Awapuni Gold Cup
| Group II race | |
 Beau Vite,1940 winner | |
| Location | Awapuni Racecourse Palmerston North, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1915 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,000 metres (1+1⁄4 miles) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Weight | Weight-for-age |
| Purse | $100,000 (2020) |
The Awapuni Gold Cup is held annually in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is run at weight-for-age over 2,000 metres and is worth $100,000.[1][2]
History
First held in 1915, the race has been won by many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses including:
- Desert Gold,
- Redcraze,
- Mainbrace,
- Grey Way,
- Balmerino,
- La Mer,
- Show Gate,
- Horlicks, the 1989 Japan Cup winner
- Nightmarch and
- Kindergarten.[3]
Desert Gold and Sir Slick have won the race three times.
Recent winners
The following are the recent winners of the Awapuni Gold Cup.
| Year |
Winner |
Sire |
Dam |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Time |
Second |
Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Jacksstar | Zed (NZ) | Star Guest (NZ) | Chris Johnson | Gary Vile | 2:02.03 | Sampson | Authentic Paddy |
| 2018 | Our Abbadean | Lookin At Lucky (USA) | Highland Lights (AUS) | Danielle Johnson | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards | 2:02.97 | Five To Midnight | Sampson |
| 2017 | Sampson | Dubai Destination (USA) | Magic Star (AUS) | BR Jones | Howie Mathews | 2:06.51 | Five To Midnight | Woodsman |
| 2016 | Maygrove | Authorised (Ire) | Lady Zhivago (NZ) | Matt Cameron | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 2:09.68 | Trojan Warrior | King Kamada |
| 2015 | Iamishwara | Keeninsky (NZ) | She’s Heroic (NZ) | Lisa Allpress | Antony Kaye | 2:04.04 | Jubilate | King Krovanh |
| 2014 | Soriana | Savabeel (AUS) | Call Me Lily (NZ) | Noel Harris | Graeme & Debbie Rogerson | 2:05.06 | Military Move | Nashville |
List of earlier winners
- 1915 Chortle
- 1916 Desert Gold
- 1917 Desert Gold
- 1918 Desert Gold
- 1919 Sasanof
- 1920 Amythas
- 1921 Sasanos
- 1922 Marqueteur
- 1923 Thespian
- 1924 Ballymena
- 1925 Suggestion
- 1926 Rapine
- 1927 Commendation
- 1928 Star Stranger
- 1929 Rapier
- 1930 Vertigern
- 1931 Nightmarch
- 1932 Nightmarch
- 1933 Autopay
- 1934 Silver Ring
- 1935 Silver Ring
- 1936 Greek Shepherd
- 1937 Wild Chase
- 1938 Stretto
- 1939 Beaupartir
- 1940 Beau Vite
- 1941 Kindergarten
- 1946 Langue Dor
- 1947 Beau Le Havre
- 1948 Voltaic
- 1949 Lord Mania
- 1950 Beaumaris
- 1951 Mainbrace
- 1952 Hutton
- 1953 Gendarme
- 1954 Golden Tan
- 1955 Redcraze
- 1956 Syntax
- 1957 Berne
- 1958 Bridie
- 1959 Picaroon
- 1960 Picaroon
- 1961 Ilumquh
- 1962 Key
- 1963 Moy
- 1964 Tatua
- 1965 Royal Duty
- 1966 Palisade
- 1967 Terrific
- 1968 Impetus
- 1969 Aquarelle
- 1970 Bardall
- 1971 Game
- 1972 Young Ida
- 1973 Young Ida
- 1974 Show Gate
- 1975 Hi Bing
- 1976 Grey Way
- 1977 Balmerino
- 1978 La Mer
- 1979 Regal Band
- 1980 Serendiper
- 1981 Mun Lee
- 1982 The Twinkle
- 1983 Commissionaire
- 1984 Commissionaire
- 1985 Catiere
- 1986 Abit Leica
- 1987 Lacka Reason
- 1988 Horlicks
- 1989 The Phantom
- 1990 Grey Philae
- 1991 Fun On The Run
- 1992 Seamist
- 1993 Calm Harbour
- 1994 Strategic
- 1995 Kay Row
- 1996 Sapio
- 1997 Interval
- 1998 Magnet Bay
- 1999 Emerald
- 2000 Cruzeiro
- 2001 Cronius
- 2002 Cent Home
- 2003 Maze
- 2004 Distinctly Secret/Irish Rover
- 2005 Distinctly Secret
- 2006 Tusker
- 2007 Sir Slick
- 2008 Sir Slick
- 2009 MacO'Reilly
- 2010 Sir Slick
- 2011 Hold It Harvey
- 2012 Riomoral
- 2013 Better Than Ever
Associated races
The Awapuni Gold Cup is currently raced in March on the same day as the:
- Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes over 1400m for 2YO horses.
- Group 3 Manawatu Classic over 2000m for 3YO horses.
- Listed Flying Handicap over 1400m for Open Handicap runners.
Awapuni Racecourse is also the venue for the:
- Listed Marton Cup, an open handicap over 2200m in January.
- Group 3 Manawatu Breeders Stakes over 2000m at weight for age for fillies and mares in April.
- Listed Anzac Mile, open handicap in late April
- Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup, an open handicap over 1600m in May.
- Group 3 Metric Mile, an open handicap over 1550m in September
- Group 3 Eulogy Stakes, in mid-December over 1550m for 3YO fillies.
- Listed Feilding Gold Cup, an open handicap over 2100m in November.
- Group 3 Manawatu Cup, an open handicap over 2200m in December.
- Group 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes, a Weight For Age race over 1400m in December.
See also
References
- ^ Dillon, Mike (26 March 2009). "Racing: Sir Slick must emulate great Desert Gold". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ Awapuni Gold Cup Details Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Awapuni Racing - Awapuni Gold Cup