|
Otaki-Maori Weight For Age
The Otaki-Maori Weight For Age Stakes is a group 1 flat horse race held at Otaki racecourse in New Zealand, racing under the name Trackside Otaki-Māori WFA Classic. History The race is held annually in February and is run under weight for age (WFA) conditions. It is now raced over a distance of 1600 metres, although in the past it was a 1400-metre event. Originally the race was run as a Listed race and eventually stepped up to Group 1 status in 1992. Past names for the race include the: * Family Hotel WFA; * Auto Auctions WFA; * Terrace Regency Hotel WFA; * First Sovereign Trust Otaki-Maori WFA; * Huanui Farm WFA Classic; * El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic. Past results See also * Recent winners of major NZ races * Levin Classic * Railway Stakes * Telegraph Handicap * Thorndon Mile * Waikato Sprint * Captain Cook Stakes The TAB Classic is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run at weight-for-age over a distance of 1,600 metres (1 mile) at Trentham Racecourse in Welling ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Group One
Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race system introduced in 1971 and monitored by the European Pattern Committee. To attain or maintain a Group One status, the average rating for the first four finishers in the race must be 115 or higher over a three-year period. The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities works to ensure consistent international standards. Group One races may only be restricted to age groups or a stipulated sex: they should not be restricted to horses bred in a certain country (though there are regional exceptions to this rule). Group One (G1) races may be run under Handicap (horse racing), handicap conditions in Australia, but in Europe Weight for Age, weight-for-age conditions always apply. In the case of Classic Races, as exampled by Britain's The D ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
O'Reilly (horse)
O'Reilly (24 August 1993 – 31 December 2014) was a New Zealand bred and trained thoroughbred racehorse who won two Group 1 races. O'Reilly was bred by Waikato Stud Holdings Limited. His dam, Courtza, was the winner of the 1989 Golden Slipper Stakes. He was named after the Irish international rugby player and businessman Tony O'Reilly. He was entered in the 1995 Karaka Yearling Sales but was unable to be sold when he failed a veterinary test, due to an abnormality in his larynx, so he was retained by his owner, Gary Chittick. Racing career O'Reilly was initially placed with Melbourne trainer, Gerald Ryan, but due to injuries was put out to paddock for eight months. After his rest he was then trained by Dave and Paul O'Sullivan at Matamata and ridden in all his races by Lance O'Sullivan. In the November 1996 Bayer Classic Group 1 event for 3 year old horses at Otaki, he beat High Return and Rebel. In January 1997, he contested the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham, an open ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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. 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 W ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thoroughbred Racing In New Zealand
The racing of Thoroughbred horses (or gallopers, as they are also known) is a popular gaming and spectator sport and industry in New Zealand. History Thoroughbred horse racing commenced soon after European settlement. The first totalisator machine in the world was installed at Ellerslie Racecourse in 1913, (see Sir George Julius). Thoroughbred racing with the associated aspects such as horse breeding, training and care, race betting, race-day management and entertainment has gradually developed into an industry worth billions of dollars. The governing body is the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated. Race clubs and courses of New Zealand Thoroughbred racing is held throughout New Zealand, including courses in some of the smaller centres. Major Thoroughbred horse races in New Zealand Prominent people For further prominent people in New Zealand thoroughbred racing, see the list of honorees of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Leading jockeys According to w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Poetic Prince (horse)
Poetic Prince, known in Australia as Our Poetic Prince, was an Australian bred and New Zealand trained race-horse that was a top performer at Group 1 level. Racing career Poetic Prince was trained by John Wheeler at New Plymouth. Two year old season After a third in his debut race at Ellerslie Racecourse on 18 April 1987 he won his next three races, at Trentham Racecourse and Foxton over 1200m ridden by David Walsh and then Wairarapa (1400m) with Garry Phillips. He was then taken to Eagle Farm where he raced once, a sixth placing in the Castlemaine Stakes (1600m) on a heavy track behind Flotilla and Hunter. Three year old season Starting his season in New Zealand he won another four races in a row including a Group 3 1200m at Waikato from Weston Lea and Young Indian. Returning to Australia he performed at the very top level with the following: * first past the post in the 1987 Caulfield Guineas ridden by Noel Harris but was relegated to second behind Marwong in the Stewards ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mr Tiz
Mr Tiz (2 February 1984 – 30 January 2014) was a champion New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for his three consecutive wins in the Railway Stakes (1,200 metres) at Ellerslie, the country's premier sprint race for thoroughbreds. Mr Tiz remains the only horse to have achieved this feat. Furthermore, he also won New Zealand's other major sprint race, the Telegraph Handicap (1,200 metres) on two occasions. Background Trained at Matamata by Dave and Paul O'Sullivan, the gelding was bred in Australia by International Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. He raced 36 times for 17 wins, two seconds and six-thirds. Dave O'Sullivan, one of the most successful trainers in New Zealand racing history, labelled Mr Tiz "the greatest racehorse I've ever trained". Racing career Mr Tiz showed his potential from very early in his career, being placed in his first two starts before a maiden win at Paeroa at his third raceday appearance. From there, his career took off - he won the Ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rough Habit
