Spring Classic
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Group I race | |
Location | Hastings Racecourse Hawke's Bay, New Zealand |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1955 |
Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
Website | Hawke's Bay Racing |
Race information | |
Distance | 2040m (10 furlongs) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
Weight | Weight for Age |
Purse | NZ$250,000 (2021) |
The Livamol Spring Classic Formerly the Kelt Capital Stakes is a Weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and was at one stage New Zealand's richest horse race. It is run at a distance of 2040m and carries prize money of NZ$250,000.
The race is run on the first Saturday in October, along with two other Group features, the Hawke's Bay Guineas for three-year-olds and a 1400 m handicap formerly known as the G.R. Kelt Memorial. The weather in the Hawke's Bay's means the track conditions are usually excellent.
The race is now regarded as New Zealand's premier weight-for-age race and has attracted interest from overseas, most notably with subsequent world champion miler Starcraft who ran second in 2004.
The race is the part of the Triple Crown raced at Hastings Racecourse, along with:
- (1) the 1400m Tarzino Trophy which was previously known as the Makfi Challenge Stakes or Mudgway Stakes and is currently called the Tarzino Trophy - raced on the first Saturday in September, and
- (2) the 1600m Windsor Park Plate which was previously known as the Stony Bridge Stakes and before that the Horlicks Plate.
Many of New Zealand's best thoroughbred horses have raced in the various Triple Crown events. A number of horses managed to win two of the three races and some were beaten into second in the third leg. On 5 October 2019 Melody Belle was the first horse to win all three of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown races.
History[]
The race was originally known as the Ormond Memorial and took place on the second day of the autumn carnival until the 1985/86 season when it was moved to the Spring.
From 1991 to 2009 the race was sponsored by Kelt Capital Limited, and in particular the owner thereof Sam Kelt, a strong supporter of New Zealand and particularly Hawke's Bay racing.
1996 would see it gain Group 1 status and the distance changed from 2000m to 2040m.
The growth in prize money was substantial in the decade up to 2008. In 2000 it was worth $250,000; in 2002 it was the equal richest race in New Zealand at $500,000 and in 2004 it was New Zealand's first million-dollar race. The race was worth $2,000,000 in 2007 and 2008, but the stake had to be reduced to $1,200,000 in 2009 as that level was deemed unsustainable.
In 2010, after the cessation of the Kelt sponsorship, the Ormond Memorial name was modified in recognition of Lady Katherine (Kit) Acklin née Ormond who had recently died.
Since 2010 The stakes have remained at $250,000, below several major races in New Zealand but still slightly ahead in terms of weight-for-age races.
Name[]
- Ormond Memorial (1955-1990)
- Kelt Capital Stakes (1991-2009)
- Kit Ormond Memorial (2010)
- NZB Insurance Spring Classic (2011-2012)
- The Turks Spring Classic (2013)
- Livamol Classic (2014-Present)
Group Status[]
- 1955-1978 (Stakes Race)
- 1979-1992 (Group 3)
- 1993-1995 (Group 2)
- 1996- (Group 1)
Notable Winners[]
- Redcraze (1955) Who went to win the Caulfield Cup (1956) and the Cox Plate (1957).
- Balmerino (1977) NZ Horse of the Year (1976) and winner of the Rawson Stakes (1976) and the Brisbane Cup (1976).
- La Mer (1978, 1979) Champion mare and 1977 New Zealand Horse of the Year.
- Lomondy (1986) Winner of the Adelaide Cup (1986), Brisbane Cup (1986) and the Caulfield Cup (1986).
- Castletown (1991) New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame stayer and three time winner of the Wellington Cup (1991, 1992, 1994) also won the Auckland Cup (1992) and the Caulfield Stakes (1992).
- Veandercross (1992) 8 time group 1 winner and 1993 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year.
- Solvit (1994) Winner of the Cox Plate (1994).
- Xcellent (2005) Champion 3 year old and two time New Zealand Horse of the Year (2005, 2006).
