Auckland Cup
The Auckland Cup is an annual race held by the Auckland Racing Club (ARC). It is an Open Handicap for thoroughbred racehorses competed on the flat turf over 3200 metres (two miles) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. The race is graded as a Group One (G1) and was first contested in 1874.[1]
| Group I race | |
 Beau Vite,1940 winner | |
| Location | Ellerslie Racecourse Auckland, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1874 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3200m (2 miles) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | NZ$500,000 |
For years, the Auckland Cup was the richest horse race in New Zealand. It recalled such names as Beau Vite, Howe, Kindergarten, Beaumaris, Yeman, and Froth, and a consistent runner of the 1880s, Australian champion Nelson, who greeted the judge at the head of the field three times in four years.[2]
The Auckland Cup is currently run for a purse of NZ$500,000. Since 2006, the race is contested on the second Saturday of Auckland Cup Week at the beginning of March. It was run on Boxing Day from its inception until 1958 and then on New Year's Day from 1958 to 2006.
The first meeting of the [Auckland Racing] Club was in May 1874. One of the events, run over a distance of 1 1⁄2 miles, was named the Auckland Cup. This race was won by Mr. J Watt's three-year-old Batter. At the Summer Meeting of 1874 the Auckland Cup was run on Boxing Day over a distance of two miles and in subsequent published records of the club this race is shown as being the first official, recognized Auckland Cup contest.[3]
This race was won by Templeton who must have been an impressive horse as to inspire Thomas Bracken (composer of 'God Defend New Zealand')[4] to write a requiem of sorts to his fading prowess called Old Templeton. The day was reviewed positively in the 28 December issue of the New Zealand Herald,[5] and was found to be absent of ‘sheanannaking’ and ‘hanky-panky’ and that everything was ‘above-board’ and ‘up hill and down straight’.[6]
The 2021 running of the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup will be run on Saturday 13 March at approximately 5.30pm. It is typically the second-to-last race run on the final day of Auckland Cup Week®.
Winners since 1997
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
Second place | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Roger That | 7 | Samantha Collett | Antony Fuller | PG Allan, SB Cunningham, Mrs SH Fuller & C Squires | 3:19.96 | Sound | Platinum Invader |
| 2019 | Glory Days | 6 | Samantha Collett | Bill Thurlow | G D & P A Thurlow, B J & S A McAree | 3:32.00 | Five to Midnight | Blue Breeze |
| 2018 | Ladies First | 5 | Johnathan Parkes | Allan Sharrock | FJ & HT O'Leary | 3:22.17 | Five To Midnight | Wildflower |
| 2017 | Chenille | 5 | Leith Innes | Tony Pike | V T W Breeding Company Ltd, G & J Capes | 3:22.90 | El Pistola | Jacksstar |
| 2016 | El Soldado | 9 | Darryl Bradley | Phillip Devcich | Philip Devcich, B & C Higginson | 3:21.70 | Rose Of Virginia | Sacred Master |
| 2015 | Rock Diva | 4 | Mark Du Plessis | Tony Pike | Raffles Racing | 3:21.74 | King Kamada | Pondarosa Miss |
| 2014 | Who Shot Thebarman | 5 | Matt Cameron | Mark Oulaghan | O'Leary Brothers | 3:25.28 | Celtic Prince | More Than Sacred |
| 2013 | Sangster | 4 | Opie Bosson | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | M Bradley, M Fenwick, K Greenlees et al. | 3:23.23 | El Soldado | Chaparrone |
