The Telegraph Handicap is a Group One New Zealand horse race contested by the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham Racecourse in Upper Hutt. It was traditionally raced during the Wellington Cup carnival in mid-January, however from 2025 it has been shifted to earlier in January.
The Telegraph Handicap, raced over 1200 metres, and the Railway Stakes contested at Ellerslie Racecourse are New Zealand's premier sprint races.
In the late 1980s the race was called the Wrightson Handicap.
The nature of the Trentham track ensures fast times and some Telegraph Handicap winners have been able to lay claim to world record times over 1200m.
1954 racebook
Previous winners Year Winner Sire Dam Jockey Trainer(s) Time Second Third2026First Five 58.5AlmanzorPayetteWiremu PinnDavid Greene 1:07.23 (soft) Navigator 58.5Grail Seeker 56.5 2025Grail Seeker 56.5Iffraaj (GB) Starwish (Aus) Kevin StottLance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott 1.07.71 (soft) Sacred Satono 58.5Navigator 58.52024 Mercurial 58.5Burgundy (NZ) Roxette (NZ) Samantha SprattStephen Marsh1:08.51 (good)Express Yourself 56.5Bonny Lass 56.52023Levante 56.5 Proisir (Aus) Island Doy (GB) Ryan Elliot Ken & Bev Kelso 1:07.11 (good) Babylon Berlin 56.5Ifndoubtgetout 58.52022 Levante 56.5 Proisir (Aus) Island Doy (GB) Ryan Elliott Ken & Bev Kelso 1:06.18 (good) Roch 'N' Horse 56.5 Mascarpone 58.52021 Avantage 56.5Fastnet Rock (Aus) Asavant (NZ) Danielle Johnson Jamie Richards 1:06.97 (good)Spring Heat 56.5 Burgundy Belle 56.52020 Avantage 56.5 Fastnet Rock (Aus) Asavant (NZ) Opie Bosson Jamie Richards 1:07.04 (good)Enzo's Lad 58.5 Spring Heat 56.52019 Enzo's Lad 58 Testa Rossa (Aus) Sheerama (Aus) Michael McNabMichael & Matthew Pitman 1:06.95 (good)Ferrando 55.5 Sensei 55.52018 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2018 (47th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand. Enzo's Lad 55.5 Testa Rossa (Aus) Sheerama (Aus) Sam WeatherleyMichael & Matthew Pitman1:08.30 (good)Kawi 59 Ferrando 55.52017New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2017 (46th edition). Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand. Signify 55 Perfectly Ready (Aus) Pica Pica (NZ) Racha Cuneen Alex Cowan, Ashburton1:07.71Start Wondering 58 Perfect Fit 562016 Adventador 55.5 Fast 'N' Famous (Aus) Alpine Beauty (NZ) Matt Cameron Gus Lowry & Grant Cullen 1:08.34Miss Seton Sands 53.5 Trepidation 532015 Sacred Star 57 Flying Spur (Aus) Irish Nova (NZ) Vinnie Colgan Tony Pike 1:07.71 Designated Driver 53Trepidation 532014 Irish Fling 52 Darci Brahma (NZ) Irish Belle (NZ) Mark Du Plessis Gus Lowry & Grant Cullen 1:07.48Natuzzi 54.5Jaggard 522013 Final Touch 58Kashani (USA) My Lydia (Aus) Chris Johnson John & Karen Parsons1:08.53 Xanadu 55Burgundy 552012 Guiseppina 53Johar (USA)Battocchi (NZ) James McDonald Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari 1:06.94Atomic Force 59 El Chico 552011 Mufhasa 56.5 Pentire Sheila Cheval (NZ) Samantha Spratt Stephen McKee, Ardmore 1:07.04 First Command 58.5Coup Align 56.52010 Vonusti 52.5Ustinov (Aus) Reasonably (Aus) Noel Harris Tim & Margaret Carter 1:09.36 Tootsie 52.5Stupendous 52.52009 Mufhasa 55.5 Pentire Sheila Cheval (NZ) Samantha SprattStephen McKee, Ardmore 1:07.39Atapi 55 Ruud Van Slaats 53.52008New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2008 (37th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand. Seachange 58.5 Cape Cross (Ire) Just Cruising (Aus) Gavin McKeon Ralph Manning, Cambridge 1:06.66Kay's Awake 55 Maximum Star 522007 Darci Brahma 57 Danehill (USA) Grand Echezeaux (NZ) Opie Bosson Mark Walker1:07.00Seachange 55.5 Kay's Awake 532006 Gee I Jane 55.5 Jahafil (GB) Miss Distinction (NZ) Scott Seamer Neville Couchman, Cambridge 1:07.77Dezigna 52.5 Magistra Decta 532005New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2005 (34th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand Keeninsky 50.5 Stravinsky (USA) So Keen (NZ) Allan PeardGraeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge, Tuhikaramea 1:07.55Sedecrem 56.5 Dezigna 50.52004New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2004 (33rd edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand King's Chapel King of Kings (Ire) Lower Chapel (GB) Noel Harris Mark Walker 1:06.79Sunlaw Sedecrem2003 Tit For Taat 58.5 Faltaat (USA) Miss Kiwitea (NZ) Michael WalkerAnne Herbert 1:07.64Egyptian Raine 58 Fair Embrace 542002 Vinaka 52.5 Volksraad (GB) Shepherd's Delight (NZ) Lance O'Sullivan Jim Gibbs 1:08.06Life Of Riley 52 Spring Rain 542001 Star Of Gold 53Famous Star (GB) Goldtaine (NZ) Peter D Johnson Stephen & Trevor McKee 1:07.76Spring Rain 53 Travellin' Man 52.52000New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2000 (29th edition). Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Auckland, New Zealand Fritz 53 Kreisler (Ire) Brighten Up (GB) Noel Harris Neil Coulbeck, Leithfield1:07.63Cheiron 54 Star Of Gold 541999 Bawalaksana 52Straight Strike (USA) Princess Jocinda (NZ) Lance O'Sullivan Paul O’Sullivan 1:06.51 Buster Brookfield 52 Samboa 531998 Vegas 51.5Kaapstad (NZ) Some Jewel (Aus) Opie BossonGraeme Rogerson & Keith Hawtin 1:08.85Kiora Star 52 Coogee Walk 531997New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand O'Reilly 49 Last Tycoon (Ire) Courtza (NZ) Lance O'SullivanDave & Paul O’Sullivan, Matamata 1:07.36Classic Royal 49 Krispin Klear 55.51996 Loader 55 Pre Catelan (Aus) Rhapsody Rose (NZ) Chris Johnson Peter J & Dawn M Williams 1:06.85Sun Spot 55 Snap 501995New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1995 (24th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand Lord Tridan 57Lord Ballina (Aus) Salaprime (NZ) Tony Allan Michael Moroney, Matamata 1:07.06 Rampage 48.5Saxonvale 54.51994New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1994 (23rd edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Meadowset Publishing, Auckland, New Zealand Lady Madonna 50 Kingdom Bay (NZ) Donna's Habit (NZ) Jim O'Styke Grant Searle 1:10.40 Enhancer 51.5Lord Tridan 561993 Victory Dias 49.5 Avon's Lord (NZ) My Totara Lass (NZ) Craig Beets C W & Jim Gibbs & Lance Noble 1:06.59Lord Tridan 51 Javelin 561992 Morar 52.5 Otehi Bay (Aus) Hinewai (NZ) Larry CassidyDave & Paul O’Sullivan 1:08.91Mrs Selleck 49.75 Romanee Conti 471991New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1991 (20th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand Vain Sovereign 52 Truly Vain (Aus) Sherwyn's Gold (NZ)Brian Hibberd M R Campbell 1:08.31Mr Tiz 60.5 Hypervain 501990 Mr Tiz 55.5 Bletchingly (Aus) Yir Tiz (NZ) Lance O'SullivanDave & Paul O’Sullivan 1:07.99 Vain Sovereign 52 Zephyr Magic 55.51989 Mr Tiz 50.5 (dead heat) Bletchingly (Aus) Yir Tiz (NZ) Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O’Sullivan 1:07.66 -Sirstaci 501989 Festal 49 (dead heat)Vain (Aus) Party (Aus) Larry Cassidy Bruce Marsh 1:07.66- Sirstaci 501988 Courier Bay 58 Diplomatic Agent (USA) Bay Ruth (NZ) David Walsh G A White1:07.45 Sirstaci 49.5Squire Gray 47.51987New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1987 (16th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand Courier Bay 54.5 Diplomatic Agent (USA) Bay Ruth (NZ) David Walsh G A White 1:07.45Kosha 57 Knight Invader 501986Tanalyse 54.5 Alvaro (GB) Ventian Topaz (GB) David Walsh D Grubb 1:07.35Princess Dram 53 Silver Tip 51.51985New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1985 (Fourteenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New ZealandHigh Regards 48.5 Trictrac (Fra) Savarnah (NZ) Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O’Sullivan, Matamata 1:07.23Romantic Bay 48.5 Clear Gold 56.51984New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1984 (Thirteenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand Mac's Gamble 53 Shifnal (Aus) Mac's Bonnie (NZ) Debbie Healey M M Phillips 1:08.45 Pinson 55.5 Atrapar 54.51983 So Modest 49.5 So Vain (Aus) Darilyn Kaye (NZ) Greg Childs K, KR & N Crawford 1:07.52 Diplomante 54 So Dandy 561982New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1982 (Eleventh edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand Our Shah 55 Shahram (GB) Our Rene (NZ) Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O’Sullivan & Mike Moroney 1:09.52 Diplomante 55 Anderil 551981New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1981 (Tenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand Anderil 54.5 Hasty Cloud (Ire) Charsada (NZ) C McNab Dave & Paul O’Sullivan & Mike Moroney 1:07.50 Diplomante 49.5 Valencia 52.51980New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1980 (Ninth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand Flying View 54 Country Dance (GB) Loch View (NZ) S Laming K H Pratt 1:09.50 Anderil 48.5 Silver Nymph 501979New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1979 (Eighth edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand Arbre Chene 57 Oakville (GB) Marija Jean (NZ) R D Vance P K Cathro 1:09.75 Pennevari 48.5 Purple Kiwi 521978New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1978 (Seventh edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand Extra Flash 47 Serenader II (Ire)Princess Nike (NZ) S R Autridge H W Mathews 1:09.75 Sly Wink 50.5 Heidelberg 49.5
Wellington Racing Club
Other major races held at Trentham include the:
Wellington Cup Levin Classic Thorndon Mile Desert Gold Stakes.
See also
Recent winners of major NZ sprint races Railway Stakes Waikato Sprint
References
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. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1976. Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland