New Zealand St. Leger

The New Zealand St. Leger is a major thoroughbred horse race run at Trentham Racecourse in New Zealand on New Zealand Oaks day in March each year.

Race conditions and scheduling

Originally a race for three-year-old horses, it was later opened up to both three- and four-year olds and then from 2019 the race became an Open race with set weights and penalties.

The New Zealand St. Leger is a test of a horse's staying ability and has been run over:

2500m up until 2018 2600m from 2019 to 2024 2500m from 2025.

Until 2025 it was raced on New Zealand Oaks day along with:

Cuddle Stakes (Group 3, 1600m for fillies and mares). Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m open handicap). Wellington Guineas (Group 2, 1400m for 3 year olds)

In 2026 the New Zealand Oaks was moved to Ellerslie Racecourse.

Notable winners

Among the past winners are some of the greatest New Zealand racehorses:

Beau Vite (the winner in 1940) who won 31 races in New Zealand and Australia including both the 1940 and 1941 editions of the Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes and the 1940 Auckland Cup. Dalray (1952) who, in a career cut short by injury, won the 1951 New Zealand Derby and in 1952 the Great Northern Derby, Metropolitan Handicap, Mackinnon Stakes and Melbourne Cup. Kindergarten (1941) who won 25 of his 35 starts and was one of five inaugural inductees to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Mainbrace (1951) who won 23 of his 25 starts and was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Silver Knight (1971) who went on to win the Melbourne Cup in the same year.

Although in recent years the New Zealand St. Leger has diminished in status it has continued to attract high class stayers, such as:

Hail (2002): winner of the 2000 New Zealand Derby, 2002 Sandown Classic and 2003 Zabeel Classic. Jacksstar (2016): winner of the 2019 Awapuni Gold Cup and 2016 Manawatu Cup. Rock On (2017): winner of the 2018 Manawatu Cup. Sampson (2019): winner of the 2017 Awapuni Gold Cup. Waisake (2021): winner of the 2021 Wellington Cup Leaderboard (2022): winner of the 2023 Wellington Cup

