New Zealand Messenger Championship

Last updated

New Zealand Messenger Championship
ClassGroup I
Location Alexandra Park
Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated1967
Race type Standardbred - Flat racing
Website www.alexandrapark.co.nz
Race information
Distance2700m
SurfaceDirt
TrackRight-handed oval
QualificationOpen class pacers, from 2022 onwards (Historically for four-year-old pacers only)
PurseNZ $106,150 (2024)

The New Zealand Messenger Championship is a Group One event for standardbred pacing horses in New Zealand, run at Alexandra Park.

Contents

Race scheduling

In recent years the race has been held in late April or early May.

It was previously raced on the same race-night as the Rowe Cup and Northern Trotting Derby for trotters and the New Zealand Sires Stakes Championship.

The New Zealand Messenger Championship had traditionally been restricted to 4 year-old horses and was the most prestigious race for that age group in New Zealand, and a key guide to feature races in the following season like the New Zealand Trotting Cup and Auckland Cup. This is evidenced by New Zealand Messenger Championship winners and subsequent Cup victors such as:

For the 2013, 2014 and 2015 years five year olds were also eligible to compete in the race. Then from 2016 it reverted to four year olds only. However, in 2022 the New Zealand Messenger and its traditional lead up race, the Noel J Taylor Mile, were both opened up to older horses.

Race results

Year
Month
Horse
Owner
Driver
Time
2024MayMach Shard [1] Mrs K J Purdon, Mrs C Nausbaum, Mrs T L WhittakerCrystal Hackett (J) [2] 3:17.71
2023Apr Self Assured Mrs J L Feiss Natalie Rasmussen [3] 3:18.8
2022AprMajestic CruiserD S Glynn & Mrs H R GlynnCameron Hart3:13.1
2021Apr Copy That M W & M T ButterworthMaurice McKendry3:18.81
2020not raced
2019May Spankem [4] Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, JA Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, GA Woodham, Mrs KJ Woodham. Natalie Rasmussen 3:17.6
2018AprEamon MaguireBD Sceats, GJ Anderson, R Chalklin, SR Pulley, AD Gow, Mrs PP Gillan Natalie Rasmussen 3:15.7
2017Apr Lazarus Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, TG Casey, KJ Riseley Mark Purdon 3:25.2
2016AprField MarshallMrs S A Brown, S B Brown Dexter Dunn 3:15.8
2015AprSky MajorMrs K J Purdon, T G Casey, Clear View Racing No 4 Syndicate, J Lohman, T F Henderson, The Anzac Racing SyndicateZac Butcher3:15.6
2014MayEliosBennett Bloodstock Ltd, C Eynon, M R McKinnon, G Rutledge, B DestounisJohn Dunn3:17.4
2013MayChristen MeC J Roberts, V L Purdon Dexter Dunn 3:17.7
2012MayMustang MachK Farah, A Kheir, G Braude, M Gordon Dexter Dunn 3:18.0
2011MayFranco EmirateR E NieperJim Curtin3:18.0
2010MayTintin In AmericaATC Trot 2008 SyndicateDavid Butcher3:15.8
2009May Auckland Reactor Auckland Reactor Ltd Mark Purdon 3:18.8
2008MayGotta Go CullenI D Dobson Tony Herlihy 3:22.9
2007May Monkey King Cavalla Bloodstock Limited Steven Reid 3:23.9
2006May Mainland Banner I D Dobson, S J Dobson, Lynne UmarRicky May3:23.5
2005AprilMi MuchachoR C Anderson, Ms P C LarsenPeter Ferguson3:23.5
2004April Elsu Mrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P SmallDavid Butcher3:22.2
2003May Just An Excuse O Haines, Mrs I K HainesTodd Mitchell3:22.0
2002AprilYoung RufusH Manolitsis, V, T & W Lynch, G J Carey, K R Hyslop Mark Purdon 3:21.4
2001MarchTupelo RoseG L Banks, M J Hanover, J D CurtinPeter Jones3:23.6
2000MarchPic Me PocketsH R Bosher Tony Herlihy 3:19.8
1999AprilHomin HosedMrs M A Macey, B L MaceyTodd Mitchell3:23.1
1998MayOK RoyalJ W Smolenski, M J WardJack Smolenski3:20.6
1997AprilAgua CalienteD S Short, Mrs D E J Short, Mrs D E Woods, Miss S M ShortGlen Wolfenden3:24.7
1996AprilDecision TimeJ M WardJames Stormont3:22.3
1995AprilRain AgainB C MadsenNeil Brady3:23.0
1994AprilMontana VanceJ B Hart, Mrs K J Purdon, J B Ede, D H Sixton Tony Herlihy 3:23.0
1993March Chokin Pacers Australia Synd, M Joyce, J Loughnan, B De Boer Tony Herlihy 3:23.3
1992AprilAbdiasJ Butcher, Mrs C M ButcherPhilip Butcher3:27.0
1991April Christopher Vance R R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C Reid Tony Herlihy 3:19.5
1990MarchAlert FullaJ FriedhofMaurice McKendry3:25.8
1989MarchDillon DeanD P Dwyer, Mrs H M C BurleyColin De Filippi3:22.7
1988FebruaryRostriever HanoverI A Munro, Mrs A H MunroPatrick O'Reilly3:23.5
1986DecemberTridentThe Horseplayers SyndicateJohn Hay3:25.8
1985DecemberPlacid VictorMrs L G WilsonMaurice McKendry3:23.2
1984DecemberRoydon GlenR A McKenzieFred Fletcher3:25.4
1983DecemberNostradamusW J Francis & P I RenwickPeter N Jones3:32.4
1982DecemberHilarious GuestM G Vermeulen Peter Wolfenden 3:26.2
1981DecemberMelton MonarchJ S DalgetyBarry Purdon3:26.5
1980DecemberJohn TudorH T & A P Dodds & B C NewtonThomas H Knowles3:29.3
1979DecemberTempest TigerP K RyderJack Smolenski3:27.9
1978MarchSaplingG C Cruickshank & R GivenHenry Skinner3:26.4
1978DecemberLocarnoB J & E J FrancisRobin D Butt3:34.6
1977March Stanley Rio W J Francis & G B & J B NobleJohn B Noble3:28.4
1976MarchForto ProntezzaMrs E & A R J McNaughtHenry Skinner3:29.2
1975MarchJosiasJ & Mrs C M ButcherRobert F Mitchell3:29.6
1974MarchSpeedy GuestW F WoolleyJack Smolenski3:28.8
1973MarchTonton MacouteN M Allcock & W E RossA K Holmes3:10
1972MarchScottish WarriorR A McKenzie Charlie Hunter 3:10.2
1970DecemberSam TryaxMrs & R C WhitfordBarry J Anderson3:11.6
1969DecemberWestern RidgeT E RenshawReg J Weatherley3:14.2
1968DecemberBewitchedG B NobleJohn B Noble2:55.8
1967DecemberGovernor FrostC Hadley Peter Wolfenden 2:55.4

Other major races

See also

References

  1. ↑ Stewart, Bruce (3 May 2024). "Mach Shard does the double - Harnesslink".
  2. ↑ "Two Group 1s for Crystal Hackett and "Shardy"". www.hrnz.co.nz.
  3. ↑ "Rasmussen tops $13 million in stakes with G1 NZ Messenger win - Harnesslink". 28 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Turner, Jonny (28 September 2019). "Spankem NZ Harness Horse Of The Year". Otago Daily Times .


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