Levin Classic

Last updated
Levin Classic
Group I race
Location Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, (2014-)
Otaki Racecourse (1991-2012)
Levin Racecourse (1981-1990)
Inaugurated1981
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website Levin Racing Club
Race information
Distance1600m (1 mile)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
WeightSet-Weights
Purse NZ$500,000 (2023)

The Group One Levin Classic - formerly the Bayer Classic - is one of the premier races for three-year-old thoroughbreds in New Zealand.

Contents

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 known as the Bayer Classic.

For much of its history, the race was run at Levin and then Ōtaki on the last Friday in November.

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. From 2014 the Levin Classic was moved to Trentham Racecourse in Wellington and initially run as part of the Wellington Cup Carnival in January conducted by the Wellington Racing Club.

Since 2022 it has been run in March, on the same day as the:

Notable winners

Among the most famous winners are Bonecrusher, Veandercross, O'Reilly, Our Flight, Russian Pearl, Tit For Taat and Wahid.

Race results

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer(s)TimeSecond place
Third
2023 [1] Romancing The Moon 55Kozzi AsanoMark Walker1:37.13 (soft)Skew Wiff 55Luella Cristina 55
2022 [2] Imperatriz 54.5Michael McNab Jamie Richards 1:36.43 (dead)On The Bubbles 56.5I Wish I Win 56.5
2021 [3] Bonham 54.5 Lisa Allpress Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard, Otaki1:37.67Brando 56.5Wild Moose 56.5
2020 [4] Travelling Light 54.5Samantha CollettBen Foote, Cambridge1:36.71Harlech 56.5Riodini 56.5
2019 [5] Madison County 56.5Matthew Cameron Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge1:35.89Hypnos 56.5Vernanme 56.5
2018 [6] Age Of Fire 56.5 Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata1:36.63Belle Du Nord 54.5Savvy Coup 54.5
2017 [7] Hall Of Fame 56.5 Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata1:35.54Saville Row 56.5Jon Snow 56.5
2016 [8] Dukedom 56.5 Lisa Allpress Steven Cole1:36.96Son Of Maher 56.5Rangipo 56.5
2015 [9] Gaultier 56.5Michael ColemanDanica Guy, Matamata1:36.62Sardaaj 54.5Huka Eagle 56.5
2014 [10] Recite 54.5 Mark Du Plessis John Bary, Hastings1:36.10Franzac 56.5Aspen 56.5
2013No race held
2012 [11] Southern Lord 56.5Kelly MyersAlan Tait, Matamata1:34.63 (good)Le Choix 56.5Soriano 55
2011 [12] Distill 56.5Robert HannamRoydon Bergerson, Awapuni1:35.97 (good)Randall 56.5Antonio Lombardo 56.5
2010 [13] We Can Say It Now 54.5Leith Innes Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge1:34.27 (good)Blinding 54.5Lady Kipling 54.5
2009 [14] Eileen Dubh 55Jonathan RiddellFrancis Finnegan, Woodville1:35.43 (good)St Germaine 54.5Green Supreme 56
2008 [15] Altered Image 56Michael Coleman Michael & Paul Moroney, Matamata1:32.50 (good)Spontaneous 56Izonit 56
2007 [16] Keepa Cruisin 54.5Leith InnesStephen McKee, Ardmore1:34.85 (good)Run Like Al 56Satinka 54.5
2006 [17] Porotene Gem 54.5David WalkerKevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge1:40.10 (soft)Jokers Wild 56Figueres 56
2005 [18] Wahid 56Hayden TinsleyAllan Sharrock, New Plymouth1:36.18 (Dead)Shikoba 53.5Izzat 56
2004Ambitious Owner 55.5Leith Innes Murray Baker, Cambridge1:34.77 (Good)Fiscal Madness 55.5Magnetism 55.5
2003Russian Pearl 56Hayden TinsleyBruce & Stephen Marsh, Woodville1:34.96 (soft)Taatletail 53.5King’s Chapel 56
2002Bunker 56 Opie Bosson Trevor & Stephen McKee, Takanini1:37.14 (soft)Dane choice 56Cheerine Kid 56
2001Final Destination 53.5Gary GryllsVannessa Hillis, Matamata1:34.9 (good)Shinnecock 54Armondo 56
2000Tit For Taat 56Hayden TinsleyWayne Herbert1:35.11 (good)Star Satire 56Sir Clive 54
1999Buzz Lightyear 56 Opie Bosson Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu1:35.28Domero 56Greatthings Happen 56
1998Tobruk 56Leith InnesGraham Richardson, Matamata1:37.67 (soft)With Drawn 56Kaapeon 56
1997Love De Tor 53Greg Childs Michael Moroney, Matamata1:33.69 (good)Foxwood 53Quality Kingdom 53
1996 O'Reilly 55.5 Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata1:35.74High Return 55.5Rebel 55.5
1995Prussian Blue 55.5Shane UdyDavina Waddell, Pukekohe1:34.97 (good)Anemos 56Super Crest 53
1994Avedon 55.5Darryl BradleyFelix Patrick Campbell, Awapuni1:34.81Starcent 53Allegro 55.5
1993Al Akbar 55.5Gary GryllsChris Wood, Cambridge1:43.97 (heavy)Western Red 55.5Facing The Music 53
1992Nimue 53 Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata1:33.66Kaaptive Edition 55.5Hula Strike 55.5
1991 Veandercross 55.5Jim WalkerChris Turner, New Plymouth1:34.35Overwhelmed 55.5Captain Cook 55.5
1990Eagle Eye 55.5 Noel Harris Murray Baker, Woodville1:39.64Sir Alberton 55.5Play On 55.5
1989Phillipa Rush 53 Lance O'Sullivan Jim Campin, Cambridge1:36.20Pumpernickel 55.5Status 55.5
1988Krona 55.5Peter TimsRoger McGlade, Taupo1:35.53 (good)Straight Order 55.5Kate’s Myth 53
1987Young Indian 55.5Peter TimsNorm Morgan, Ruakaka1:35.75 (good)Sound Belt 55.5Candide 53
1986The Bishop 55.5Maree LyndonDon Couchman, Hawera1:36.78Margarella 53Precocious Lad 55.5
1985 Bonecrusher 55.5 Jim Cassidy Frank Ritchie, Takanini1:36.90French Polish 53Seadreamer 53
1984Princess Dram 53Maree LyndonNeil Bradley, Hawera1:35.90Avana 53Kingdom Bay 55.5
1983Burletta 53 Jim Cassidy Felix Patrick Campbell, Hastings1:36.0Eastern Bay 53Prince Ariba 55.5
1982 Our Flight 53Maurice CampbellErrol Skelton, Levin1:36.2 (good)Red Tempo 55.5Clansman 55.5
1981Altitude 55.5Stephen AutridgeBill Ford, Matamata1:36.00 (good)Noble Heights 53Volare 55.5

See also

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References

  1. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/51430/6/Race-Detail.aspx
  2. ↑ "Race 6 WELLINGTON SEAMARKET LEVIN CLASSIC at WELLINGTON RC on 19 MAR 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  3. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/49652/6/Race-Detail.aspx
  4. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/48699/7/Race-Detail.aspx
  5. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/47604/7/Race-Detail.aspx
  6. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/46497/7/Race-Detail.aspx
  7. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/45394/7/Race-Detail.aspx
  8. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/44562/6/Race-Detail.aspx
  9. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/43485/7/Race-Detail.aspx
  10. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/42234/7/Race-Detail.aspx
  11. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/40787/8/Race-Detail.aspx
  12. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/39690/9/Race-Detail.aspx
  13. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/38256/9/Race-Detail.aspx
  14. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/37327/9/Race-Detail.aspx
  15. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/36162/9/Race-Detail.aspx
  16. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/35182/9/Race-Detail.aspx
  17. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/34075/9/Race-Detail.aspx
  18. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/33010/9/Race-Detail.aspx
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