Awapuni Gold Cup

Last updated
Awapuni Gold Cup
Beau Vite 1940 MVRC W. S. Cox Plate Jockey Ted McMenamin Trainer Frank McGrath.jpg
Beau Vite,1940 winner
ClassGroup II
Location Awapuni Racecourse
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Inaugurated1915
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.awapuniracing.co.nz/RACING-INFO.aspx
Race information
Distance2,000 metres (1+1⁄4 miles)
SurfaceTurf
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds and up
Purse$200,000 (2025)

The Awapuni Gold Cup is held annually in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is a set weight and penalties race over 2,000 metres. [1] [2]

Contents

History

First held in 1915, the race has been won by many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses including:

Desert Gold and Sir Slick won the race three times.

Desert Gold and La Mer also won the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes, in 1915 and 1976 respectively, before winning the Awapuni Gold Cup.

Race results

Nightmarch, 1931 &1932 winner. Nightmarch entering field with jockey, New South Wales, ca. 1930.jpg
Nightmarch, 1931 &1932 winner.

The following are the winners details and placings in the Awapuni Gold Cup.

There was no race in 2020 due to COVID 19 restrictions. The race was held at Trentham Racecourse in 2024 and 2025 because of track issues at Awapuni.

Year
Winner
Sire
Dam
Jockey
Trainer(s)
Time
Second
Third
2025 (Trentham)(2100m)
2024 [4] (Trentham)Nereus 55 Savabeel EudoraJoe DoyleShaune Ritchie & Colm Murray, Cambridge2:11.87 (2100m, soft)He's A Doozy 58Skyman 56
2023 [5] Brando 57 Savabeel Saoirse Opie Bosson Mark Walker2:02.65 (soft)Colorado Star 56Kelly Coe 53
2022 [6] Zola Express 54.5ShamexpressZolana, by GolanChris DellJanelle Millar2:01.99 (good)Tiptronic 59Vernanme 57
2021 [7] Beauden 56Bullbars (Aus)Belle Femme (Aus)Ryan Elliot Team Rogerson, Tuhikaramea2:07.12 (heavy)Prise De Fer 57Callsign Mav 58
2019 [8] Jacksstar 55Zed (NZ)Star Guest (NZ) Chris Johnson Gary Vile2:02.03 (good)Sampson 56Authentic Paddy 58
2018 [9] Our Abbadean 53 Lookin At Lucky (USA)Highland Lights (AUS)Danielle JohnsonStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 2:02.97 (soft)Five To Midnight 56Sampson 57
2017 [10] Sampson 56Dubai Destination (USA)Magic Star (AUS)Reese JonesHowie Mathews2:06.51 (heavy)Five To Midnight 55Woodsman 55
2016 [11] Maygrove 57 Authorized (Ire)Lady Zhivago (NZ)Matt Cameron Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman2:09.68 (heavy)Trojan Warrior 55King Kamada 55 [12]
2015 [13] Iamishwara 58KeeninskyShe’s Heroic (NZ) Lisa Allpress Antony Kaye2:04.04 (good)Jubilate 55King Krovanh (Aus) 55
2014 [14] Soriano 53.5 Savabeel (AUS)Call Me Lily (NZ) Noel Harris Graeme & Debbie Rogerson2:05.06 (good) Military Move 56Nashville 59
2013 [15] Better Than Ever 58French DeputySongfestHayden TinsleyJason Bridgman2:02.43 (good)Ransomed 56Spiro 55
2012 [16] Riomoral 55.5Captain RioImmoralPhillip J Turner (A)Karen McQuade2:02.58 (good)Back In Black 55Doctor Fremantle 55
2011 [17] Hold It Harvey 57King CugatDaly CharmJamie BullardTerri Rae2:02.72 (good)Dawn Ghost 53.5Can’t Keeper Down 53
2010 [18] Sir Slick 58 Volksraad Miss OperaSamantha CollettGraeme Nicholson & Paul Allbon2:01.55 (good)Manonamission 55Red Ruler 58
2009MacO'Reilly 59 O'Reilly Double BabuHayden TinsleyDavid Haworth2:05.01 Sir Slick 59Spectacular Icon 55
2008 Sir Slick 59 Volksraad Miss OperaBruce HerdGraeme Nicholson & Paul Albon, Te Aroha2:03.62Chettak 59Butch James 59
2007 Sir Slick 59 Volksraad Miss OperaBruce HerdGraeme Nicholson2:01.37All Square 59Arabian Nights 56.5
2006Tusker 56 Volksraad Stella Artois David Walsh Murray Baker 2:02.13Kerry O’Reilly 58Distinctly Secret 58
2005Distinctly Secret 58Distinctly NorthTe Akau SecretJamie BullardMark Walker, Matamata2:02.85Showgirl 57Penitentiary 57
2004 (dead heat)Irish Rover 58KenfairSterling LeaDavid WalkerEddie Carson2:02.52-Lough Rinn 58
2004 (dead heat)Distinctly Secret 58Distinctly NorthTe Akau Secret Opie Bosson Mark Walker, Matamata2:02.52-Lough Rinn 58
2003Maze 56Housebuster (USA)StrangewaysGary Grylls2:04.60Semper Fidelis 56Wolf Creek 57
2002Cent Home 58Lord Ballina (Aus)CenturiaDavid WalkerJim Wallace, Opaki2:05.55Perceptible 58College Union 56
2001Cronus 56 Zabeel Foreign CopyVincent Colgan2:02.19No Alimony 58Hero 57
2000Cruzeiro 57KaapstadJaneiroJ WalkerGeoff Georgetti, Marton2:03.93Kingdom Come 58In My Time 57
1999Emerald 56.5GrosvenorJennifer RushMark Sweeney2:00.74Aerosmith 56Cruzeiro 58
1998Magnet BayGold And Ivory (USA)RivermistPeter JohnsonD B Frye, Rangiora2:04.29Sapio 58Denholm 58
1997Interval 57Paris Opera (AUS)ResoluteLee RutherfordStephen & Trevor McKee, Takanini2:09.02Sapio 58All In Fun 58

