Great Northern Steeplechase

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Great Northern Steeplechase
Prestige jumping race
LocationEllerslie Racecourse
Auckland, New Zealand
Race typeThoroughbred - Jump Racing
Websitewww.ellerslie.co.nz/Home.aspx
Race information
Distance6400 m
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationOpen
WeightHandicap
PurseNZ$125,000

The Great Northern Steeplechase is New Zealand's richest steeplechase.

For most of its life the race was run over 6,400 metres (21,000 ft) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, making it Australasia's longest horse race, and usually took over eight minutes to complete.

The contestants must clear 25 jumps during the 6400m race, making it one of the great tests of stamina and fitness in thoroughbred racing, for both horse and rider. A notable feature of the race was the Ellerslie Hill, on the eastern side of the steeplechase course, which the horses must climb three times during the race.

The race is no longer held at Ellerslie after the Auckland Racing Club sold land for housing development.[1]

History

The inaugural race was won by Macaroni, who carried a weight of 12 stone (76 kg). The record weight carried to victory was 12 stone 13 lb (82.5 kg) by Kiatere in 1907. One of the most notable winners of the race was Hunterville, who won the race three times in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Hypnotize also achieved three victories, following wins in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

The fastest winning time was 7:39.35 by Ballycastle in 1978, and the slowest was 9:31.50 by Wise Men Say in 2017. There was a dead-heat in 2001 between Smart Hunter, which had won the Great Northern Hurdles two days earlier, and Sir Avion, which had won the Great Northern Hurdles in 1998. It was the first dead-heat in a major New Zealand jumping race since the Otago Steeplechase in 1918.[2]

Ken and Ann Browne won the Great Northern Steeplechase a record nine times with Ascona (1977 and 1979), Ardri (1990), Brother Bart (1991), Lord Tennyson (1992), Sydney Jones (1995 and 1997), Smart Hunter (2001, dead-heated with Sir Avion) and Wanderlust (2004). [3] After Ken's death, Ann Browne has won the race with Fair King (2009), Ima Heroine (2011) and Tom's Myth (2012).

In 1986 Trudy Thornton was the first woman to ride in a Great Northern Steeplechase. [4]

The race has been run in early September since 2005, after previously being held in early June.

The race was moved to Te Aroha in:

  • 2018, raced over 6300m, due to a track upgrade at Ellerslie
  • 2021, raced over 6200m on October 3rd, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The 2022 race was held at Te Rapa.

Recent results

Year
 Winner
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Time
2022 Te Rapa [5] Kiddo 65 Shaun Fannin Kevin Myers 8:18.64 (6500m)
2021 (Te Aroha) [6] Te Kahu[7] Matthew Cropp[8] Dan O'Leary, Marton 7:43.24 (6200m)
2020 [9] Magic Wonder Shaun Fannin Jo Rathbone 7:42.47
2019 [10] Wise Men Say Shaun Fannin Raymond Connors 8:48.79
2018 (Te Aroha)[11] Chocolate Fish[12] Shaun Phelan S L Brown 8:08.47 (6300m)
2017[13] Wise Men Say[14] Isaac Lupton Raymond Connors 9:31.50
2016[15] Kick Back Shaun Fannin Kevin Myers 8:08.65
2015[16] Jack Romanov Richard Cully Mark Brooks 8:50.20
2014[17] Amanood Lad Craig Thornton Ben Foote 9:04.82
2013 Rangatira Isaac Lupton Steve Gulliver 8:23.85
2012 Tom's Myth Shaun Phelan Ann Browne 8:25.07
2011 Ima Heroine Mathew Gillies Ann Browne 8:37.55
2010 Hypnotize Isaac Lupton Raymond Connors 8:45.50
2009 Fair King James Gillies Ann Browne 8:02.66
2008 Hypnotize[18] Isaac Lupton Raymond Connors 8:15.71
2007 Hypnotize Isaac Lupton Raymond Connors 8:24.25
2006 Real Tonic Brett Scott John Wheeler 8:50.48
2005 Just The Man Joanne Rathbone Davina Waddell 7:41.44
2004 Wanderlust Michelle Hopkins Ann & Ken Browne 8:18.30
2003 Golden Flare Clayton Chipperfield Raylene Whiteside 8:05.98
2002 Golden Flare Clayton Chipperfield Raylene Whiteside 8:06.02
2001 Smart Hunter (Dead-heat) Michelle Hopkins Ann & Ken Browne 8:21.45
2001 Sir Avion (Dead-heat) Wayne Hillis Kevin O'Connor 8:21.45
2000 Royal Ways Joseph Douglas Tony Cole 8:23.17
1999 Royal Ways Joseph Douglas Tony Cole 8:09.17
1998 Our Jonty Raymond Connors Kevin Myers 7:51.25
1997 Sydney Jones 66.5 Brett McDonald Ann & Ken Browne MBE, Cambridge 8:38.73
1996 Classic Heights Paul Fitzgerald Tim Douglas 8:18.05
1995 Sydney Jones Tina Egan Ann & Ken Browne 8:39.16
1994 Ellivani Brian Constable John Twomey 7:47.18
1993 Sir Barton Chad Northcott Max Northcott 8:06.56
1992 Lord Tennyson Brett McDonald Ann & Ken Browne 8:07.38
1991 Brother Bart Craig Thornton Ann & Ken Browne 8:16.60
1990 Ardri Ken Browne Ann & Ken Browne 8:33.53
1989 Tumblin’ Down Toby Autridge[19] Michael Moroney 8:20.29
1988 Heddawin Wayne Hillis John Bullock 8:10.41
1987 Deductable Paul Hillis Colin Jillings & Richard Yuill 8:22.40