Rough Habit (2 December 1986 – 7 November 2014) was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won 11 Group One (G1) races on both sides of the Tasman, and won New Zealand's Horse of the Year Award in 1992 and 1995. Background Rough Habit, a bay gelding with a distinctive white blaze trailing over his near-side nostril, was foaled on 2 December 1986. He was sired by Roughcast (USA) out of Certain Habit (NZ) by Ashabit (GB). Certain Habit was the dam of 11 named foals produced in Australia and New Zealand, producing 2 stakes winners in Rough Habit and Citi Habit. Racing record Rough Habit was trained by John Wheeler, and had nine campaigns in Australia, from three to eight years of age. He won Group One races in Sydney and Melbourne and six of his 11 Group One races at the Brisbane winter carnivals, where his wins included the Queensland Derby, two Stradbroke Handicaps, and a record three Doomben Cups. Rough Habit won 21 feature races from 1,400 to 2,400 metres, on wet ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Walsh (jockey)
David Walsh (born October 1959) is a former jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. He is notable for having won the New Zealand jockey's premiership twice and riding over 2,500 winners in New Zealand and overseas. Racing career David Walsh was born in Ashburton. His father Michael was a shearer and freezing worker. David was encouraged by his grandfather Mac McEwen to be a jockey. David Walsh was apprenticed to Jim Lalor and had his first race-day start at Riccarton Park Racecourse during New Zealand Cup week in 1974 and his first winner, Three Sevens in December of that year. He rode three other wins in his first season. Walsh's total of over 2,500 victories in his four decade career includes races in Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Mauritius. He has the second highest total of New Zealand winners behind Chris Johnson. Walsh previously held the New Zealand record total having overtaken Lance O'Sullivan's total on 27 April 2014 when he rode Willy Duggan t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Noel Harris
Noel Graham Harris , also known as "Harry" or "NGH", is a former jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. He is notable for having ridden 2,167 raceday winners in New Zealand which is the fourth highest total behind Chris Johnson, David Walsh and Lance O'Sullivan and he has won the jockeys' premiership in both New Zealand and Singapore. In 2018 Harris was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. In 2025 Harris was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the thoroughbred racing industry. Riding career Noel Harris was apprenticed at Woodville to his father, John William (Jock) Harris who was a leading jockey both on the flat and over jumps before becoming a horse trainer. Noel rode his first winner at Foxton on 16 May 1970 and took out the 1971–72 apprentice jockeys' premiership at 18-years-old before sharing the national jockeys' premiership with David Peake the following year. Harris achieved 34 Group One wins, including al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mark Du Plessis
Mark Du Plessis (born 3 October 1975, Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe) is a horse racing jockey. He was champion apprentice jockey in Zimbabwe in 1994/1995 and the winner of Zimbabwe senior jockeys' championship in 1997/1998. He moved to New Zealand and starting riding in the late 1990s in the North Island. He has won 80 Group and listed races and a current total of 867 victories in New Zealand. Du Plessis also rode in Singapore. and he rode 60 winners in each of the last two seasons during brief stints in Hong Kong. In 2018 Mark moved to Australia to continue his career. Major wins New Zealand * Auckland Cup - Bazelle (2005), Prize Lady (2007), Rock Diva (2015). * Easter Handicap - Albany Reunion (2014) * Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes - Vespa (2014) * Hawke's Bay Guineas - Sir Andrew (2013). * Karaka Million 2YO - Vespa (2014) * Levin Classic - Recite (2014) * Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes - Recite (2013) * New Zealand 1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas is a Group One set-we ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lance O'Sullivan
Lance Anthony O'Sullivan (born 28 August 1963) is a New Zealand Thoroughbred horse trainer and former champion jockey. Lance is the son of premiership winning horse trainer Dave O’Sullivan and the brother of Paul O'Sullivan. Riding career Lance O’Sullivan’s first ride was on 12 June 1980 when he rode Her Highness to win the Arapuni Handicap at Te Awamutu, a horse trained by his father. O'Sullivan retired from riding in 2003 with a record 2358 New Zealand winners. In addition to this total he rode a further 121 winners offshore in places as diverse as Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Singapore and Turkey. When he retired O'Sullivan was credited with winning: 12 New Zealand Jockey's Premierships (a record), having broken Bill Broughton's long-standing record of 11 and 62 GP1 winners. His biggest win as a jockey was the 1989 Japan Cup on champion mare Horlicks, breaking the world record for 2400m. Despite a number of attempts O'Sullivan was never quite able to win t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Danehill (horse)
Danehill (26 March 1986 – 13 May 2003) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who was the most successful sire of all time with 349 stakes winners and 89 Graded stakes race, Grade 1 winners. He was the leading sire in Australia nine times, the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland three times and the leading sire in France twice. Background Danehill was a bay stallion by leading sire Danzig (horse), Danzig (by Northern Dancer) out of Razyana (by His Majesty). Danehill was inbred twice to Natalma in the third generation (3x3) of his pedigree. He was a brother to a stakes winner, Eagle Eyed, and two other stallions, Anziyan and Nuclear Freeze. Danehill was owned during his racing career by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Khalid Abdullah, who also bred him. Racing career Trained by Jeremy Tree, Danehill ran nine times, winning four. As a three-year-old, following a third placing in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, 2,000 Guineas behind Nashwan and a fourth place in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |