Levin Classic

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

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. In 2022 and 2023 the race was held in March but it was returned to January in 2024.

Notable winners

Among the most famous winners are: Bonecrusher, winner of the 1985 New Zealand Derby and 1986 Cox Plate Imperatriz, winner of the 2022 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes and 2023 Railway Stakes O'Reilly, winner of the 1997 Telegraph Handicap Our Flight, winner of the 1982 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and New Zealand Derby Tit For Taat, winner of the 2000 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 2003 Waikato Sprint and Sir Byrne Hart Stakes Veandercross, winner of the 1991 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 1992 Canterbury Guineas and 1993 Australian Cup Wahid, winner of the 2006 New Zealand Derby

Race results

Year Winner Jockey Trainer(s) Time Second place Third2026La Dorada 55 Craig Grylls Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson 1:24.40 (soft)Swiss Prince 57Argo 572025Savaglee 57Samantha SprattPam Gerard1:23.22 (good, 1400m)Kitty Flash 55Tardelli 572024Quintessa 55 Opie BossonMark Walker & Sam Bergerson1:35.76 (good) Zabmanzor 57Impendabelle 552023Romancing The Moon 55 Kozzi AsanoMark Walker1:37.13 (soft)Skew Wiff 55Luella Cristina 552022 Imperatriz 54.5 Michael McNab Jamie Richards1:36.43 (dead) On The Bubbles 56.5I Wish I Win 56.52021Bonham 54.5Lisa AllpressJohno Benner & Hollie Wynyard, Otaki1:37.67 (good)Brando 56.5Wild Moose 56.52020 Travelling Light 54.5 Samantha CollettBen Foote, Cambridge1:36.71 (good)Harlech 56.5Riodini 56.52019Madison County 56.5Matthew CameronMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge1:35.89 (good)Hypnos 56.5Vernanme 56.52018New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2018 (47th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New ZealandAge Of Fire 56.5Opie BossonStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata1:36.63 (soft)Belle Du Nord 54.5Savvy Coup 54.52017New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2017 (46th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New ZealandHall Of Fame 56.5Opie BossonStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata1:35.54 (good)Saville Row 56.5Jon Snow 56.52016Dukedom 56.5Lisa AllpressSteven Cole1:36.96 (good)Son Of Maher 56.5Rangipo 56.52015Gaultier 56.5Michael ColemanDanica Guy, Matamata1:36.62 (good)Sardaaj 54.5Huka Eagle 56.52014Recite 54.5Mark Du PlessisJohn Bary, Hastings1:36.10 (firm)Franzac 56.5Aspen 56.52013No race held2012Southern Lord 56.5Kelly MyersAlan Tait, Matamata1:34.63 (good)Le Choix 56.5Soriano 552011Distill 56.5Robert HannamRoydon Bergerson, Awapuni1:35.97 (good)Randall 56.5Antonio Lombardo 56.52010We Can Say It Now 54.5Leith Innes Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge1:34.27 (good)Blinding 54.5Lady Kipling 54.52009Eileen Dubh 55Jonathan RiddellFrancis Finnegan, Woodville1:35.43 (good)St Germaine 54.5Green Supreme 562008Altered Image 56Michael ColemanMichael & Paul Moroney, Matamata1:32.50 (good)Spontaneous 56Izonit 562007New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2008 (37th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New ZealandKeepa Cruisin 54.5Leith InnesStephen McKee, Ardmore1:34.85 (good)Run Like Al 56 Satinka 54.52006Porotene Gem 54.5David WalkerKevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge1:40.10 (soft)Jokers Wild 56Figueres 562005 Wahid 56Hayden TinsleyAllan Sharrock, New Plymouth1:36.18 (dead)Shikoba 53.5Izzat 562004 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2005 (34th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New ZealandAmbitious Owner 55.5Leith InnesMurray Baker, Cambridge1:34.77 (Good)Fiscal Madness 55.5Magnetism 55.52003New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2004 (33rd edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New ZealandRussian Pearl 56Hayden TinsleyBruce & Stephen Marsh, Woodville1:34.96 (soft)Taatletail 53.5King’s Chapel 562002Bunker 56Opie BossonTrevor & Stephen McKee, Takanini1:37.14 (soft)Dane choice 56Cheerine Kid 562001Final Destination 53.5Gary GryllsVannessa Hillis, Matamata1:34.9 (good)Shinnecock 54Armondo 562000Tit For Taat 56Hayden TinsleyWayne Herbert1:35.11 (good) Star Satire 56Sir Clive 541999 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2000 (29th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Auckland, New ZealandBuzz Lightyear 56Opie BossonRobert Priscott, Te Awamutu1:35.28Domero 56Greatthings Happen 561998Tobruk 56Leith InnesGraham Richardson, Matamata1:37.67 (soft)With Drawn 56Kaapeon 561997Love De Tor 53Greg ChildsMichael Moroney, Matamata1:33.69 (good) Foxwood 53Quality Kingdom 531996 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New ZealandO'Reilly 55.5Lance O'SullivanDave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata1:35.74High Return 55.5Rebel 55.51995Prussian Blue 55.5Shane UdyDavina Waddell, Pukekohe1:34.97 (good)Anemos 56Super Crest 531994 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1995 (24th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New ZealandAvedon 55.5Darryl BradleyFelix Patrick Campbell, Awapuni1:34.81Starcent 53Allegro 55.51993 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1994 (23rd edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Meadowset Publishing, Auckland, New ZealandAl Akbar 55.5Gary GryllsChris Wood, Cambridge 1:43.97 (heavy)Western Red 55.5Facing The Music 531992Nimue 53Lance O'SullivanDave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata1:33.66Kaaptive Edition 55.5Hula Strike 55.51991Veandercross 55.5Jim WalkerChris Turner, New Plymouth1:34.35Overwhelmed 55.5Captain Cook 55.51990 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1991 (20th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New ZealandEagle Eye 55.5Noel HarrisMurray Baker, Woodville1:39.64Sir Alberton 55.5Play On 55.51989Phillipa Rush 53Lance O'SullivanJim Campin, Cambridge1:36.20Pumpernickel 55.5Status 55.51988Krona 55.5Peter TimsRoger McGlade, Taupo1:35.53 (good)Straight Order 55.5Kate’s Myth 531987Young Indian 55.5Peter TimsNorm Morgan, Ruakaka1:35.75 (good)Sound Belt 55.5Candide 531986New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1987 (16th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New ZealandThe Bishop 55.5Maree LyndonDon Couchman, Hawera1:36.78Margarella 53Precocious Lad 55.51985 Bonecrusher 55.5Jim CassidyFrank Ritchie, Takanini1:36.90French Polish 53Seadreamer 531984 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1985 (Fourteenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New ZealandPrincess Dram 53Maree LyndonNeil Bradley, Hawera1:35.90Avana 53Kingdom Bay 55.51983New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1984 (Thirteenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New ZealandBurletta 53 Jim CassidyFelix Patrick Campbell, Hastings 1:36.0Eastern Bay 53Prince Ariba 55.51982Our Flight 53Maurice CampbellErrol Skelton, Levin1:36.2 (good)Red Tempo 55.5Clansman 55.51981 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1982 (Eleventh edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New ZealandAltitude 55.5Stephen AutridgeBill Ford, Matamata1:36.00 (good)Noble Heights 53Volare 55.5

Levin Classic

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