- Jimmy Choux (2011) Champion 3 year old, 5 time group 1 winner and 2011 New Zealand Horse of the Year.
- Melody Belle (2019, 2020) Champion mare with 14 group 1 races to her name. Two time New Zealand Horse of the Year (2019, 2020).
Winners of the Spring Classic[]
Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Savy Yong Blonk | Danielle Johnson | Jamie Richards, Matamata | 2:04.50 |
2020 | Melody Belle 57 | Troy Harris | Jamie Richards, Matamata | 2:10.12 |
2019 | Melody Belle 57[1] | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards, Matamata | 2:05.45 |
2018[2] | Savvy Coup 55 | Chris Johnson | M & M Pitman, Riccarton | 2:04.08 |
2017 | Wait a Sec 59 | Jonathan Parkes | Guy Lowry & Grant Cullen, Hastings | 2:05.59 (dead) |
2016 | Willie Cazals (IRE) 59 | Craig Grylls | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata | 2:09.75 |
2015 | Addictive Habit 59 | Sam Spratt | Lee Somervell, Cambridge | 2:05.77 |
2014 | Costume 57 | Michael Coleman | Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea | 2:02.66 |
2013 | Ransomed 59 | Jonathan Parkes | Gary Vile, Awapuni | 2:04.21 |
2012 | Shez Sinsational 57 | Opie Bosson | Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth | 2:04.89 |
2011 | Jimmy Choux 57.5 | Jonathan Riddell | John Bary, Hastings | 2:06.24 |
2010 | Wall Street 59 | Michael Coleman | Jeff Lynds, Awapuni | 2:02.97 |
2009 | Vosne Romanee 59 | Buddy Lammas | Jeff Lynds, Awapuni | 2:08.42 |
2008 | Princess Coup 56.5 | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker, Matamata | 2:04.58 |
2007 | Princess Coup 55 | Noel Harris | Mark Walker, Matamata | 2:04.16 |
2006 | Legs 55 | Lisa Cropp | Kevin Gray, Awapuni | 2:03.82 |
2005 | Xcellent 57 | Michael Coleman | Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata | 2:03.21 |
2004 | Balmuse 59 | Jamie Bullard | Kevin Myers, Wanganui | 2:05.03 |
2003 | Distinctly Secret 59 | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker, Matamata | 2:03.64 |
2002 | Prized Gem 56 | Michael Rodd | Murray Baker, Cambridge | 2:04.10 |
2001 | Cinder Bella 56 | Lance O'Sullivan | Karen Zimmerman, Otaki | 2:03.31 |
2000 | The Message 59 | Linda Ballantyne | John Ralph, Te Rapa | 2:03.91 |
1999 | Cent Home 57 | David Walker | Jim Wallace, Opaki | 2:02.16 |
1998 | Just Call Me Sir 47.5 | Trudy Collett | Moira Murdoch, Pukekohe | 2:04.06 |
1997 | Moss Downs 59 | Michael Coleman | Chris McNab, Hastings | 2:03.63 |
1996 | Love Dance 56.5 | Gary Grylls | Bev & Ken Kelso, Matamata | 2:03.41 |
1995 | Italian Saint 59 | Tony Allan | Noel Eales, Awapuni | 2:03.41 |
1994 | Solvit 59 | David Walsh | Moira Murdoch, Pukekohe | 2:00.16 |
1993 | Calm Harbour 59 | Lance O'Sullivan | Noel Eales, Awapuni | 1:59.70 |
1992 | Veandercross 57 | Jim Walker | Chris Turner, Wanganui | 2:09.81 |
1991 | Castletown 59 | Noel Harris | Paddy Busuttin, Foxton | 2:04.71 |
