Easter Handicap

Last updated
Easter Handicap
Group II race
GreyWayEaster.png
Grey Way winning the 1977 Easter Handicap
Location Ellerslie Racecourse
Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated1874
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.ellerslie.co.nz
Race information
Distance1600m (1 miles)
SurfaceTurf
Trackright-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds and up
WeightHandicap
Purse$150,000 (2024)

The Easter Handicap or Easter Stakes is a major horse race held at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is raced over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) by three-year-old and upwards thoroughbreds.

Contents

Race history

Although previously a Group 1 race, from 2017 it was reclassified to Group 2 and from 2022 to Group 3 level.

In 2016, the conditions of the race changed from a handicap to set weight and penalties, but reverted back to handicap conditions in 2018.

The race has been won by many of New Zealand's greatest milers, including Kindergarten (twice), Sleepy Fox (four times) and Grey Way.

The Easter Handicap is now raced in late April on the same date as the Championship Stakes.

Winners Since 1965

Year
Winner
Sire
Dam
Jockey
Trainer
Time
Second
Third
2024 (Te Rapa) [1] Snazzytavi 53TavistockRitzy Lady Warren Kennedy Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall1.36.89 (soft)Chattahoochie 53Channel Surfer 53
2023 (Pukekohe) [2] White NoiseEl RocaWhite NymphMichael NcNabAndrew Forsman1:42.54 (heavy)Habana 57Tavattack 58
2022 (Pukekohe) [3] Carolina Reaper 53VespaBonney PepperAshvin Goindasamy (a)Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall, Matamata1:37.73 (Good)Brando 57.5True Enough 59
2021 [4] Demonetization 55 All Too Hard Midnight SpecialSamantha CollettNigel Tiley, Pukekohe1:38.72 (Slow)Hasabro 52Marroni 52
2020Race not held
2019 [5] Endless Drama 59 [6] Lope De Vega (Ire)Desert Drama (Ire)Leith InnesTony Pike, Cambridge1:33.45Watch This Space 55Yearn 52
2018 (Pukekohe)Megablast 57.5Shinko King (Ire)ThirstMichael ColemanNigel Tiley, Pukekohe1:42.32Brighton 52Romancer 52.5
2017Seventh Up 55Shinko King (Ire)RegelleGrant CooksleyShelley Hale1:36.04Hiflyer 55Let Me Roar 53
2016Sound Proposition 55 Savabeel Ebony BabeMichael Coleman Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata1:33.29Trojan Warrior 55Rasa Lila 54
2015Pondarosa Miss 52 High Chaparral (Ire)Bak Da PrincessDaniel HainPeter Hollinshead1:38.50Vespa 52Kawi 55.5
2014Albany Reunion 52.5 Fastnet Rock (Aus)Secret Silence (Aus) Mark Du Plessis Nigel Tiley, Pukekohe1:35.28Chintz 55Rollout The Carpet (Aus) 52
2013Viadana 57.5Towkay (Aus)Yeah Nah Mark Du Plessis Lance Noble, Matamata1:34.62Postmans Daughter 56.5Our Famous Eve 53.5
2012Veyron 59Thorn Park (Aus)Over The LimitRogan NorvallLinda Laing, Cambridge1:35.40Postmans Daughter 54Fleur De Lune 54.5
2011Veyron 57Thorn Park (Aus)Over The LimitRogan NorvallLinda Laing, Cambridge1:38.79Fears Nothing 55 Sir Slick 59
