The 2015 New Zealand Derby was a

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

which took place at

Ellerslie Racecourse Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand, for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit in the suburb of Ellerslie, New Zealand, Ellerslie, with a circumference of just under 1,900 metres. Racing ...

on Saturday 28 February 2015. It was the 140th running of the

New Zealand Derby The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held in March each year. History The New Zealand Derby i ...

, and it was won by Mongolian Khan. The race was billed as a match race between the highly rated Mongolian Khan and Volkstok'n'barrell, both of which had made a big impression in stringing together consecutive wins in major races throughout the summer. The eagerly anticipated clash lived up to expectations as the two exciting three-year-olds drew well clear of their rivals and fought a memorable struggle down the home straight. Having been clearly headed by Volkstok'n'barrell, Mongolian Khan fought back and proved too strong in the concluding stages, edging away to win by one length. There was a margin of more than five lengths back to the remainder of the field. It was the first New Zealand Derby win for trainers

Murray Baker Murray Baker (born 21 April 1946) is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse trainer and former representative cricketer. Cricket Baker played in one List A and seventeen first-class matches for Central Districts and Northern Districts from 1966 ...

and Andrew Forsman and rider

Opie Bosson Owen Patrick "Opie" Bosson (born 24 July 1980) is a jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. Riding career Bosson started as an apprentice for Stephen Autridge, his godfather. He began his race-day riding career as a 15 year old on 25 Oc ...

. Mongolian Khan later went to Australia and won the Australian Derby at Randwick, becoming the first horse to win the New Zealand Derby-

Australian Derby The Australian Derby is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at set weights held at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in April, during the Autumn ATC Championships Carnival. The race is considered to b ...

double since Bonecrusher in 1986. Volkstok'n'barrell won the

Rosehill Guineas The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at set weights run over a distance of 2000 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia annually in March. Total prize money for t ...

and was third in the

Race details

* ''Sponsor:''

TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso * Canal 3 Niger, a commercial television channel in Niger * Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala * Can ...

* ''Prize money:'' NZ$750,000 * ''Track:'' Good * ''Number of runners:'' 17 * ''Winner's time:'' 2:28.40

Full result

Winner's details

Further details of the winner, Mongolian Khan: * ''Foaled:'' 19 October 2011 in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

* ''Sire:''

Holy Roman Emperor The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans (disambiguation), Emperor of the Romans (; ) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period (; ), was the ruler and h ...

; ''Dam:'' Centafit (Centaine) * ''Owner:'' Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Club * ''Trainer:''

& Andrew Forsman * ''Breeder:'' Grenville Stud * ''Starts:'' 7 * ''Wins:'' 6 * ''Seconds:'' 0 * ''Thirds:'' 0 * ''Earnings:'' $625,500

The road to the Derby

Early-season appearances in 2014-15 prior to running in the Derby.

* Mongolian Khan – ''1st 3yo Salver, 1st Waikato Guineas, 1st Avondale Guineas'' * Volkstok'n'barrell – ''1st Bonecrusher Stakes, 1st Great Northern Guineas, 1st Karaka Mile, 3rd Avondale Guineas'' * Sound Proposition – ''6th Avondale Guineas'' * Dee I Cee – ''no stakes races'' * Midnitemagicman – ''2nd Trevor Eagle Memorial, 3rd 3yo Salver, 4th Avondale Guineas'' * Sealed By A Dance – ''no stakes races'' * Margin Trader – ''5th Great Northern Guineas, 5th Waikato Guineas, 9th Avondale Guineas'' * Vavasour – ''3rd Soliloquy Stakes, 2nd Royal Stakes, 1st Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic'' * Chenille – ''no stakes races'' * Prima – ''3rd Waikato Guineas, 2nd Avondale Guineas'' * Nymph Monte – ''13th Avondale Guineas'' * Giant Turtle – ''2nd Waikato Guineas'' * Gifted Lad – ''no stakes races'' * McQueen – ''4th Waikato Guineas, 5th Avondale Guineas'' * Gaultier – ''1st Levin Classic, 11th Waikato Guineas, 8th Avondale Guineas'' * J'Walke – ''12th Avondale Guineas'' * Twya – ''1st Wanganui Guineas, 3rd Bonecrusher Stakes, 6th Sarten Memorial, 11th Avondale Guineas''

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Subsequent wins at Group 1 level by runners in the 2015 New Zealand Derby. * Mongolian Khan -

Caulfield Cup The Caulfield Cup is a Melbourne Racing Club Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under Handicap (horse racing), handicap conditions. This is for all horses aged three years old and older. It takes place over a distance of 2400 met ...

* Volkstok'n'barrell -

, Otaki-Maori Weight for Age

References

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