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$350,000 (2023)

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 known as the Bayer Classic.

For much of its history, the race was run at Levin and then Ōtaki on the last Friday in November.

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. From 2014 the Levin Classic was moved to Trentham Racecourse in Wellington and initially run as part of the Wellington Cup Carnival in January conducted by the Wellington Racing Club.

Since 2022 it has been run in March, on the same day as the:

Notable winners

Among the most famous winners are Bonecrusher, Veandercross, O'Reilly, Our Flight, Russian Pearl, Tit For Taat and Wahid.

Race results

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer(s) Time Second place
Third
2023[1]Romancing The Moon 55Kozzi AsanoMark Walker1:37.13 (soft)Skew Wiff 55Luella Cristina 55
2022[2]Imperatriz 54.5Michael McNabJamie Richards1:36.43 (dead)On The Bubbles 56.5I Wish I Win 56.5
2021[3] Bonham 54.5 Lisa Allpress Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard, Otaki 1:37.67 Brando 56.5 Wild Moose 56.5
2020[4] Travelling Light 54.5 Samantha Collett Ben Foote, Cambridge 1:36.71 Harlech 56.5Riodini 56.5
2019[5] Madison County 56.5 Matthew Cameron Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge 1:35.89 Hypnos 56.5Vernanme 56.5
2018[6] Age Of Fire 56.5 Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata 1:36.63 Belle Du Nord 54.5Savvy Coup 54.5
2017[7] Hall Of Fame 56.5 Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata 1:35.54 Saville Row 56.5Jon Snow 56.5
2016[8] Dukedom 56.5 Lisa Allpress Steven Cole 1:36.96 Son Of Maher 56.5Rangipo 56.5
2015[9] Gaultier 56.5 Michael Coleman Danica Guy, Matamata 1:36.62 Sardaaj 54.5Huka Eagle 56.5
2014[10] Recite 54.5 Mark Du Plessis John Bary, Hastings 1:36.10 Franzac 56.5Aspen 56.5
2013No race held
2012[11] Southern Lord 56.5 Kelly Myers Alan Tait, Matamata 1:34.63 (good) Le Choix 56.5Soriano 55
2011[12] Distill 56.5 Robert Hannam Roydon Bergerson, Awapuni 1:35.97 (good) Randall 56.5Antonio Lombardo 56.5
2010[13] We Can Say It Now 54.5 Leith Innes Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge 1:34.27 (good) Blinding 54.5Lady Kipling 54.5
2009[14] Eileen Dubh 55 Jonathan Riddell Francis Finnegan, Woodville 1:35.43 (good) St Germaine 54.5Green Supreme 56
2008[15] Altered Image 56 Michael Coleman Michael & Paul Moroney, Matamata 1:32.50 (good) Spontaneous 56Izonit 56
2007[16] Keepa Cruisin 54.5 Leith Innes Stephen McKee, Ardmore 1:34.85 (good) Run Like Al 56Satinka 54.5
2006[17] Porotene Gem 54.5 David Walker Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge 1:40.10 (soft) Jokers Wild 56Figueres 56
2005[18] Wahid 56 Hayden Tinsley Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth 1:36.18 (Dead) Shikoba 53.5Izzat 56
2004 Ambitious Owner 55.5 Leith Innes Murray Baker, Cambridge 1:34.77 (Good) Fiscal Madness 55.5Magnetism 55.5
2003 Russian Pearl 56 Hayden Tinsley Bruce & Stephen Marsh, Woodville 1:34.96 (soft) Taatletail 53.5King’s Chapel 56
2002 Bunker 56 Opie Bosson Trevor & Stephen McKee, Takanini 1:37.14 (soft) Dane choice 56Cheerine Kid 56
2001 Final Destination 53.5 Gary Grylls Vannessa Hillis, Matamata 1:34.9 (good) Shinnecock 54Armondo 56
2000 Tit For Taat 56 Hayden Tinsley Wayne Herbert 1:35.11 (good) Star Satire 56Sir Clive 54
1999 Buzz Lightyear 56 Opie Bosson Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu 1:35.28 Domero 56Greatthings Happen 56
1998 Tobruk 56 Leith Innes Graham Richardson, Matamata 1:37.67 (soft) With Drawn 56Kaapeon 56
1997 Love De Tor 53 Greg Childs Michael Moroney, Matamata 1:33.69 (good) Foxwood 53Quality Kingdom 53
1996 O'Reilly 55.5 Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata 1:35.74 High Return 55.5Rebel 55.5
1995 Prussian Blue 55.5 Shane Udy Davina Waddell, Pukekohe 1:34.97 (good) Anemos 56Super Crest 53
1994 Avedon 55.5 Darryl Bradley Felix Patrick Campbell, Awapuni 1:34.81 Starcent 53Allegro 55.5
1993 Al Akbar 55.5 Gary Grylls Chris Wood, Cambridge 1:43.97 (heavy) Western Red 55.5Facing The Music 53
1992 Nimue 53 Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata 1:33.66 Kaaptive Edition 55.5Hula Strike 55.5
1991 Veandercross 55.5 Jim Walker Chris Turner, New Plymouth 1:34.35 Overwhelmed 55.5Captain Cook 55.5
1990 Eagle Eye 55.5 Noel Harris Murray Baker, Woodville 1:39.64 Sir Alberton 55.5Play On 55.5
1989 Phillipa Rush 53 Lance O'Sullivan Jim Campin, Cambridge 1:36.20 Pumpernickel 55.5Status 55.5
1988 Krona 55.5 Peter Tims Roger McGlade, Taupo 1:35.53 (good) Straight Order 55.5Kate’s Myth 53
1987 Young Indian 55.5 Peter Tims Norm Morgan, Ruakaka 1:35.75 (good) Sound Belt 55.5Candide 53
1986 The Bishop 55.5 Maree Lyndon Don Couchman, Hawera 1:36.78 Margarella 53Precocious Lad 55.5
1985 Bonecrusher 55.5 Jim Cassidy Frank Ritchie, Takanini 1:36.90 French Polish 53Seadreamer 53
1984 Princess Dram 53 Maree Lyndon Neil Bradley, Hawera 1:35.90 Avana 53Kingdom Bay 55.5
1983 Burletta 53 Jim Cassidy Felix Patrick Campbell, Hastings 1:36.0 Eastern Bay 53Prince Ariba 55.5
1982 Our Flight 53 Maurice Campbell Errol Skelton, Levin 1:36.2 (good) Red Tempo 55.5Clansman 55.5
1981 Altitude 55.5 Stephen Autridge Bill Ford, Matamata 1:36.00 (good) Noble Heights 53Volare 55.5

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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.