| 2012 | Shez Sinsational | 4 | James McDonald | Allan Sharrock | A Baeyertz, J Goodin, G MacDonald et al. | 3:25.35 | Spiro | Six O’Clock News |
| 2011 | Titch | 6 | Opie Bosson | Kevin Myers | J N Wallace | 3:17.02 | Showcause | Castle Heights |
| 2010 | Zavite | 7 | Damien Oliver | Anthony Cummings | N Falconer et al. | 3:18.96 | Booming | Tin Goose |
| 2009 | Spin Around | 8 | Vinnie Colgan | Steven Cooper | Brookby Stables | 3:23.61 | Mr Tipsy | Mandela |
| 2008 | Prize Lady[7] | 6 | Mark Sweeney | Graeme Sanders & Debbie Sweeney | J C Wallis | 3:35.09[8] | Gallions Reach | Resolution |
| 2007 | Prize Lady | 5 | Mark Du Plessis | Graeme Sanders & Debbie Sweeney | J C Wallis | 3:23.63 | Pentane | Luckshan |
| 2006 | Pentane | 4 | Michael Walker | Lance O'Sullivan | M G & P A Fraher | 3:21.52 | Zabeat | Zarius |
| 2005 | Bazelle | 5 | Mark Du Plessis | Paul Jenkins | M Glennan, B Hewitt et al. | 3:29.45 | Bondy | Zabeat |
| 2004 | Upsetthym | 5 | Gemma Sliz | Karen Fursdon | Pepsi Syndicate | 3:23.61 | Galway Lass | My Governess |
| 2003 | Bodie | 5 | Noel Harris | Neil Connors | C & E M Connor | 3:20.03 | Oarsman | Ebony Honor |
| 2002 | Maguire | 5 | Scott Seamer | K Collins | Watson Bloodstock | 3:21.74 | Cyclades | Ebony Honor |
| 2001 | Our Unicorn | 6 | Michael Coleman | C Alderson | K L & K K Yam | 3:26.91 | Ebony Honor | Nikisha |
| 2000 | Able Master | 4 | Grant Cooksley | Bruce Wallace | Able International Syndicate | 3:22.34 | Second Coming | In My Time |
| 1999 | Irish Chance | 5 | Noel Harris | Colin Jillings & R Yuill | Sir Michael Fay & Sir Patrick Hogan | 3:21.91 | Shans Beau | Mulqueen |
| 1998 | Jezabeel | 5 | Opie Bosson | Brian Jenkins | A Burr & B Jenkins & P Tatham | 3:19.97 | Aerosmith | North Lady |
| 1997 | Yobro (Aus) | 6 | Grant Cooksley | Kirk W Roberts, Rosehill | Ross M Nichols | 3:23.02 | Interval | Regal Chief |
| 1996 | Senator | Mark Sweeney | Jack Tims | Jack Tims[9] | 3:19.4 | Maxam | Wigan Prince | |
| 1995 | Royal Tiara | 5m | Sarah Campbell | SJ & Trevor McKee, Takanini | J A Wells | 3:21.24 | Popsy | All In Fun |
| 1994 | Miltak | 4 | Lance O'Sullivan | Miltak Syndicate | 3:18.80 | |||
| 1993 | Ligeiro | 4 | Lance O'Sullivan | Mrs D, JD, LD & Mrs SJ Georgetti | 3:18.18 | |||
| 1992 | Castletown | 5 | Noel Harris | PM Busuttin, B J McCahill & KP Morris | 3:24.10 | |||
| 1991 | Star Harvest | 7 | Jim Collett | B J Dyke | A P & D J & P F Gollan & E W C Morgan | 3:22.70 | Shugar | Coconut Ice |
| 1990 | Miss Stanima | 5 | Maree Lyndon | Murray Baker | L W Dallimore & K J Picone | 3:23.10 | Flying Luskin | All Nighter |
| 1989 | Spyglass | 4 | G L Cooksley | D G S & G S & J C S Bayley | 3:27.36 | |||
| 1988 | Sea Swift | 6 | Chris Johnson | R I Agnew, D M Williams & the Estate of J B Thomson | 3:15.66 | |||
| 1987 | Kotare Chief | 8 | R W Caddigan | Sir Richard Bolt & H Ryan | 3:16.63 | |||
| 1986 | Kerry Lane | 6 | G J Grylls | B G Neville-White & P J Walker | 3:23.87 | |||
| 1985 | Secured Deposit | 5 | N J Hain | N G Atkins, E M Mackley & D J Ralph | 3:17.18 | |||
| 1984 | Stylish Dude | 6 | Greg Childs | R A Parker, J S Sheffield, D J Taylor & Mrs S I McKenzie | 3:21.06 | |||
| 1983 | Fountaincourt | 4 | P Smith | G A Hodson, P J Madden and A N Paul | 3:20.59 | |||
| 1982 | Chimbu | 5 | P R Alderman | Mr and Mrs J R H Nolan | 3:23.44 | |||
