Levin Classic

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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)

The Group One Levin Classic - formerly the Bayer Classic - is one of the premier races for three-year-old thoroughbreds in New Zealand.

For much of its history, the race was run at Levin and then 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 conducted by the Wellington Racing Club.

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. In 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]

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
2021 Bonham 54.5 Lisa Allpress Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard, Otaki 1:37.67 Brando 56.5 Wild Moose 56.5
2020 Travelling Light 54.5 Samantha Collett Ben Foote, Cambridge 1:36.71 Harlech 56.5 Riodini 56.5
2019 Madison County 56.5 Matthew Cameron Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge 1:35.89 Hypnos 56.5 Vernanme 56.5
2018 Age Of Fire 56.5 Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata 1:36.63 Belle Du Nord 54.5 Savvy Coup 54.5
2017 Hall Of Fame 56.5 Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata 1:35.54 Saville Row 56.5 Jon Snow 56.5
2016 Dukedom 56.5 Lisa Allpress Steven Cole 1:36.96 Son Of Maher 56.5 Rangipo 56.5
2015 Gaultier 56.5 Michael Coleman Danica Guy, Matamata 1:36.62 Sardaaj 54.5 Huka Eagle 56.5
2014 Recite 54.5 Mark Du Plessis John Bary, Hastings 1:36.10 Franzac 56.5 Aspen 56.5
2013 No race held
2012 Southern Lord 56.5 Kelly Myers Alan Tait, Matamata 1:34.63 Le Choix 56.5 Soriano 55
2011 Distill 56.5 Robert Hannam Roydon Bergerson, Awapuni 1:35.97 Randall 56.5 Antonio Lombardo 56.5
2010 We Can Say It Now 54.5 Leith Innes Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge 1:34.27 Blinding 54.5 Lady Kipling 54.5
2009 Eileen Dubh 55 Jonathan Riddell Francis Finnegan, Woodville 1:35.43 St Germaine 54.5 Green Supreme 56
2008 Altered Image 56 Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata 1:32.5 Spontaneous 56 Izonit 56
2007 Keepa Cruisin 54.5 Leith Innes Stephen McKee, Ardmore 1:34.85 Run Like Al 56 Satinka 54.5
2006 Porotene Gem 54.5 David Walker Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge 1:40.10 (Soft) Jokers Wild 56 Figueres 56
2005 Wahid 56 Hayden Tinsley Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth 1:36.18 (Dead) Shikoba 53.5 Izzat 56
2004 Ambitious Owner Leith Innes Murray Baker, Cambridge 1:34.77
2003 Russian Pearl Hayden Tinsley Bruce & Stephen Marsh, Woodville 1:34.96 Taatletail King’s Chapel
2002 Bunker Opie Bosson Trevor & Stephen McKee, Takanini 1:37.14
2001 Final Destination Gary Grylls Vannessa Hillis, Matamata 1:35.88
2000 Tit For Taat Hayden Tinsley Wayne Herbert 1:35.11
1999 Buzz Lightyear 56 Opie Bosson Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu 1:35.28 Domero 56 Greatthings Happen 56
1998 Tobruk Leith Innes Graham Richardson, Matamata 1:37.67
1997 Love De Tor Greg Childs Mike Moroney, Matamata 1:33.69
1996 O'Reilly 55.5 Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata 1:35.74 High Return 55.5 Rebel 55.5
1995 Prussian Blue Shane Udy Davina Waddell, Pukekohe 1:34.97
1994 Avedon 55.5 Darryl Bradley Felix Patrick Campbell, Awapuni 1:34.81 Starcent 53 Allegro 55.5
1993 Al Akbar 55.5 Gary Grylls Chris Wood, Cambridge 1:43.97 (heavy) Western Red 55.5 Facing The Music 53
1992 Nimue 53 Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata 1:33.66 Kaaptive Edition 55.5 Hula Strike 55.5
1991 Veandercross 55.5 Jim Walker Chris Turner, New Plymouth 1:34.35 Overwhelmed 55.5 Captain Cook 55.5
1990 Eagle Eye 55.5 Noel Harris Murray Baker, Woodville 1:39.64 Sir Alberton 55.5 Play On 55.5
1989 Phillipa Rush 53 Lance O'Sullivan Jim Campin, Cambridge 1:36.20 Pumpernickel 55.5 Status 55.5
1988 Krona Peter Tims Roger McGlade, Taupo 1:35.53
1987 Young Indian Peter Tims Norm Morgan, Ruakaka 1:35.75
1986 The Bishop 55.5 Maree Lyndon Don Couchman, Hawera 1:36.78 Margarella 53 Precocious Lad 55.5
1985 Bonecrusher 55.5 Jim Cassidy Frank Ritchie, Takanini 1:36.90 French Polish 53 Seadreamer 53
1984 Princess Dram 53 Maree Lyndon Neil Bradley, Hawera 1:35.90 Avana 53 Kingdom Bay 55.5
1983 Burletta 53 Jim Cassidy Felix Patrick Campbell, Hastings 1:36.0 Eastern Bay 53 Prince Ariba 55.5
1982 Our Flight Maurice Campbell Errol Skelton, Levin 1:36.2
1981 Altitude Stephen Autridge Bill Ford, Matamata 1:36.00

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "The Informant".
  • 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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