Rowe Cup

Last updated
Rowe Cup
ClassGroup I
Location Alexandra Park
Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated1918
Race type Standardbred - Flat racing
Website www.alexandrapark.co.nz
Race information
Distance3200m (2 miles)
SurfaceDirt
TrackRight-handed oval
QualificationThree-year-olds and up
PurseNZ $200,000 (2025)

The Rowe Cup is a race held annually at Alexandra Park, Auckland, New Zealand for standardbred horses.

Contents

The Rowe Cup is run over a distance of 3200 m. Along with the Dominion Handicap raced at Addington Raceway it is one of the major harness races for trotters rather than pacers. [1] [2]

The Rowe Cup is currently held in early May on the same night as the Roy Purdon Memorial Handicap (Group 1) for pacers. Previously it was held later in May on the same night as the Auckland Cup and Northern Trotting Derby for 3 year old trotters. In 2024 Australian visitors Greg Sugars and Jess Tubbs won both Cups with Just Believe and Better Eclipse. [3]

Between 1918 and 1971 it was raced in December.

Records

Most wins:

Most wins by a driver:

Winners list

The following are winners of the Rowe Cup: [4]

Year
Horse
Hcp
Owner(s)
Driver
Time
2nd
3rd
2025Bet N Win [5] fr (1)Odds On Syndicate, P I Baken, R Cole, P I & G J Kennard Bloodstock Limited, Breckon Racing Syndicate, Mrs M J White, C J Markham, A Di lorio, Est W A Ramsay, P I MarriottBob Butt4:06:5Mr LoveQueen Elida
2024Just Believefr (6)Iona Trotter SyndicateGreg Sugars [6] 4:06.1Oscar BonavenaMidnight Dash
2023Love N The Portfr (1)K P Ussher & Mrs S E WhiteMatthew Williamson4:06.84Oscar BonavenaEurokash
2022Bolt For Brilliance [7] fr (2)Mrs S Herlihy, D I Donaldson, P J Hailes, Mrs J M Mathews Tony Herlihy 4:01.24TemporaleSundees Son
2021Sundees SonfrC W Hair & Mrs N L HairJohn Dunn4:06.61Bolt For BrillianceTemporale
2019Sundees SonfrC W Hair & Mrs N L HairJohn Dunn4:06.2Speeding SpurMajestic Man
2018Speeding SpurfrWoodlands Partnership, Kieran Read, Andy Ellis, R J Taylor, D HewettJoshua Dickie4:08.2Monty PythonTemporale
2017TemporalefrD P Biddlecombe, D I Donaldson, Mrs S Herlihy, K J Riseley Tony Herlihy [8] 4:07.9Habibti IvyBordeaux
2016MonbetfrG P Hope, Mrs N M Hope, M J MolloyRicky May4:06.3ValmagneQueen Kenny
2015StentfrT G CaseyColin DeFilippi4:03.6Master LavrosAlley Way
2014Master LavrosfrKypros KotzikasMark Jones4:06.4SheemonBoizel
2013StigfrT G Butt, Mrs Andrea Butt, J S Boyd, Mrs R I Boyd, R G Thomas, Ms J A GordonDavid Butt4:06.1
2012I Can DoositfrKen & Karen Breckon Mark Purdon 4:05.0
2011I Can DoositfrKen & Karen Breckon Mark Purdon 4:08.2
2010Sundon's GiftfrNeven BoticaChris Lang4:08.5
2009One Over KennyfrL E Williams, Mrs H R Williams Tony Herlihy 4:07.0
2008Our Sunny WhizfrR A, R M & K A Southey, Mrs S D LeanMaurice McKendry4:12.4
2007One Over KennyfrL E & Mrs. H R Williams Tony Herlihy 4:09.0
2006InspirefrRed And White Syndicate, R G H Thomson, G J & P C NairnPaul Nairn4:13.0