List of other winners

Associated races

The Awapuni Gold Cup is currently raced in late March or early April on the same day as the:

Awapuni Racecourse is also the venue for the:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dillon, Mike (26 March 2009). "Racing: Sir Slick must emulate great Desert Gold". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Awapuni Gold Cup Details". Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Awapuni Racing - Awapuni Gold Cup".
  4. ↑ "Race 6 CITY OF PALMERSTON NORTH AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 6 APR 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  5. ↑ "Race 8 CITY OF PALMERSTON NORTH AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 1 APR 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  6. ↑ "Race 7 CITY OF PALMERSTON NORTH AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 2 APR 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  7. ↑ "Race 9 CITY OF PALMERSTON NORTH AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 3 APR 2021 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  8. ↑ "Race 8 CITY OF PALMERSTON NORTH AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 30 MAR 2019 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  9. ↑ "Race 8 CITY OF PALMERSTON NORTH AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 31 MAR 2018 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  10. ↑ "Race 8 CITY OF PALMERSTON NORTH AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 1 APR 2017 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  11. ↑ "Race 8 KAMADA PARK AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 2 APR 2016 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  12. ↑ "A late racing starter but a major investor: Kevin Pratt dies, aged 67". 13 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "Race 9 EZIBUY AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 28 MAR 2015 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  14. ↑ "Race 9 EZIBUY AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 29 MAR 2014 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  15. ↑ "Race 9 LAWNMASTER AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 30 MAR 2013 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  16. ↑ "Race 9 LAWNMASTER AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 31 MAR 2012 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  17. ↑ "Race 9 LAWNMASTER AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 2 APR 2011 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  18. ↑ "Race 9 LAWNMASTER AWAPUNI GOLD CUP at MANAWATU RC on 3 APR 2010 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  19. ↑ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz.

Sources

Awapuni Gold Cup Winners

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.