1990 | Timandra Steed 59 | David Johnson | James Clement | 2:00.03 |
1989 | Lomondy 59 | David Walsh | Noel Eales, Awapuni | 2:12.01 |
1988 | Classic Bay 59 | Ross Elliot | Merv Andrews, Awapuni | 2:10.23 |
1987 | Secret Seal 59 | Noel Harris | Jeff Lynds, Awapuni | 2:04.15 |
1986 | Lomondy 59 | Jim Walker | Noel Eales, Awapuni | 2:06.42 |
1985 (Spring) | Always Summer 56.5 | David Walsh | Don Grubb, Fielding | 2:04.20 |
1985 (Autumn) | Deb’s Mate 59 | Debbie Healey | H S Wadham, Pukekohe | 2:12.70 |
1984 | Commissionaire 58 | Jim Cassidy | Noel Eales, Awapuni | 2:02.57 |
1983 | Commissionaire 58 | Jim Cassidy | Noel Eales, Awapuni | 2:03.43 |
1982 | Ruanuku 58 | Stephen Autridge | Miss L I Pratt, Cambridge | 2:15.95 |
1981 | Serendiper 58 | David Walsh | Mrs W L Sullivan, Te Rapa | 2:05.3 |
1980 | Harmanaire 53.5 | R Jenkins | T Nightingale, Hastings | 2:04.04 |
1979 | La Mer 57 | D Harris | M Smith, New Plymouth | 2:03 |
1978 | La Mer 56 | D Harris | M Smith, New Plymouth | 2:08.4 |
1977 | Balmerino 57 | M Campbell | B J Smith, Cambridge | 2:08.2 |
1976 | Duty Free 58 | R Jenkins | Mrs A Fogden, Manakau | 2:12 |
1975 | Curly Wave 58 | B S Compton | G O Mudgway, Te Rapa | 2:04.8 |
1974 | Guest Star 53.5 | R C Franklin | I J & I R Tucker, Takanini | 2:19.8 |
1973 | Duty Free 9.2 | R J Fergus | Mrs A Fogden, Manakau | |
1972 | Count Kereru 9.2 | G A Phillips | Miss A Bowman, Fielding | |
1971 | 9.2 | R B Marsh | K H Quinlivan, Hastings | |
1970 | 9.2 | R B Marsh | K H Quinlivan, Hastings | |
1969 | 9.2 | R B Marsh | K H Quinlivan, Hastings | |
1968 | Dalvui 9.2 | Bill Skelton | D Jones, Hastings | |
1967 | Terrific 9.0 | G F Hughes | M & F Ritchie, Ellerslie | |
1966 | Palisade 9.2 | Bob Skelton | D P Wilson, Wingatui | |
1965 | Empyreus 8.6 | R W Taylor | K H Quinlivan, Hastings | |
1964 | Tatua 9.0 | G R Edge | W J Pratt, Te Awamutu | |
1963 | Picaroon 9.2 | B J Langford | K H Quinlivan, Hastings | |
1962 | Moy 8.12 | K S Cullen | K Couper, Hastings | |
1961 | Picaroon 9.2 | J Anderson | K H Quinlivan, Hastings | |
1960 | Picaroon 9.2 | J Anderson | K H Quinlivan, Hastings | |
1959 | Supertax 9.0 | V J Sellars | T C Alcock, Pukekohe | |
1958 (Dead Heat) | Rover 8.6 | W L Aitken | T B Mcneil, Hastings | |
1958 (Dead Heat) | Savage 8.6 | V J Sellars | E Temperton, Awapuni | |
1957 | Pinnacle Ridge 9.0 | W Broughton | V E Bryant, Foxton | |
1956 | Syntax 8.6 | N B Holland | S Walker, Hamilton | |
1955 | Redcraze 9.0 | V J Sellars | Syd Brown, Woodville |
See also[]
A list of the winners of all 3 Hawkes Bay Triple Crown events is at Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
References[]
- ^ "Melody Belle completes NZ's spring triple crown".
- ^ New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2018, 47th Edition, Dennis Ryan, Editor Racing Media Limited
- Horse races in New Zealand
- Open middle distance horse races