2005Martina HfrK D Marr, I D Malcolm, Derek BalleDerek Balle4:09.4
2004 Lyell Creek frMrs K L Butt, Graham Bruton, [9] The Creek Syndicate Anthony Butt 4:07.7
2003 Take A Moment frLong Drive Syndicate Anthony Butt 4:08.0
2002La Coocaracha [10] 15 mL J & S Christou/B Meani/G Meani Kerryn Manning 4:05.3
2001 Lyell Creek 15 mA M Butt, Graham Bruton, The Creek Syndicate Anthony Butt 4:06.0
2000 Lyell Creek 15 mGraham Bruton Anthony Butt 4:05.8
1999Mountain GoldfrThe Dual Code SyndicateBarry Purdon4:13.8
1998Merinai10 mJ F Bedwell, Miss A M Bedwell, Mrs M E HillJames Stormont4:08.6
1997Eastburn GrantfrL A BarnettKen Barron4:08.8
1996Wagon ApollofrN G Aitken, D V LangGraeme Lang4:09.5
1995So Long EdenfrMs M J Millar, W J BishopColin De Filippi4:06.7
1994Diamond Field10 mSouthland St'Breds No 2 Syndicate Tony Herlihy 4:15.6
1993David MossfrEst H W Cox, O AndersenMaurice McKendry4:09.8
1992DirectorshipfrClassic Nine SyndicateMaurice McKendry4:13.5
1991Gee du JourfrA D Cain, S J Adlam, J A Lischner Tony Herlihy 4:12.3
1990Idle ScottfrR F Hunt, M K Chubb, G R Mason, D K GibbonsDave Gibbons4:10.8
1989Yankee LochfrD K Gibson, Mrs R M GibsonJim Curtin4:14.0
1988HighwoodfrW E Stapleton, L J HanrahanRicky May4:14.4
1987Landora's PridefrC T Allingham, Mrs V M Allingham John Langdon 4:12.8
1986Mairo SultanFrK Miller, Mrs J P MillerMaurice McKendry4:19.3
1985TusslefrDr C H G IrvinePeter N Jones4:20.6
1984JennerfrKenwood Syndicate John Langdon 4:13.6
1983Sir CastletonfrM S MacPhersonPatrick G O'Reilly jnr4:17.0
1982Stormy Morn15mP G MooreA J (Tony) Perucich4:25.3
1981No Response10mF T N BlackRichard J Brosnan4:18.2
1980Special PridefrP J & Mrs M C Harnett Peter Wolfenden 4:24.6
1979Even SpeedfrI H Langford & Dr B W NixonWes Butt4:22.0
1978Ritch HillfrE W & T R RunningBruce Running4:21.0
1977Framalda10mA L Daly & F L H Mooney Peter Wolfenden 4:17.9
1976 Easton Light 40mE W & T R RunningBruce Running4:19.4
1975Robyn EvanderfrP Butterworth & J E SmithJim Smith4:22.5
1974Cee ArfrR H De Filippi & V Ford Denis Nyhan 4:17.3
1973Miss Debra12 ydsJ R Longville, V Nicholson & G WoodH P (Paddy) Timmins4:25.8
1971PaulettescrA GibbonDave Gibbons4:36.4
1970Global HallscrR D Butt & E GaffaneyRobin D Butt4:18.6
1969Single Cash30 ydsS R Landon & L E B File Peter Wolfenden 4:19.2
1968Single Cash12 ydsS R Landon & L E B File Peter Wolfenden 4:22.4
1967Mountain PridescrJ E Smith & Estate L J AshworthJim Smith4:23.4
1966ScotleighscrC R GriffinCecil R Griffin4:21.4
1965Astralight12 ydsW F WoolleyJack Carmichael4:25.0
1964DreamingscrA H EdgeColin McDonald4:23.0
1963Pohutukawa24 ydsR J & G M Oliver Doody Townley 4:18.6
1962Pohutukawa36 ydsR J & G M OliverRobert J Oliver4:21.6
1961 Ordeal 78 ydsMrs L M Bradley M Holmes 4:14.0
1960Jewel Derby72 ydsE C Parker Peter Wolfenden 4:27.0
1959Recruit78 ydsJ J Rooney M Holmes 4:24.8
1958Battle Cry72 ydsMrs & E S BaxterWes Butt4:21.2
