The Waikato Sprint currently run as the BCD Group Sprint is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton in early February.
It is currently held on the same day as the Group 1 Herbie Dykes Stakes.
The list of winners includes many of the top-class sprinter-milers to have raced in New Zealand. The champion mare Sunline won back-to-back victories in 2001 and 2002. The well-performed gelding Mufhasa won the 2009 and 2011 events (also winning the Telegraph Handicap in both of these years) and was also 2nd in 2012 and 3rd in 2010. Courier Bay won in both 1987 and 1988 but was unable to get a third win, running second by 1 1/4 lengths to the reigning Cox Plate winner, Poetic Prince, the following year.
Race results
Year Stake Winner Jockey Trainer(s) Time 2nd 3rd2026$500,000First Five 59Wiremu PinnDavid Greene1:21.21 (soft)Sterling Express 59Tomodachi 572025$500,000Here To Shock 59Nash RawillerBen, Will & JD Hayes1:21.84 (good)Bosustow 55.5 Savaglee 55.52024$400,000 Bonny Lass 57 Craig GryllsGraham Richardson & Rogan Norvall 1:21.82 (good)Crocetti 55.5 Callsign Mav 592023 $300,000 Imperatriz 57Opie Bosson Mark Walker, Matamata 1:20.70 (good) Babylon Berlin 57 Levante 572022 $220,000Levante 57Ryan Elliot Ken & Bev Kelso, Matamata 1:23.56 (soft) Entriviere 57Mascarpone 59 2021 $200,000Avantage 57.5Opie BossonJamie Richards, Matamata1:20.87 (good)Callsign Mav 59 Mascarpone 592020 $200,000Te Akau Shark 59Opie BossonJamie Richards, Matamata1:21.7 (good)The Mitigator 59 Kiwi Ida 572019 $200,000Melody Belle 57Troy Harris Jamie Richards, Matamata1:22.62 (good)Bostonian 59 Ardrossan 592018 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2018 (47th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.$200,000Start Wondering 59Johnathan ParkesJ J & Evan Rayner, Whanganui1:25.80 (heavy)Packing Eagle 59Brilliant Shine 592017 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2017 (46th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.$200,000Start Wondering 59Johnathan ParkesJ J & Evan Rayner, Whanganui1:21.22 (good)Natuzzi 59 Saracino 55.52016$200,000Xtravagant 55.5Matt CameronStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata1:21.92 (good)Vespa 59 Recite 572015$200,000Sacred Star 59Vincent ColganTony Pike, Cambridge1:20.81 (good)Natuzzi 59 Spin Doctor 592014 $200,000Viadana 57Craig GryllsLance Noble, Matamata1:22.19 (soft)Sacred Star 59Diademe 572013$200,000Final Touch 57Chris JohnsonJohn & Karen Parsons, Balcairn1:21.38 (good)Xanadu 57 Zurella 572012$200,000Veyron 59Leith InnesLinda Laing, Cambridge1:20.99 (good)Mufhasa 59 Fazzle 572011$200,000Mufhasa 59Samantha SprattStephen McKee, Ardmore1:21.09 (good)Wall Street 59 Keep The Peace 572010$200,000Tavistock 59Jason WaddellAndrew Campbell, Opaki1:21.30 (good) Wealth Princess 57Mufhasa 592009$200,000Mufhasa 59Samantha SprattStephen McKee, Ardmore1:22.54 (good)Gaze 57 Ruud Van Slaats 572008New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2008 (37th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand. $200,000Seachange 56.5Gavin McKeonGraeme Sanders, Te Awamutu1:21.31 (good)Kay's Awake 56.5 Run Like Al 55.52007 $150,000Darci Brahma 59Opie Bosson Mark Walker, Matamata1:22.35 (good)Shinzig 59 Kay's Awake 56.52006 $150,000Kristov 57.5Jason Waddell Phillip Stevens 1:23.63 (soft)Darci Brahma 53Gee I Jane 562005 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2005 (34th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand. $100,000SedecremAndrew CalderColin Jillings & Richard Yuill, Takanini1:22.17 2004New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2004 (33rd edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand. $100,000SedecremGrant CooksleyColin Jillings & Richard Yuill, Takanini1:22.53 2003 $100,000Tit For TaatMichael WalkerWayne Herbert1:22.66 2002 $100,000SunlineGreg ChildsTrevor & Stephen McKee, Takanini1:21.67 2001 $100,000SunlineGreg ChildsTrevor & Stephen McKee, Takanini1:22.24 2000New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2000 (29th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Auckland, New Zealand. $100,000Tall Poppy 56Jim WalkerNoel Eales, Awapuni1:21.29 1999$100,000SurfaceNoel Harris Noel Eales, Awapuni1:21.4 1998$100,000RebelCatherine Huchinson Ron Langsford1:21.05 1997 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.$100,000AvedonChris JohnsonPatrick Campbell, Awapuni1:22.47 1996$100,000Allegrohttps://www.100years.nzb.co.nz/blog/100-years-of-racetrack-legends-1987-1996Gary GryllsChris & Colleen Wood, Cambridge1:22.32 1995New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1995 (24th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand. $100,000SnapLance O'SullivanDave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata1:26.14 1994New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1994 (23rd edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Meadowset Publishing, Auckland, New Zealand. $100,000Western Red 53Brian HibberdPaul Jelicich, Avondale1:21.71 1993$100,000Veandercross 57.5Jim WalkerChris Turner & John Wheeler, New Plymouth1:22.08 1992$100,000Mrs Selleck 56Roy McKayPatrick Busuttin, Foxton1:20.60 1991New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1991 (20th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand. $98,000Mr Tiz 57.5Lance O'SullivanDave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata1:21.17 1990Not Held 1989$117,600Poetic Prince 57Noel HarrisJohn Wheeler, New Plymouth1:21.40 1988$117,600Courier Bay 57.5David WalshG A White1:23.27 1987New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1987 (16th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.$98,000Courier Bay 57David WalshG A White1:20.73 1986$63,000Tanalyse 57.5David WalshDon Grubb, Fielding1:21.06 1985New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1985 (Fourteenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand. $48,000Super Tai 57.5David PeakeFrederick Hill, Stratford1:21.09 1984New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1984 (Thirteenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand. $37,300Abit Leica 53Peter FearonWarren Dymond, Stratford1:21.53 1983$29,140Pinson 53Diane MoseleyDon Couchman, Hawera1:23.42 1982New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1982 (Eleventh edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand. $31,200Givenchy 57David PeakeRay Verner, Takanini1:25.3 1981New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1981 (Tenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand. $31,000Mun Lee 56Greg ChildsMalcolm Smith, Awapuni1:22.7 1980New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1980 (Ninth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand. $31,000Coobers Queen Gary PhillipsPeter Melville, Kaponga1:26.87 1979New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1979 (Eighth edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand. $31,000March Legend 57.5Roger LangDonald Nash, Takanini1:26.0 1978New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1978 (Seventh edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand. $27,300Copper Belt 57.5Jim WalkerBrian Deacon, Hawera1:22.4 1977$20,250Soliloquy 56David MedcalfeRay Verner, Takanini1:23.1 1976New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1976. Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland. $16,000MopPat TrotterKeith Couper, Hastings1:22.1 1975$16,000Auditor 57.5Graeme HareWally McEwan & L Gestro, Hawera1:22.6 1974$15,000Kings Romance 57.5Gary WillettsMalcolm Smith, New Plymouth1:23.7
See also
Recent winners of major NZ sprint races Telegraph Handicap Railway Stakes Otaki-Maori Weight for Age Captain Cook Stakes
References
N.Z. Thoroughbred Racing Inc. Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips TAB | Sports & Racing Betting Online in New Zealand New Zealand Horse Racing Statistics and Information - RaceBase The Great Decade of New Zealand racing 1970-1980. Glengarry, Jack. William Collins Publishers Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand.