Levin Classic

Levin Classic
Group I race
Location Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, (2014-)
Otaki Racecourse (1991-2012)
Levin Racecourse (1981-1990)
Inaugurated 1981
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website Levin Racing Club
Race information
Distance 1600m (1 mile)
Surface Turf
Track Left-handed
Qualification Three-year-olds
Weight Set-Weights
Purse NZ$240,000

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

For much of its history, the Classic was run at Otaki on the last Friday in November. Since 2014 it has been run at Trentham as part of the Wellington Cup Carnival in January.

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 Otaki.

For more than a decade the race was sponsored by Bayer, a name by which many people still know the race.

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. It September 2013 it was announced the race would be transferred to Trentham in Wellington and staged on the first day of Wellington Cup Week in January.[1]

Among the most famous winners are Bonecrusher, Veandercross, O'Reilly, Russian Pearl and Wahid.

Winners of the Levin Classic

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
2014 Recite
2012 Southern Lord Kelly Myers Alan Tait
2011 Distill Robert Hannam Roydon Bergerson
2010 We Can Say It Now Leith Innes Murray & Bjorn Baker
2009 Eileen Dubh Jonathan Riddell Francis Finnegan
2008 Altered Image Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney
2007 Keepa Cruisin Leith Innes Stephen McKee
2006 Porotene Gem David Walker Kevin Gray
2005 Wahid Hayden Tinsley Allan Sharrock
2004 Ambitious Owner Leith Innes Murray Baker
2003 Russian Pearl Hayden Tinsley B & S Marsh
2002 Bunker Opie Bosson T & S McKee
2001 Final Destination Gary Grylls Vannessa Hillis
2000 Tit For Taat Hayden Tinsley Wayne Herbert
1999 Buzz Lightyear Opie Bosson Robert Priscott
1998 Tobruk Leith Innes Graham Richardson
1997 Love De Tor Greg Childs Mike Moroney
1996 O'Reilly Lance O'Sullivan D & P O'Sullivan
1995 Prussian Blue Shane Udy Davina Waddell
1994 Avedon Darryl Bradley Patrick Campbell
1993 Al Akbar Gary Grylls Chris Wood
1992 Nimue Lance O'Sullivan D & P O'Sullivan
1991 Veandercross Jim Walker Chris Turner
1990 Eagle Eye Noel Harris Murray Baker
1989 Phillipa Rush Lance O'Sullivan Jim Campin
1988 Krona Peter Tims Roger McGlade
1987 Young Indian Peter Tims N Morgan
1986 The Bishop Maree Lyndon Don Couchman
1985 Bonecrusher Jim Cassidy Frank Ritchie
1984 Princess Dram Maree Lyndon Neil Bradley
1983 Burletta Jim Cassidy Patrick Campbell
1982 Our Flight M Campbell Errol Skelton
1981 Altitude Stephen Autridge Bill Ford

References

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