1957TapuwaescrMrs M AdamLawrence Greenaway4:32.8
1956Recruit132 ydsJ Rooney M Holmes 4:20.4
1955Indian Parrish12 ydsA OgilvieO Nicholas4:31.6
1954Quick Silver24 ydsMrs J N OliverW K Tatterson4:30.4
1953Rewa Scott36 ydsW A Craddock & R CurraghD Jones4:27.0
1952IndomitablescrW E HyslopR Young4:30.6
1951Fair Isle36 ydsV Alborn & E J AugustV Alborn4:27.6
1950Gay Belwyn60 ydsMrs E A BerrymanR Young4:30.6
1949Single Task12 ydsBrownson BrosR Young4:26.0
1948Bellisima72 ydsW E StickingC R Berkett4:44.0
1947Noble StarscrJ MearnA W Broughton4:32.0
1946Aerial Scott24 ydsJ SpierR Young4:45.0
1945Casablanca72 ydsS T WebsterJ B Pringle4:34.0
1944Fantom [11] 24 ydsJ R McKenzieG B Noble4:33.0
1943Douglas McElwyn36 ydsL F BerkettL F Berkett4:33.6
1942FantomscrJ R McKenzieG B Noble4:35.4
1941Jimmy DrususscrP V FlexmanL J Mahoney4:42.0
1940MarginscrC MoranC Moran4:40.0
1939Gay Moko36 ydsJ MahoneyL J Mahoney4:41.4
1938Pirate's Last60 ydsJ MahoneyL J Mahoney4:39.2
1937Parrish Belle36 ydsA G PillingerA G Pillinger4:34.6
1936Great Admiral48 ydsJ T PaulJ T Paul4:33.0
1935Great Admiral60 ydsJ T PaulJ T Paul4:36.0
1934Nell Volo108 ydsF J SmithF J Smith4:26.4
1933Nell VoloscrF J SmithF J Smith4:41.0
1932GarnerscrE C McDermotE C McDermott3:27.0 (1.5 miles)
1931Surprise Journey96 ydsG J BartonW J Tomkinson4:32.6
1930Raima24 ydsJ H LloydJ A Gerrard4:34.0
1929RaimascrJ H LloydJ J Kennerly4:45.2
1928KemptonscrMrs E BerrymanC S Donald4:40.4
1927Waikaha12 ydsJ T PaulJ T Paul4:36.6
1926Waikaha24 ydsJ T PaulJ T Paul4:37.8
1925Rose Bingen36 ydsC JohnstoneW Willietts4:36.0
1924Pyramus24 ydsF J RaynerA J Julian4:44.4
1923MutuscrA W JonesW Orange4:44.0
1922Aerial Bingen36 ydsJ PettieW Orange4:45.8
1921Native King24 ydsB ShadboltB Shadbolt Jnr4:46.0
1920Grattan AbbeyscrW OrangeW Orange4:48.0
1919BluewoodscrR M MortenJ Bryce4:54.6
1918Whist48 ydsJ R CorriganA Adams4:48.4

There was no race in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Other major races

See also

References

  1. Guerin, Michael (28 April 2009). "Racing: Trotting queen faces full Rowe Cup field". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  2. "GOLD N GOLD ARRIVES IN AUCKLAND". www.harnesslink.com.
  3. "Greg Sugars grabs Rowe Cup - Auckland Cup double at Alexandra Park". www.hrnz.co.nz.
  4. "HRNZ Rowe Cup results".
  5. Stewart, Bruce (May 3, 2025). "Fitting win for Bet N Win in big $200,000 trot - Harnesslink".
  6. HRNZ, Michael Guerin for. "Two Cups end a successful New Zealand odyssey for team Larajay". Harness Racing Victoria.
  7. "Big upset in $250,000 Rowe Cup - Harnesslink". 27 May 2022.
  8. "Tony Herlihy takes out fifth Rowe Cup with peach of a drive". 28 April 2017.
  9. "Wild ride of gambler who ran - New Zealand News". NZ Herald. May 2, 2025.
  10. "Australasian Grand Circuit - Stories 2001/2002 - NZ Rowe Cup". www.harness.org.au.
  11. "Fantom's Rowe Cup double in the 1940s". www.hrnz.co.nz.