New Zealand Messenger Championship

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New Zealand Messenger Championship
Group I race
LocationAlexandra Park
Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated1967
Race typeStandardbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.alexandrapark.co.nz
Race information
Distance2700m
SurfaceDirt
TrackRight-handed oval
QualificationFour-year-old horses
PurseNZ $91,200 (2021)

The New Zealand Messenger Championship is a Group One event for 4 year old pacing horses in New Zealand, run at Alexandra Park. In recent years the race has been held in late April or early May. It is on the same race-night as the Rowe Cup and Northern Trotting Derby for trotters and the New Zealand Sires Stakes Championship.

The New Zealand Messenger Championship had traditionally been restricted to 4 year-old horses and was the most prestigious race for that age group in New Zealand, and a key guide to feature races in the following season like the New Zealand Trotting Cup and Auckland Cup. This is evidenced by New Zealand Messenger Championship winners and subsequent Cup victors such as Lazarus, Auckland Reactor, Monkey King, Mainland Banner, Elsu and Just An Excuse to name a few.

For the 2013, 2014 and 2015 years 5 year olds were also eligible to compete in the race. However, from 2016 it reverted to 4 year olds only.

Winners list[]

Year
Month
Horse
Owner
Driver
 Time
2021 Apr Copy That M W & M T Butterworth Maurice McKendry 3:18.81
2020 not raced
2019 May Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, JA Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, GA Woodham, Mrs KJ Woodham. Natalie Rasmussen 3:17.6
2018 Apr Eamon Maguire BD Sceats, GJ Anderson, R Chalklin, SR Pulley, AD Gow, Mrs PP Gillan Natalie Rasmussen 3:15.7
2017 Apr Lazarus Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, TG Casey, KJ Riseley Mark Purdon 3:25.2
2016 Apr Field Marshall Mrs S A Brown, S B Brown 3:15.8
2015 Apr Sky Major Mrs K J Purdon, T G Casey, Clear View Racing No 4 Syndicate, J Lohman, T F Henderson, The Anzac Racing Syndicate Zac Butcher 3:15.6
2014 May Elios Bennett Bloodstock Ltd, C Eynon, M R McKinnon, G Rutledge, B Destounis John Dunn 3:17.4
2013 May Christen Me C J Roberts, V L Purdon 3:17.7
2012 May Mustang Mach K Farah, A Kheir, G Braude, M Gordon 3:18.0
2011 May Franco Emirate R E Nieper Jim Curtin 3:18.0
2010 May Tintin In America ATC Trot 2008 Syndicate David Butcher 3:15.8
2009 May Auckland Reactor Auckland Reactor Ltd Mark Purdon 3:18.8
2008 May Gotta Go Cullen I D Dobson Tony Herlihy 3:22.9
2007 May Monkey King Cavalla Bloodstock Limited Steven Reid 3:23.9
2006 May I D Dobson, S J Dobson, Lynne Umar Ricky May 3:23.5
2005 April Mi Muchacho R C Anderson, Ms P C Larsen Peter Ferguson 3:23.5
2004 April Elsu Mrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P Small David Butcher 3:22.2
2003 May Just An Excuse O Haines, Mrs I K Haines Todd Mitchell 3:22.0
2002 April Young Rufus H Manolitsis, V, T & W Lynch, G J Carey, K R Hyslop Mark Purdon 3:21.4
2001 March Tupelo Rose G L Banks, M J Hanover, J D Curtin Peter Jones 3:23.6
2000 March Pic Me Pockets H R Bosher Tony Herlihy 3:19.8
1999 April Homin Hosed Mrs M A Macey, B L Macey Todd Mitchell 3:23.1
1998 May OK Royal J W Smolenski, M J Ward Jack Smolenski 3:20.6
1997 April Agua Caliente D S Short, Mrs D E J Short, Mrs D E Woods, Miss S M Short Glen Wolfenden 3:24.7
1996 April Decision Time J M Ward James Stormont 3:22.3
1995 April Rain Again B C Madsen Neil Brady 3:23.0
1994 April Montana Vance J B Hart, Mrs K J Purdon, J B Ede, D H Sixton Tony Herlihy 3:23.0
1993 March Chokin Pacers Australia Synd, M Joyce, J Loughnan, B De Boer Tony Herlihy 3:23.3
1992 April Abdias J Butcher, Mrs C M Butcher Philip Butcher 3:27.0
1991 April Christopher Vance R R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C Reid Tony Herlihy 3:19.5
1990 March Alert Fulla J Friedhof Maurice McKendry 3:25.8
1989 March Dillon Dean D P Dwyer, Mrs H M C Burley Colin De Filippi 3:22.7
1988 February Rostriever Hanover I A Munro, Mrs A H Munro Patrick O'Reilly 3:23.5
1986 December Trident The Horseplayers Syndicate John Hay 3:25.8
1985 December Placid Victor Mrs L G Wilson Maurice McKendry 3:23.2
1984 December Roydon Glen R A McKenzie Fred Fletcher 3:25.4
1983 December Nostradamus W J Francis & P I Renwick Peter N Jones 3:32.4
1982 December Hilarious Guest M G Vermeulen Peter Wolfenden 3:26.2
1981 December Melton Monarch J S Dalgety Barry Purdon 3:26.5
1980 December John Tudor H T & A P Dodds & B C Newton Thomas H Knowles 3:29.3
1979 December Tempest Tiger P K Ryder Jack Smolenski 3:27.9
1978 March Sapling G C Cruickshank & R Given Henry Skinner 3:26.4
1978 December Locarno B J & E J Francis Robin D Butt 3:34.6
1977 March W J Francis & G B & J B Noble John B Noble 3:28.4
1976 March Forto Prontezza Mrs E & A R J McNaught Henry Skinner 3:29.2
1975 March Josias J & Mrs C M Butcher Robert F Mitchell 3:29.6
1974 March Speedy Guest W F Woolley Jack Smolenski 3:28.8
1973 March Tonton Macoute N M Allcock & W E Ross A K Holmes 3:10
1972 March Scottish Warrior R A McKenzie C S Hunter 3:10.2
1970 December Sam Tryax Mrs & R C Whitford Barry J Anderson 3:11.6
1969 December Western Ridge T E Renshaw Reg J Weatherley 3:14.2
1968 December Bewitched G B Noble John B Noble 2:55.8
1967 December Governor Frost C Hadley Peter Wolfenden 2:55.4

Other major races[]

See also[]

References[]


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