Race results Year Winner Jockey Trainer(s) Time2026Latest Model 52Elen Nicholas (a)Gary Vile2:38.68 (2500m, soft)2025Wolfgang 56Joe DoylePeter & Shaun McKay2:37.69 (2500m, soft)2024 Testify Me 55Chris DellJanelle Millar2:43.78 (2600m, soft)2023Ess Vee Are 55Sam WeatherleyDarryn & Briar Weatherley2:42.60 (2600m, soft)2022 Leaderboard Michael McNabJamie Richards 2:39.60 (2600m, dead)2021 Waisake 56 Hazel Schofer (a)Allan Sharrock 2:43.87 (2600m, good) 2020 Sergeant Blast 55 Lisa Allpress Sam Lennox 2:44.97 (2600m, good) 2019 Sampson 55.5 Johnathan Parkes Howie Mathews 2:44.15 (2600m, soft) 2018 Daytona Red 59.5 Matthew Cameron Shaun Ritchie 2:36.55 (2500m, good) 2017 Rock On Jonathan Riddell Gary Vile 2:37.60 2016 Jacksstar Cameron Lammas Gary Vile 2:38.09 2015 Iffwedance Jonathan Riddell Trina Riddell 2:38.01 2014 Sir Gus Chris Johnson Kevin Gray 2:36.35 2013 Serpent Vinnie Colgan Murray Baker/Andrew Forsman 2:39.08 2012 Guns At Five Damian Browne Chris Wood 2:37.54 2011 Vikja King Buddy Lammas Gary Freeman 2:34.98 2010 Mr Charlie Leith Innes Stephen McKee 2:34.50 2009 Valhalla Lisa Allpress Evan & J J Rayner 2:36.34 2008 Katy Keen Opie Bosson Stuart Manning 2:35.20 2007 Ritzy Lady Stathi Katsidis Roger James 2:40.09 (2500m, good) 2006 Ring Of Fire Leith Innes Donna & Dean Logan 2:33.65 (2500m, good) 2005 Aeroforce One Andrew Calder Roger James 2:38.50 2004 Arreviderci Hayden Tinsley Jeff Lynds 2:39.68 2003 Sunray Noel Harris Paul O'Sullivan 2:33.65 2002 Hail Noel Harris Bruce & Stephen Marsh 2:36.54 2001 Forfar Noel Harris Paul O'Sullivan 2:34.02 2000 Big Hustler Michael Walker Ray Peake, Pukekohe 2:35.55 1999 Narousa David Walsh B & S Anderton 2:35.05 1998 Beechwood Road Hayden Tinsley W Scott 2:35.08 1997 Interval Lee Tiley Stephen & Trevor McKee, Takanini 2:40.08 1996 Lady Dahar Tony Allan PW Lock 2:35.45 1995 Freequent Phillip Mercer RR Hayward 2:32.41 1994 Sir Ailahtan Damon Smith JS Lobb 2:34.54 1993 Barbut Delcia PG Tims KS Cullen 2:36.99 1992 no race 1991 Halfmarks Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O'Sullivan 2:38.60 1990 Enthuse Lance O'Sullivan Dave & Paul O'Sullivan 2:03.36 1989 Saveur Tony Allan 2:38.72 1988 Mr Bunnythorpe Barry Griffin ME Griffin, Awapuni 2:37.13 1987 (2500m) Dungarven Lance O'Sullivan Jim Gibbs & Roger James 2:36.54 1986 Regimental March Nigel Tiley Frank Ritchie 3:00.93 1985 Sir Vigilant Noel Harris Murray Baker, Woodville 3:03.62 1984 Imaprince Greg Childs BAV Preston 2:59.01 1983 Secured Deposit TG Williams Neville Atkins, Waiuku 2:55.40 1982 Velvet Dream Maurice Campbell CJ Bradley 2:54.50 1981 Benny Brian Hibberd CJ Cameron, Hastings 3:05 1980 Judena Maurice Campbell Peter Hollinshead, Te Awamutu 3:03.50 1979 Tui's Lass Russell McAra JS McKay 3:03.25 1978 Disraeli Gary Phillips TL Jennings 2:59.5 1977 Lumley Lass D Metcalfe WC Winder, Te Rapa 2:54 1976 Happy Union Bob Skelton WC Winder, Te Rapa 2:57 1975 Kenann Noel Harris CR Cooksley, Takanini 2:58.5 1974 (2800m) Guest Star Bob Skelton IJ & IR Tucker, Takanini 3:09.5 1973 Cradenly Alwin Tweedie 3:04 1972 Llananthony GR Edge JW Winder, Te Rapa 3:09 1971Silver Knight Bruce Marsh Eric Temperton, Awapuni 2:54 1970 Not Again Grenville Hughes 2:55.5 1969 Shantung Grenville Hughes WC Winder, Te Rapa 2:59 1968 Whiti Te Ra JF Harris PM Keegan 2:58.25 1967 Jay Ay RA Jenkins 2:58.25 1966 Terrific Grenville Hughes M & F Ritchie, Ellerslie 2:55.5 1965 Empyreus RW Taylor KH Qunlivan, Hastings 3:17.25 1964 Clayton King PK Cathro 1963 Zinder Bob Skelton 1962 Cracksman LG Coles 1961 Bargoed Grenville Hughes 1960 Howsie J Walker 1959 Lawful WA Smith 1958 Rover JW Harris 1957 Passive WJ Mudford 1956 Syntax Norm Holland 1955 Hot Drop CH Mackie 1954 Surprise Ending DJ Thistoll 1953 Gold Scheme Bill Broughton 1952 Dalray K Nuttall 1951 Mainbrace Grenville Hughes 1950 Tudor Prince Bill Broughton 1949 Tauloch WR Hooten 1948 Foxbay J Williamson 1947 Desert Fox A Midwood 1946 Western Front WF Ellis 1945 no race 1944 no race 1943 no race 1942 Palfrey A Messervy 1941 Kindergarten HN Wiggins 1940 Beau Vite AE Ellis 1939 Beaupatir AE Ellis 1938 Royal Chief LJ Ellis 1937 Wild Chase G Humphries 1936 Entail G Humphries 1935 Sproting Blood A Tinker 1934 Spiral LG Morris 1933 La Moderne R Reed 1932 Peter Jackson T Green 1931 Lady Pam RW McTavish 1930 Vali RS Bagby 1929 Concentrate BH Morris 1928 Satrap T Green 1927 Commendation LG Morris 1926 Star Stranger R Reed 1925 Quiescent R Reed 1924 Ballymena M McCarten 1923 Rapine R Reed 1922 Kick Off RS Bagby 1921 Duo H Goldfinch 1920 Amythas J Campbell 1919 Afterglow B Deeley 1918 no race 1917 Kilboy B Deeley 1916 Eligible A Oliver 1915 Balboa B Deeley 1914 Merry Roe J Buchanen 1913 Bon Ton A Oliver 1912 Counterfeit FE Jones 1911 Danube Hector Gray 1910 Ingoda R Hatch 1909 Master RE Brown 1908 Signor R Cameron 1907 Volume C Jenkins 1906 Isolt LH Hewitt 1905 Nightfall FD Jones 1904 Treadmill LH Hewitt 1903 Kelburn H Donovan 1902 Cruciform LH Hewitt 1901 Beddington J Gallagher 1900 Miss Delaval T Taylor 1899 Altair R Derrett

New Zealand St. Leger

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