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.

Levin Classic
Group I race
LocationTrentham Racecourse, Wellington, (2014-)
Otaki Racecourse (1991-2012)
Levin Racecourse (1981-1990)
Inaugurated1981
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
WebsiteLevin Racing Club
Race information
Distance1600m (1 mile)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
WeightSet-Weights
PurseNZ$225,000 (2020)

For much of its history, the race was run at Ōtaki on the last Friday in November. Since 2014 it has been run at Trentham Racecourse as part of the Wellington Cup Carnival in January.

History

The race, first run under the name Levin Turf Classic, was originally run at Levin Racecourse until that facility was closed as a racing venue in 1990 and the race was transferred to nearby Ōtaki.

For more than a decade the race was sponsored by Bayer, and many people still know the race as the Bayer Classic.

Concern began to grow in the 2000s about the race's close proximity to the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and New Zealand 1000 Guineas, both run in the second week in November. The three Group 1 3-year-old races over a mile in the New Zealand racing season were all run within the space of three weeks, leading to an inevitable dilution of quality of fields. It September 2013 it was announced the race would be transferred to Trentham in Wellington and staged on the first day of Wellington Cup Week in January.[1]

Among the most famous winners are Bonecrusher, Veandercross, O'Reilly, Russian Pearl and Wahid.

Winners of the Levin Classic

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer(s) Time
2020 Travelling Light Samantha Collett Ben Foote, Cambridge 1:36.71
2019 Madison County Matthew Cameron Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman 1:35.89
2018 Age Of Fire Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata 1:36.63
2017 Hall Of Fame Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata 1:35.54
2016 Dukedom Lisa Allpress Steven Cole 1:36.96
2015 Gaultier Michael Coleman Danica Guy 1:36.62
2014 Recite Mark Du Plessis John Bary 1:36.10
2013No race held
2012 Southern Lord Kelly Myers Alan Tait 1:34.63
2011 Distill Robert Hannam Roydon Bergerson 1:35.97
2010 We Can Say It Now Leith Innes Murray & Bjorn Baker 1:34.27
2009 Eileen Dubh Jonathan Riddell Francis Finnegan 1:35.43
2008 Altered Image Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney 1:32.5
2007 Keepa Cruisin Leith Innes Stephen McKee, Ardmore 1:34.85
2006 Porotene Gem David Walker Kevin Gray 1:40.10 (Soft)
2005 Wahid Hayden Tinsley Allan Sharrock 1:36.18 (Dead)
2004 Ambitious Owner Leith Innes Murray Baker, Cambridge 1:34.77
2003 Russian Pearl Hayden Tinsley Bruce & Stephen Marsh, 1:34.96
2002 Bunker Opie Bosson T & S McKee 1:37.14
2001 Final Destination Gary Grylls Vannessa Hillis 1:35.88
2000 Tit For Taat Hayden Tinsley Wayne Herbert 1:35.11
1999 Buzz Lightyear Opie Bosson Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu 1:35.28
1998 Tobruk Leith Innes Graham Richardson 1:37.67
1997 Love De Tor Greg Childs Mike Moroney 1:33.69
1996 O'Reilly Lance O'Sullivan D & P O'Sullivan, Matamata 1:35.74
1995 Prussian Blue Shane Udy Davina Waddell 1:34.97
1994 Avedon Darryl Bradley Fred Patrick Campbell, Awapuni 1:34.81
1993 Al Akbar Gary Grylls Chris Wood 1:43.97 (heavy)
1992 Nimue Lance O'Sullivan D & P O'Sullivan 1:33.66
1991 Veandercross Jim Walker Chris Turner 1:34.35
1990 Eagle Eye Noel Harris Murray Baker 1:39.64
1989 Phillipa Rush Lance O'Sullivan Jim Campin 1:36.20
1988 Krona Peter Tims Roger McGlade 1:35.53
1987 Young Indian Peter Tims N Morgan 1:35.75
1986 The Bishop Maree Lyndon Don Couchman 1:36.78
1985 Bonecrusher Jim Cassidy Frank Ritchie 1:36.90
1984 Princess Dram Maree Lyndon Neil Bradley 1:35.90
1983 Burletta Jim Cassidy Patrick Campbell 1:36.0
1982 Our Flight M Campbell Errol Skelton 1:36.2
1981 Altitude Stephen Autridge Bill Ford 1:36.00
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See also

References

  • N.Z. Thoroughbred Racing Inc.
  • http://www.racenet.com.au
  • http://www.nzracing.co.nz
  • http://www.tab.co.nz
  • http://www.racebase.co.nz
  • The Great Decade of New Zealand racing 1970-1980. Glengarry, Jack. William Collins Publishers Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2018 (47th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2017 (46th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2008 (37th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2005 (34th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2004 (33rd edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2000 (29th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1995 (24th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1994 (23rd edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Meadowset Publishing, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1991 (20th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1987 (16th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1985 (Fourteenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1984 (Thirteenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1982 (Eleventh edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1981 (Tenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1980 (Ninth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1979 (Eighth edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1978 (Seventh edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1976. Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland.
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