New Zealand Messenger Championship
Group I race
LocationAlexandra Park
Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated1967
Race typeStandardbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.alexandrapark.co.nz
Race information
Distance2700m
SurfaceDirt
TrackRight-handed oval
QualificationOpen class pacers, from 2022 onwards (Historically for four-year-old pacers only)
PurseNZ $91,200 (2021)

The New Zealand Messenger Championship is a Group One event for standardbred pacing horses in New Zealand, run at Alexandra Park.

Race scheduling

In recent years the race has been held in late April or early May.

It was previously raced on the same race-night as the Rowe Cup and Northern Trotting Derby for trotters and the New Zealand Sires Stakes Championship.

The New Zealand Messenger Championship had traditionally been restricted to 4 year-old horses and was the most prestigious race for that age group in New Zealand, and a key guide to feature races in the following season like the New Zealand Trotting Cup and Auckland Cup. This is evidenced by New Zealand Messenger Championship winners and subsequent Cup victors such as:

For the 2013, 2014 and 2015 years five year olds were also eligible to compete in the race. Then from 2016 it reverted to four year olds only. However, in 2022 the New Zealand Messenger and its traditional lead up race, the Noel J Taylor Mile, were both opened up to older horses.

Winners list

Year
Month
Horse
Owner
Driver
Time
2023AprSelf AssuredMrs J L FeissNatalie Rasmussen[1]3:18.8
2022AprMajestic CruiserD S Glynn & Mrs H R GlynnCameron Hart3:13.1
2021AprCopy ThatM W & M T ButterworthMaurice McKendry3:18.81
2020not raced
2019MaySpankem[2]Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, JA Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, GA Woodham, Mrs KJ Woodham.Natalie Rasmussen3:17.6
2018AprEamon MaguireBD Sceats, GJ Anderson, R Chalklin, SR Pulley, AD Gow, Mrs PP GillanNatalie Rasmussen3:15.7
2017AprLazarusMrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, TG Casey, KJ RiseleyMark Purdon3:25.2
2016AprField MarshallMrs S A Brown, S B BrownDexter Dunn3:15.8
2015AprSky MajorMrs K J Purdon, T G Casey, Clear View Racing No 4 Syndicate, J Lohman, T F Henderson, The Anzac Racing SyndicateZac Butcher3:15.6
2014MayEliosBennett Bloodstock Ltd, C Eynon, M R McKinnon, G Rutledge, B DestounisJohn Dunn3:17.4
2013MayChristen MeC J Roberts, V L PurdonDexter Dunn3:17.7
2012MayMustang MachK Farah, A Kheir, G Braude, M GordonDexter Dunn3:18.0
2011MayFranco EmirateR E NieperJim Curtin3:18.0
2010MayTintin In AmericaATC Trot 2008 SyndicateDavid Butcher3:15.8
2009MayAuckland ReactorAuckland Reactor LtdMark Purdon3:18.8
2008MayGotta Go CullenI D DobsonTony Herlihy3:22.9
2007MayMonkey KingCavalla Bloodstock LimitedSteven Reid3:23.9
2006MayMainland BannerI D Dobson, S J Dobson, Lynne UmarRicky May3:23.5
2005AprilMi MuchachoR C Anderson, Ms P C LarsenPeter Ferguson3:23.5
2004AprilElsuMrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P SmallDavid Butcher3:22.2
2003MayJust An ExcuseO Haines, Mrs I K HainesTodd Mitchell3:22.0
2002AprilYoung RufusH Manolitsis, V, T & W Lynch, G J Carey, K R HyslopMark Purdon3:21.4
2001MarchTupelo RoseG L Banks, M J Hanover, J D CurtinPeter Jones3:23.6
2000MarchPic Me PocketsH R BosherTony Herlihy3:19.8
1999AprilHomin HosedMrs M A Macey, B L MaceyTodd Mitchell3:23.1
1998MayOK RoyalJ W Smolenski, M J WardJack Smolenski3:20.6
1997AprilAgua CalienteD S Short, Mrs D E J Short, Mrs D E Woods, Miss S M ShortGlen Wolfenden3:24.7
1996AprilDecision TimeJ M WardJames Stormont3:22.3
1995AprilRain AgainB C MadsenNeil Brady3:23.0
1994AprilMontana VanceJ B Hart, Mrs K J Purdon, J B Ede, D H SixtonTony Herlihy3:23.0
1993MarchChokinPacers Australia Synd, M Joyce, J Loughnan, B De BoerTony Herlihy3:23.3
1992AprilAbdiasJ Butcher, Mrs C M ButcherPhilip Butcher3:27.0
1991AprilChristopher VanceR R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C ReidTony Herlihy3:19.5
1990MarchAlert FullaJ FriedhofMaurice McKendry3:25.8
1989MarchDillon DeanD P Dwyer, Mrs H M C BurleyColin De Filippi3:22.7
1988FebruaryRostriever HanoverI A Munro, Mrs A H MunroPatrick O'Reilly3:23.5
1986DecemberTridentThe Horseplayers SyndicateJohn Hay3:25.8
1985DecemberPlacid VictorMrs L G WilsonMaurice McKendry3:23.2
1984DecemberRoydon GlenR A McKenzieFred Fletcher3:25.4
1983DecemberNostradamusW J Francis & P I RenwickPeter N Jones3:32.4
1982DecemberHilarious GuestM G VermeulenPeter Wolfenden3:26.2
1981DecemberMelton MonarchJ S DalgetyBarry Purdon3:26.5
1980DecemberJohn TudorH T & A P Dodds & B C NewtonThomas H Knowles3:29.3
1979DecemberTempest TigerP K RyderJack Smolenski3:27.9
1978MarchSaplingG C Cruickshank & R GivenHenry Skinner3:26.4
1978DecemberLocarnoB J & E J FrancisRobin D Butt3:34.6
1977MarchStanley RioW J Francis & G B & J B NobleJohn B Noble3:28.4
1976MarchForto ProntezzaMrs E & A R J McNaughtHenry Skinner3:29.2
1975MarchJosiasJ & Mrs C M ButcherRobert F Mitchell3:29.6
1974MarchSpeedy GuestW F WoolleyJack Smolenski3:28.8
1973MarchTonton MacouteN M Allcock & W E RossA K Holmes3:10
1972MarchScottish WarriorR A McKenzieCharlie Hunter3:10.2
1970DecemberSam TryaxMrs & R C WhitfordBarry J Anderson3:11.6
1969DecemberWestern RidgeT E RenshawReg J Weatherley3:14.2
1968DecemberBewitchedG B NobleJohn B Noble2:55.8
1967DecemberGovernor FrostC HadleyPeter Wolfenden2:55.4

Other major races

See also

References

  1. "Rasmussen tops $13 million in stakes with G1 NZ Messenger win - Harnesslink". 28 April 2023.
  2. Turner, Jonny (28 September 2019). "Spankem NZ Harness Horse Of The Year". Otago Daily Times Online News.


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