The Zabeel Classic is a

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 sys ...

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

run at

weight-for-age {{use dmy dates, date=October 2022 Weight for Age (WFA) is a term in thoroughbred horse racing which is one of the conditions for a race. History The principle of WFA was developed by Admiral Rous, a handicapper with the English Jockey Club. Rou ...

over a distance of 2000 metres 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 ...

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

, New Zealand. The Zabeel Classic is named in honour of

Zabeel Zabeel (25 October 1986 – 25 September 2015) was a New Zealand-bred racehorse who predominantly raced in Australia. He was retired to stud and became a champion sire. He was a bay son of Sir Tristram from the Nureyev mare Lady Giselle. ...

, son of

Sir Tristram Sir Tristram (7 April 1971 – 21 May 1997) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who stood at stud in New Zealand, where he sired an extraordinary 45 Group One winners, including three Melbourne Cup winners. His progeny earned him 17 off ...

and four-time New Zealand champion sire. The race was formerly known as the Auckland Classic, Oaks Stud Classic and the Japan Racing Association Classic. It is held on Boxing Day, a raceday steeped in tradition that frequently attracts in excess of 20,000 Aucklanders to the famous course. Up to 2005 the race was held in early January.

List of winners

+ The race was moved from January to December in 2005.

Ellerslie Boxing day meeting

On this day, as well as the Zabeel Classic, Ellerslie holds 9 other races including: * the Westbury Stud Royal Descent Stakes - 1400m for fillies and mares - $90,000 (2024). * the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final - 2400m special conditions $125,000 (2024) * the Auckland Guineas - Group 2, 1400m for 3YO horses - $270,000 (2024) * the

Stella Artois Stella Artois ( , ) is a pilsner beer, first brewed in 1926 by Brouwerij Artois in Leuven, Belgium. In its original form, the beer is 5.2 per cent Alcohol by volume, ABV, the country's standard for pilsners. The beer is sold in many EU countrie ...

1500 Championship Final - special conditions $110,000 (2024). * the

Eight Carat Eight Carat (GB) (1975–2000) was a British-bred Thoroughbred broodmare. in Australasia. She produced five individual Group One winners, including Octagonal, Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and (Our) Marquise who had 28 stakes wins betwee ...

Classic - Group 2, 1600m 3YO fillies set weight $270,000 (2024). All 10 races at the 2024 meeting had stakes of $80,000 or more.

References

Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips

New Zealand Horse Racing Statistics and Information - RaceBase
* ''The Great Decade of New Zealand racing 1970-1980''. Glengarry, Jack. William Collins Publishers Ltd, Wellington, 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. Horse races in New Zealand Recurring events established in 1985 Sport in Auckland 1985 establishments in New Zealand Long stubs with short prose {{horseracing-race-stub

List of winners

Ellerslie Boxing day meeting

See also

References