing in New Zealand
• New Zealand Derby (Riccarton) forerunner of the New Zealand Derby
• Great Northern Derby forerunner of the New Zealand Derby