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.
| Group I race | |
| Location | Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, (2014-) Otaki Racecourse (1991-2012) Levin Racecourse (1981-1990) |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Levin Racing Club |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1600m (1 mile) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Set-Weights |
| Purse | NZ$225,000 (2020) |
For much of its history, the race was run at Levin or 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]
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 | Second place |
Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Bonham 54.5 | Lisa Allpress | Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard | 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 | 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 | 1:36.62 | Sardaaj 54.5 | Huka Eagle 56.5 |
| 2014 | Recite 54.5 | Mark Du Plessis | John Bary | 1:36.10 | Franzac 56.5 | Aspen 56.5 |
| 2013 | No race held | |||||
| 2012 | Southern Lord 56.5 | Kelly Myers | Alan Tait | 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 | 1:34.27 | Blinding 54.5 | Lady Kipling 54.5 |
| 2009 | Eileen Dubh 55 | Jonathan Riddell | Francis Finnegan | 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 | 1:40.10 (Soft) | Jokers Wild 56 | Figueres 56 |
| 2005 | Wahid 56 | Hayden Tinsley | Allan Sharrock | 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, | 1:34.96 | Taatletail | King’s Chapel |
| 2002 | Bunker | Opie Bosson | Trevor & Stephen 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 56 | Opie Bosson | Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu | 1:35.28 | Domero 56 | Greatthings Happen 56 |
| 1998 | Tobruk | Leith Innes | Graham Richardson | 1:37.67 | ||
| 1997 | Love De Tor | Greg Childs | Mike Moroney | 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 | 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 | 1:33.66 | Kaaptive Edition 55.5 | Hula Strike 55.5 |
| 1991 | Veandercross 55.5 | Jim Walker | Chris Turner | 1:34.35 | Overwhelmed 55.5 | Captain Cook 55.5 |
| 1990 | Eagle Eye 55.5 | Noel Harris | Murray Baker | 1:39.64 | Sir Alberton 55.5 | Play On 55.5 |
| 1989 | Phillipa Rush 53 | Lance O'Sullivan | Jim Campin | 1:36.20 | Pumpernickel 55.5 | Status 55.5 |
| 1988 | Krona | Peter Tims | Roger McGlade | 1:35.53 | ||
| 1987 | Young Indian | Peter Tims | N Morgan | 1:35.75 | ||
| 1986 | The Bishop 55.5 | Maree Lyndon | Don Couchman | 1:36.78 | Margarella 53 | Precocious Lad 55.5 |
| 1985 | Bonecrusher 55.5 | Jim Cassidy | Frank Ritchie | 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 | M Campbell | Errol Skelton | 1:36.2 | ||
| 1981 | Altitude | Stephen Autridge | Bill Ford | 1:36.00 | ||
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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