Trentham Stakes

The Trentham Stakes is a Group 3 weight-for-age race held for thoroughbred racehorses at Trentham Racecourse near Wellington, New Zealand conducted by the Wellington Racing Club.

Held over 2100 metres in January, it is seen as the main lead-up race to the Wellington Cup, which is run the following week.

History
The race was changed:
 * from a 2400m journey to 2100m in 2009, and
 * from Free-for-all to set weight & penalties in 2012.

The 1989 race was named in the January 31 'Upper Hutt Leader' as the Mobil Wellington Stakes, and was won by the Melbourne Cup winning mare Empire Rose.

The 2020 edition was raced for a total stake of $70,000 on the same date as the $225,000 Group 1 Levin Classic and the $70,000 Group 3 Anniversary Handicap.

Winners of both the Trentham Stakes and Wellington Cup

 * 2012 Six O’Clock News
 * 2010 Red Ruler
 * 2006 Envoy
 * 2001 Smiling Like
 * 1998 Aerosmith
 * 1991 & 1992 Castletown. He also won the 1993 Trentham Stakes and 1994 Wellington Cup
 * 1990 Flying Luskin
 * 1988 Daria's Fun
 * 1974 Battle Heights
 * 1970 Il Tempo

The 2021 Wellington Cup winner, Waisake, won the 2022 Trentham Stakes.

The 1979 Wellington Cup winner, Big Gamble, won the 1981 Trentham Stakes.

In 1977 Show Gate won the Trentham Stakes and was second in the Wellington Cup behind Good Lord.