| 1981 | Drum | 5 | C P McNab | G P Donnelly, K H and W K Pike and D G Sellwood | 3:21.80 | |||
| 1980 | Blue Denim | 4 | Bob Vance | P H P Bayley and V T Bennett | 3:25.70 | |||
| 1979 | Tamboura | 5 | Bob Vance | B B and Mrs N J Cameron and H E Pearce | 3:22.00 | |||
| 1978 | Stylemaster | 5 | C P McNab | E B Weal | 3:20.50 | |||
| 1977 | Royal Cadenza | 4 | R J Skelton | B O Reed & J K Robb | 3:25.32 | |||
| 1976 | Perhaps | 4 | B P Thomson | G A Jordan, W J Sandman and the Estate of E J H Shorter | 3:21.14 | |||
| 1975 | Kia Maia | 5 | J F Grylls | T B Mathieson | 3:25 | |||
| 1974 | Rose Mellay | 4 | R J Skelton | Mrs B Madsen | 3:17.6 | |||
| 1973 | Apollo Eleven | 5 | B F Andrews | J D Foote | 3:20 | |||
| 1972 | Sailing Home | 6 | J P Riordan | Mrs J Edgar Jones | 3:27 | |||
| 1971 | Artifice | 4 | E J Didham | G H & Mrs S A Murdoch | 3:20 | |||
| 1970 | Il Tempo | 7 | Neil D Riordan | W Bruce Priscott | 3:19 | |||
Previous winners
- 1969 – Il Tempo
- 1968 – Bright Chief
- 1967 – Royal Sheen
- 1966 – Apa
- 1965 – Lucky Son
- 1964 – Senor
- 1963 – Stipulate
- 1962 – Floutulla
- 1961 – Ruato
- 1960 – Marie Brizard
- 1959 – Froth
- 1958 – Red Eagle
- 1957 – NOT HELD
- 1956 – Yeman
- 1955 – Tesla
- 1954 – Arawa
- 1953 – Coaltown
- 1952 – Rev
- 1951 – Classowa
- 1950 – Beaumaris
- 1949 – Swanee
- 1948 – Frances
- 1947 – Balgowan
- 1946 – Sylis
- 1945 – Expanse
- 1944 – Foxwyn
- 1943 – Lord Chancellor
- 1942 – Kindergarten
- 1941 – Piastre (AUS)
- 1940 – Beau Vite
- 1939 – Cheval De Volee
- 1938 – Cheval De Volee
- 1937 – The Buzzer
- 1936 – Cuddle
- 1935 – Cuddle
- 1934 – Gold Trail
- 1933 – Minerval
- 1932 – Fast Passage
- 1931 – Admiral Drake
- 1930 – Motere
- 1929 – Concentrate
- 1928 – Corinax (AUS)
- 1927 – Rapier
- 1926 – Tanadees (AUS)
- 1925 – Rapine
- 1924 – Te Kara
- 1923 – Muraahi/Te Kara
- 1922 – Scion
- 1921 – Malaga
- 1920 – Starland
- 1919 – Karo
- 1918 – Mascot
- 1917 – Fiery Cross
- 1916 – Depredation
- 1915 – Balboa
- 1914 – Warstep
- 1913 – Sir Solo
- 1912 – Bobrikoff
- 1911 – Santa Rosa
- 1910 – Waimangu
- 1909 – All Red
- 1908 – All Red
- 1907 – Zimmerman
- 1906 – Master Delaval
- 1905 – Putty
- 1904 – Mahutonga
- 1903 – Wairiki
- 1902 – Siege Gun
- 1901 – St. Michael
- 1900 – Blue Jacket
- 1899 – Blue Jacket
- 1898 – Uhlan
- 1897 – Antares
- 1896 – Nestor
- 1895 – Anita
- 1894 – Lottie
- 1893 – Pegasus
- 1892 – St. Hippo
- 1891 – Pinfire
- 1890 – Crackshot
- 1889 – Leopold
- 1888 – Lochiel
- 1887 – Nelson (AUS)
- 1886 – Nelson (AUS)
- 1885 – Nelson (AUS)
- 1884 – The Poet
- 1883 – Salvage
- 1882 – Welcome Jack
- 1881 – King Quail
- 1880 – Foul Play
- 1879 – Ariel
- 1878 – Ariel
- 1877 – Lara
- 1876 – Ariel
- 1875 – Kingfisher
- 1874 – Templeton
References
- Auckland Cup – Winners List
- RACEHORSES – FAMOUS NEW ZEALAND THOROUGHBREDS Three “Greats”
- "'A noble breed: Auckland Racing Club 1874–1974'. William Mackie, 1974". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
- Heritage et AL: God Defend New Zealand
- Papers Past: The New Zealand Herald
- Heritage et AL: Auckland Cup and Racing at Ellerslie
- https://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/news/story/prize-lady-wins-auckland-cup-again-33832?section=NZ
- http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/300985/Prize-Lady-survives-protest-to-claim-Auckland-Cup
- https://loveracing.nz/News/27947/FarewelltoJackTimsanall-roundhorseman.aspx