2010Time Keeper 51 Stravinsky (USA)Organdy (USA)Mark SweeneyGraeme Nicholson & Paul Allbon, Pukekohe1:34.20November Rain 51 Sir Slick 59
2009Prince Kaapstad 53KaapstadBrilliant PrincessSamantha SprattRichard Yuill1:35.10Irish Opera 52.5My Astron 56
2008Pasta Post 54 Postponed (USA)Blue HeavenCraig GryllsGraeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu1:33.02Sterling Prince 53Culminate 53
2007Floydeboy 55Mallifont (USA)Fleche D’orMark HillsBernard Dyke, Cambridge1:37.80Dezigna 56.5Polish Princess (GB) 51
2006Rags To Riches 53.5 Entrepreneur (GB)CandescentMichael ColemanRalph Manning, Cambridge1:35.41Korau Road 52.5La Sizeranne 54
2005Calveen 54Canny Lad (Aus)Calvinia (Aus)Cameron Lammas Lance O'Sullivan, Matamata1:35.16Kristov 56British Ensign 54
2004Pomp and Glory 54Pompeii Court (USA)Aptitude Opie Bosson Alan & Brett Mcdonald, Cambridge1:32.29Rodrigo Rose 52.5Jet Ski 54
2003Sedecrem 54.5Faltaat (USA)Real Trier (Aus)Grant Cooksley Colin Jillings & Richard Yuill, Takanini1:33.95Jet Ski 54Millennium 53
2002Honor Bound 55Honor Grades (USA)Amrica Lance O'Sullivan Terry Wenn, Te Aroha1:34.74Jet Ski 55St Therese (Aus) 52
2001Magic Winner 54Mighty Grey (Aus)Hagen's PrideMark SweeneyGraeme & Debbie Sanders, Te Awamutu1:37.85O’Malley's Boy 54Conference 57
2000Zayyad 53.5Mohamed Abdu (Ire)Pompeii GirlMatthew WilliamsonRobbie Sims, Pukekohe1:36.37Cinder Bella 54Resonare 56
1999Oregon Power 54.5Oregon (USA)Gypsy InvaderMichelle Wenn (Brooks)Jim Gibbs & Eric Betty, Matamata1:33.18Intergrate (AUS) 54The Mighty Finn 56
1998Aimee Jay 52Famous Star (Ire)Mini MandyKelly DavidsonAiden Schumacher, Stratford1:32.3Fatal 52Oregon Power 53
1997Moss Downs 50.5Toms Shu (USA)La Moss Lance O'Sullivan Chris McNab1:32.34Jazzac 50Secret Hero 54
1996Cactus Jack 49.5FoxbayBarbara JanToby BrettDavid Cole1:36.3Magnet Bay 50Roys Boy 52.5
1995Pakaraka Star 49.5StarjoRoyal VainTrudy ThorntonSidney Gulliver, Waverley1:41.26Matsqui (Aus)Roys Boy 52
1994Ball Park 53Ahonoora (GB)Tears For Fears (Aus) Tony Allan Michael Moroney & Graham Richardson, Matamata1:34.16Lord Tridan 58Cuidado 57
1993Moire 51Crested Wave (USA)Little Tern (Ire)Lisa CroppCarl Peterson, Te Awamutu1:34.38Kiwi Golfer 51Mahoenui Lass 49.8
1992Carson's Cash 51.5Lord Ballina (Aus)CashelmaraVincent Colgan Roger James, Cambridge1:33.94Balmacara 52Mr Impose 51
1991Rays Hope 51.3Star Way (GB)BelltelloLisa CroppKerry Verner, Takanini1:35.2Javelin 51.8Seamist 53.3
1990Status 52Truly Vain (Aus)GeorgieGrant CooksleyJack Georgetti1:33.66Echo Lass 50.5Pikorrie 50
1989Regal City 56Licorice StickGay CityDebbie HealeyJim Gibbs, Matamata1:32.67Trissaring 50.5Squire Gray 53
1988Sirstaci 52Silver Dream (GB)Eustaci Tony Allan Peter Simpson, Cambridge1:34.55Bourbon Boy 55.5Ticavaboy 51.5
1987Field Dancer 50Star Way (GB)Field NymphMichael ColemanJim Gibbs & Roger James, Matamata1:38.10Arctic Wolf 51.5Star Pride 48
1986Cosmetique 49Barcas (USA)LizabethGary GryllsBill Ford & Roger Verry, Matamata1:34.40 Waverley Star 51.5Infinite Secret 50