Previous winners

[20]

  • 1986 - Rock Crystal
  • 1985 - Hunterville
  • 1984 - Hunterville
  • 1983 - Hunterville
  • 1982 - Mountain Gold
  • 1981 - Bean's Beau
  • 1980 - Guess Who
  • 1979 - Ascona
  • 1978 - Ballycastle
  • 1977 - Ascona
  • 1976 - Loch Linnhe
  • 1975 - Loch Linnhe
  • 1974 - Specialist
  • 1973 - Bob's Luck
  • 1972 - Brockton
  • 1971 - Brockton
  • 1970 - Spray Doone
  • 1969 - Falada
  • 1968 - Royal Polo
  • 1967 - Eiffel Tower[21]
  • 1966 - Confer
  • 1965 - Smoke Ring
  • 1964 - Johnny Dee [22]
  • 1963 - Blue Rock
  • 1962 - Sabre [23]
  • 1961 - Patrick Molloy
  • 1960 - Patrick Molloy
  • 1959 - Ben Vola
  • 1958 - Irish Ace
  • 1957 - Knight's Star
  • 1956 - Hit Parade
  • 1955 - Every Time
  • 1954 - Dunwold
  • 1953 - Dunwold
  • 1952 - Dural
  • 1951 - Redingote
  • 1950 - Jon Rosa
  • 1949 - Golden Reign
  • 1948 - Brookby Song
  • 1947 - Brookby Song
  • 1946 - Our Nation
  • 1945 - Dauber
  • 1944 - Dozie Boy
  • 1943 - Chat
  • 1942 - Dozie Boy
  • 1941 - Streamline
  • 1940 - All Irish
  • 1939 - Survey
  • 1938 - Valpeen
  • 1937 - Irish Comet
  • 1936 - Billy Boy
  • 1935 - Royal Limond
  • 1934 - Valpeen
  • 1933 - Callamart
  • 1932 - Copey
  • 1931 - Master Lu
  • 1930 - Aurora Borealis
  • 1929 - Uralia
  • 1928 - Glendowie
  • 1927 - Beau Cavalier
  • 1926 - Dick
  • 1925 - Sir Rosebery
  • 1924 - Sir Rosebery
  • 1923 - Mary Bruce
  • 1922 - Sea De'il
  • 1921 - Coalition
  • 1920 - Lochella
  • 1919 - Master Lupin
  • 1918 - Waimai
  • 1917 - Gluepot
  • 1916 - El Gallo
  • 1915 - El Gallo
  • 1914 - Peary
  • 1913 - Bercola
  • 1912 - Hautere
  • 1911 - Corazon
  • 1910 - Red McGregor
  • 1909 - Capitol
  • 1908 - Loch Fyne
  • 1907 - Kiatere
  • 1906 - Sol
  • 1905 - Kiatere
  • 1904 - Moccasin
  • 1903 - Haydn
  • 1902 - The Guard
  • 1901 - Moifaa
  • 1900 - Voltigeur II
  • 1899 - Dummy
  • 1898 - Muscatel
  • 1897 - Levanter
  • 1896 - Levanter
  • 1895 - Liberator
  • 1894 - Bombardier
  • 1893 - Despised
  • 1892 - Shillelagh
  • 1891 - Parnell
  • 1890 - Jenny
  • 1889 - Don
  • 1888 - Allegro
  • 1887 - Silvio
  • 1886 - Belle
  • 1885 - Macaroni

See also

References

  1. ^ "$100m worth of land for housing: Six hectares at Auckland Racing Club's Ellerslie to be sold".
  2. ^ "Historic dead heat in 2001 Great Northern Steeplechase".
  3. ^ "TRIBUTE: Ken Browne, time-defying NZ jumps legend".
  4. ^ "Trudy Thornton defying age with strong start". 24 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Race 7 BEN FOOTE RACING GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE at WAIKATO RC on 18 SEP 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  6. ^ "Race 5 DIPROSE MILLER GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE at RACING TE AROHA on 3 OCT 2021 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  7. ^ "Thrilling finish to Great Northern Steeplechase | NZ Racing News".
  8. ^ "Cropp keeps it in the family with Great Northern win".
  9. ^ "Race 6 ARC GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE at AUCKLAND RC on 17 OCT 2020 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  10. ^ "Race 8 NETWORK VISUALS GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE at AUCKLAND RC on 7 SEP 2019 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  11. ^ "Race 7 IRVINES GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE at AUCKLAND RC on 9 SEP 2018 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  12. ^ "Chocolate Fish swims to Great Northern Steeplechase success". 9 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Race 7 IRVINES GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE at AUCKLAND RC on 9 SEP 2017 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  14. ^ "Sixth Great Northern Steeplechase win - White Robe Lodge".
  15. ^ "Race 6 MEADOW FRESH GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE at AUCKLAND RC on 3 SEP 2016 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  16. ^ "Race 7 MEADOW FRESH GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE at AUCKLAND RC on 5 SEP 2015 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  17. ^ "Race 8 MEADOW FRESH GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE at AUCKLAND RC on 6 SEP 2014 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  18. ^ "Hypnotize wins Great Northern Steeplechase again > Australia and International Horse Racing news updated daily".
  19. ^ "Emotions high ahead of ultimate tribute to Toby Autridge". 6 June 2022.
  20. ^ Costello, John and Finnegan, Pat (1988). Tapestry of Turf. Moa Publications.
  21. ^ "Hazlett, William Edgar".
  22. ^ "Racing: The race of many great memories".
  23. ^ "Racing: Great Northern attracts legends".
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