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 on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. The purse of the race in 2020 was $1 million.

History
The New Zealand Derby is an amalgamation of two races – the New Zealand Derby, run since 1860 at Riccarton, Christchurch; and the Great Northern Derby, run since 1875 at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland. The races were combined in 1973. Riccarton was awarded two 1,600 m races for three-year-olds in place of its Derby – the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

After its May debut, the New Zealand Derby was soon moved to New Year's Day, and then to Boxing Day. It continued to be run on this day for many years and became a popular traditional social occasion for Aucklanders until it was moved to the first day of the new Auckland Cup Week in March. The first March running of the Derby in 2006 was won by Wahid, from the stable of Allan Sharrock in New Plymouth.

The race in 2023 - won by Sharp 'N' Smart - was held at Te Rapa Racecourse, due to renovation of the track at Ellerslie Racecourse.



Notable winners
Many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses feature on the list of New Zealand Derby winners, including:
 * Desert Gold,
 * Gloaming,
 * Nightmarch,
 * Kindergarten,
 * Mainbrace,
 * Balmerino,
 * Bonecrusher,
 * Xcellent,
 * Jimmy Choux,
 * Silent Achiever,
 * Mongolian Khan.

Multiple winning trainers and jockeys
Roger James has won the New Zealand Derby six times, including once in partnership with Jim Gibbs and once in partnership with Robert Wellwood. Colin Jillings won the post-1973 New Zealand Derby three times but also twice won the Great Northern Derby with Lawful and Stipulate.

Vinnie Colgan holds the record for the most Derby wins by a jockey. He scored his fifth Derby win aboard Habibi in 2013, breaking Robert Vance's previous record of four, and added a sixth victory with Rangipo in 2016.

Winning fillies
Only a small number of fillies have ever won the Derby against the male horses. This list includes:


 * the great Desert Gold winning the 1915 New Zealand Derby at Riccarton and the 1916 Great Northern Derby
 * Our Flight in 1983
 * Tidal Light in 1986
 * Popsy in 1994
 * Silent Achiever in 2012
 * Habibi in 2013
 * Orchestral in 2024.

On two of those occasions, fillies have also finished second – Cure in 1986 and Fix in 2013.

New Zealand Derby results

 * Not run in 2005 with change of date from December to March
 * In the 1987 race Accountant was first past the post, but relegated.

Winners of the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton
Note: the New Zealand Derby (Riccarton) and the Great Northern Derby were combined into one race at Ellerslie in 1973.


 * 1860 Ada
 * 1861 Otto
 * 1862 Emmeline
 * 1863 Azucena
 * 1864 Opera
 * 1865 Egremont
 * 1866 Nebula
 * 1867 Scandal
 * 1868 Flying Jib
 * 1869 Manuka
 * 1870 Envy
 * 1871 Defamation
 * 1872 Calumny
 * 1873 Papapa
 * 1874 Tadmor
 * 1875 Daniel O'Rourke
 * 1876 Songster
 * 1877 Trump Card
 * 1878 Natator
 * 1879 Hornby
 * 1880 Sir Modred
 * 1881 The Dauphin
 * 1882 Cheviot
 * 1883 Oudeis
 * 1884 Black Rose
 * 1885 Stonyhurst
 * 1886 Disowned
 * 1887 Maxim
 * 1888 Manton
 * 1889 Scots Grey
 * 1890 Medallion
 * 1891 Florrie
 * 1892 Stepniak
 * 1893 Skirmisher
 * 1894 Blue Fire
 * 1895 Euroclydon
 * 1896 Uniform
 * 1897 Multiform
 * 1898 Altair
 * 1899 Seahorse
 * 1900 Renown
 * 1901 Menschikoff
 * 1902 Orloff
 * 1903 Roseal
 * 1904 Nightfall
 * 1905 Noctiform
 * 1906 Zimmerman
 * 1907 Elevation
 * 1908 Husbandman
 * 1909 Elysian
 * 1910 Danube
 * 1911 Masterpiece
 * 1912 Bon Reve
 * 1913 Cherubini
 * 1914 Balboa
 * 1915 Desert Gold
 * 1916 The Toff
 * 1917 Estland
 * 1918 Gloaming (AUS)
 * 1919 Rossini
 * 1920 Duo
 * 1921 Winning Hit
 * 1922 Enthusiasm
 * 1923 Black Ronald
 * 1924 Count Cavour
 * 1925 Runnymede
 * 1926 Commendation
 * 1927 Agrion
 * 1928 Nightmarch
 * 1929 Honour
 * 1930 Cylinder
 * 1931 Bronze Eagle (AUS)
 * 1932 Silver Scorn
 * 1933 Nightly
 * 1934 Sporting Blood
 * 1935 Lowenberg
 * 1936 Wild Chase
 * 1937 Royal Chief
 * 1938 Defaulter
 * 1939 Beaulivre
 * 1940 Enrich
 * 1941 Battledress
 * 1942 Rink
 * 1943 Tara King
 * 1944 Pensacola
 * 1945 Al-Sirat
 * 1946 Royal Tan
 * 1947 Liebestraum
 * 1948 St. Bruno
 * 1949 Beaumaris
 * 1950 The Unicorn
 * 1951 Dalray
 * 1952 Programme
 * 1953 Idaho
 * 1954 Port Boy
 * 1955 Syntax
 * 1956 Passive
 * 1957 William Paul
 * 1958 Up and Coming
 * 1959 Sol d'Or
 * 1960 Blue Lodge
 * 1961 Burgos
 * 1962 Algalon
 * 1963 Royal Duty
 * 1964 Trial Offer
 * 1965 Roman Consul
 * 1966 Fair Account
 * 1967 Jazz
 * 1968 Pep
 * 1969 Piko
 * 1970 Fairview Lad
 * 1971 Master John
 * 1972 Classic Wave

