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.
| Group I race | |
| Location | Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, (2014-) Otaki Racecourse (1991-2012) Levin Racecourse (1981-1990) |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Levin Racing Club |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1600m (1 mile) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Set-Weights |
| Purse | NZ$225,000 (2020) |
For much of its history, the race was run at Ōtaki on the last Friday in November. Since 2014 it has been run at Trentham Racecourse as part of the Wellington Cup Carnival in January.
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 many people still know the race as the Bayer Classic.
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. It September 2013 it was announced the race would be transferred to Trentham in Wellington and staged on the first day of Wellington Cup Week in January.[1]
Among the most famous winners are Bonecrusher, Veandercross, O'Reilly, Russian Pearl and Wahid.
Winners of the Levin Classic
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Travelling Light | Samantha Collett | Ben Foote, Cambridge | 1:36.71 |
| 2019 | Madison County | Matthew Cameron | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 1:35.89 |
| 2018 | Age Of Fire | Opie Bosson | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata | 1:36.63 |
| 2017 | Hall Of Fame | Opie Bosson | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata | 1:35.54 |
| 2016 | Dukedom | Lisa Allpress | Steven Cole | 1:36.96 |
| 2015 | Gaultier | Michael Coleman | Danica Guy | 1:36.62 |
| 2014 | Recite | Mark Du Plessis | John Bary | 1:36.10 |
| 2013 | No race held | |||
| 2012 | Southern Lord | Kelly Myers | Alan Tait | 1:34.63 |
| 2011 | Distill | Robert Hannam | Roydon Bergerson | 1:35.97 |
| 2010 | We Can Say It Now | Leith Innes | Murray & Bjorn Baker | 1:34.27 |
| 2009 | Eileen Dubh | Jonathan Riddell | Francis Finnegan | 1:35.43 |
| 2008 | Altered Image | Michael Coleman | Mike & Paul Moroney | 1:32.5 |
| 2007 | Keepa Cruisin | Leith Innes | Stephen McKee, Ardmore | 1:34.85 |
| 2006 | Porotene Gem | David Walker | Kevin Gray | 1:40.10 (Soft) |
| 2005 | Wahid | Hayden Tinsley | Allan Sharrock | 1:36.18 (Dead) |
| 2004 | Ambitious Owner | Leith Innes | Murray Baker, Cambridge | 1:34.77 |
| 2003 | Russian Pearl | Hayden Tinsley | Bruce & Stephen Marsh, | 1:34.96 |
| 2002 | Bunker | Opie Bosson | T & S McKee | 1:37.14 |
| 2001 | Final Destination | Gary Grylls | Vannessa Hillis | 1:35.88 |
| 2000 | Tit For Taat | Hayden Tinsley | Wayne Herbert | 1:35.11 |
| 1999 | Buzz Lightyear | Opie Bosson | Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu | 1:35.28 |
| 1998 | Tobruk | Leith Innes | Graham Richardson | 1:37.67 |
| 1997 | Love De Tor | Greg Childs | Mike Moroney | 1:33.69 |
| 1996 | O'Reilly | Lance O'Sullivan | D & P O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:35.74 |
| 1995 | Prussian Blue | Shane Udy | Davina Waddell | 1:34.97 |
| 1994 | Avedon | Darryl Bradley | Fred Patrick Campbell, Awapuni | 1:34.81 |
| 1993 | Al Akbar | Gary Grylls | Chris Wood | 1:43.97 (heavy) |
| 1992 | Nimue | Lance O'Sullivan | D & P O'Sullivan | 1:33.66 |
| 1991 | Veandercross | Jim Walker | Chris Turner | 1:34.35 |
| 1990 | Eagle Eye | Noel Harris | Murray Baker | 1:39.64 |
| 1989 | Phillipa Rush | Lance O'Sullivan | Jim Campin | 1:36.20 |
| 1988 | Krona | Peter Tims | Roger McGlade | 1:35.53 |
| 1987 | Young Indian | Peter Tims | N Morgan | 1:35.75 |
| 1986 | The Bishop | Maree Lyndon | Don Couchman | 1:36.78 |
| 1985 | Bonecrusher | Jim Cassidy | Frank Ritchie | 1:36.90 |
| 1984 | Princess Dram | Maree Lyndon | Neil Bradley | 1:35.90 |
| 1983 | Burletta | Jim Cassidy | Patrick Campbell | 1:36.0 |
| 1982 | Our Flight | M Campbell | Errol Skelton | 1:36.2 |
| 1981 | Altitude | Stephen Autridge | Bill Ford | 1:36.00 |
See also
References
- N.Z. Thoroughbred Racing Inc.
- http://www.racenet.com.au
- http://www.nzracing.co.nz
- http://www.tab.co.nz
- http://www.racebase.co.nz
- 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.
- New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2017 (46th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
- New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2008 (37th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand.
- New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2005 (34th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand.
- New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2004 (33rd edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand.
- New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2000 (29th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
- New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
- New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1995 (24th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
- 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.
- 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.
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