1985Eastern Joy 50Three Legs (GB)Diatrelic Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata1:36.54Magnitude 52Atraper 55.5
1984Idaho's Gift 56.5Rich Gift (GB)VeruschkaEarl HarrisonDon Couchman, Hawera1:33.28Macs Gamble 54Abit Leica 52.5
1983Clear Gold 55Bahroona (Ca)Hebrew GoldGrant CooksleyI P Morton, Whakatane1:33.19Pride of Rosewood 53Debs Mate 57.5
1982Our Shah 56.6Shahram (GB)Our ReneChris McNabDave & Paul O'Sullivan & Michael Moroney, Matamata1:37.84Asheen 50Givenchy 57.5
1981Shivaree 58SharivariJust a LarkGarry Phillips Dave O’Sullivan, Matamata1:41.04Master Grey 54River Queen 55
1980Silver Nymph 51.5Silver Dream (GB)CrestelloWarwick RobinsonGary Mudgway, Te Rapa1:37.05Heidelberg 52.5Stormee 56.5
1979Stipulwin 52.5StipulateWinnie’s LastPaul HillisC Tatton, Cambridge1:40.57Aghios Nikalaos 51Heidelberg 52
1978Silver Wraith 51.25Silver Dream (GB)CrestelloPeter JohnsonLaurie Laxon, Te Rapa1:34Orchida 54.5Shivaree 49.5
1977 Grey Way 60.5Grey William (GB)Waybrook Bob Skelton Pat Corboy, Washdyke1:34.74Vice Regal 52= Tudor light and Kiwi Can
1976Tudor Light 56All A’LightElabamaWarwick RobinsonJohn Malcolm, Te Rapa1:35.7Shaitan 48Melody Belle 55
1975Kiwi Can 57.5Hasty Cloud (Ire)Naughty NgarieRoger LangFred Beguely, Matamata1:33.2Bay Sovereign 49Bay Boss 49.5
1974Turfcutter 50.5Oncidium (GB)Entrancing BellePeter JohnsonRay Verner, Takanini1:34.8Pheroz Jewel 51.5Curly Wave 51.5
1973Nordic Star 7.12Copenhagen II (GB)Glamour FairGary WillettsGestro & McEwan, Hawera1:43
1972Kia Marea 8.1Stunning (GB)Kia UJohn GryllsTom Mathieson, Hawera1:37
1971Evenstead 7.10 Even Stevens Lady JaniceNoel RiordanFred Phillips, Matangi1:35.8
1970Patrida 7.9Pharamond (Fra)ForeverDavid RaklanderStuart McColl, Woodville1:36
1969ChoucuanaMinuit (GB)CousetteRodney HeaslipBill Sanders, Te Awamutu
1968Tara's PridePride of Kildare (Ire)Fox Amber Bill Skelton Jim Didham, Stratford
1967Valiant RebelResurgent (Ire)Valiant RoseDavid PeakePat McIllroy, Takanini
1966RochdaleAlpheus (GB)Fairy TreasureJ HumphriesBill Sanders, Te Awamutu
1965My CallSummertime (GB)OftenDavid RaklanderBill Sanders, Te Awamutu

Previous winners

See also

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References

  1. "Race 8 MANCO EASTER HANDICAP at WAIKATO THOROUGHBRED RACING on 27 APR 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  2. "Race 8 MANCO EASTER HANDICAP at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 22 APR 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  3. "Race 7 MANCO EASTER HANDICAP at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 23 APR 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  4. "Race 8 MANCO EASTER HANDICAP at AUCKLAND RC on 24 APR 2021 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  5. "Race 7 MANCO EASTER HANDICAP at AUCKLAND RC on 20 APR 2019 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  6. "Endless Drama (IRE) 2012 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ".
  7. 1 2 3 4 Cameron, Donald John (1979). Memorable Moments In New Zealand Sport. Moa Publications. pp. 37–40. ISBN   9780908570256.