Earlier winners (Great Northern Derby)
Note: the New Zealand Derby (Riccarton) and the Great Northern Derby were combined into the one race at Ellerslie in 1973.


 * 1875 – Toi
 * 1876 – Ariel
 * 1877 – Danebury
 * 1878 – Venus Transit
 * 1879 – Omega
 * 1880 – Libeller
 * 1881 – Tim Whiffler
 * 1882 – Fitz Hercules
 * 1883 – Welcome Jack
 * 1884 – Nelson
 * 1885 – Tigridia
 * 1886 – Foul Shot
 * 1887 – Disowned
 * 1888 – Sextant
 * 1889 – Cuirassier
 * 1890 – Tirailleur
 * 1891 – Medallion
 * 1892 – Morion
 * 1893 – St. Hippo
 * 1894 – Loyalty
 * 1895 – Stepfeldt
 * 1896 – Fabulist
 * 1897 – Nestor
 * 1898 – St. Crispin
 * 1899 – Blue Jacket
 * 1900 – Miss Delaval
 * 1901 – Renown
 * 1902 – Menschikoff
 * 1903 – Wairiki
 * 1904 – Gladsome
 * 1905 – Gladstone
 * 1906 – Multifid
 * 1907 – Zimmerman
 * 1908 – Boniform
 * 1909 – Husbandman
 * 1910 – Kilwinning
 * 1911 – Danube
 * 1912 – Counterfeit
 * 1913 – Bon Reve
 * 1914 – Cherubini
 * 1915 – Reputation
 * 1916 – Desert Gold
 * 1917 – Sasanof
 * 1918 – Estland
 * 1919 – Gloaming
 * 1920 – Royal Stag
 * 1921 – Gasbag
 * 1922 – Winning Hit
 * 1923 – Enthusiasm
 * 1924 – Ballymena
 * 1925 – Count Cavour
 * 1926 – Star Stranger
 * 1927 – Commendation
 * 1928 – Martarma
 * 1929 – Red Heckle
 * 1930 – Hunting Cry
 * 1931 – Karapoti
 * 1932 – Bronze Eagle
 * 1933 – Silver Scorn
 * 1934 – Red Manfred
 * 1935 – Gay Blonde
 * 1936 – Greek Shepherd
 * 1937 – Essex
 * 1938 – Courtcraft
 * 1939 – Defaulter
 * 1940 – Beau Vite
 * 1941 – Kindergarten
 * 1942 – Regal Fox
 * 1943 – Indian Princess
 * 1944 – Expanse
 * 1945 – Coronaire
 * 1946 – Lady Foxbridge
 * 1947 – Beau Le Havre
 * 1948 – Sweet Nymph
 * 1949 – Tauloch
 * 1950 – Sweet Spray
 * 1951 – Mainbrace
 * 1952 – Dalray
 * 1953 – Programme
 * 1954 – Fox Myth
 * 1955 – Somerset Fair
 * 1956 – Syntax
 * 1957 – Passive/Gibraltar
 * 1958 – Lawful
 * 1959 – Gitano
 * 1960 – Stipulate
 * 1961 – Cracksman
 * 1962 – Tatua
 * 1963 – Ichtar
 * 1964 – Sobig
 * 1965 – Peterman
 * 1966 – Star Belle
 * 1967 – Ben Lomond
 * 1968 – Bardall
 * 1969 – Piko
 * 1970 – Kirrama
 * 1971 – Master John
 * 1972 – Corroboree

Reference list

 * N.Z. Thoroughbred Racing Inc.
 * Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips
 * LOVERACING.NZ - New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
 * TAB | Sports & Racing Betting Online in New Zealand
 * 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 2018 (47th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
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 * New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2004 (33rd edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand.
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 * New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
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 * 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.
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 * New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1981 (Tenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
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 * New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1979 (Eighth edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
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 * New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1976. Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland.