New Zealand Derby

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Group I race
New Zealand Derby

Location	Ellerslie Racecourse Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated	1875
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Ellerslie Racecourse
Race information
Distance	2400m (12 furlongs)
Track	Turf, right-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	Set-Weights
Purse	NZ$700,000

The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. Since it was run for the first time as the ARC Auckland Derby Principal race over 12F in 1875, there have been 130 runnings of the race and it has become New Zealand's most prestigious three-year-old race.

It is currently run for a purse of NZ$700,000.

[edit] History

The inaugural running of the Derby was in May 1875, when racing was held at Ellerslie Racecourse for the first time. Just three horses took part, of which one was withdrawn before the start and another failed to complete the course, leaving Toi to finish the race and become the first Derby winner. In 1887 it was renamed the ARC Great Northern Derby Principal race over 12F

The race kept the name Great Northern Derby, while Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch held the New Zealand Derby, regularly attracting better horses than the Riccarton equivalent, until 1973 when the Great Northern Derby was renamed the New Zealand Derby. Riccarton was instead given two 1600 m races for three-year-olds in place of its 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. 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 Derby winners' list, including Kindergarten, Balmerino, Desert Gold, Mainbrace and Bonecrusher.

[edit] Winners of the New Zealand Derby

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2008	C'est La Guerre	David Walker	Kevin Myers	K Barker et al	2:33.47
2007	Redoute's Dancer	Vinny 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	Vinny 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	Vinny Colgan	Roger James	Hundalee Derby Syndicate	2:31.58
1996	Great Command	Darren Beadman	Mike Moroney	H J & J Chan, R R McAnulty & D Tsang	2:27.97
1995	Roysyn	Vinny 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