The Aotearoa Classic is a Group three horse race for four year old horses held on Karaka Million night in late January each year at Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, New Zealand.[1] The Karaka Million race night is held on the eve of the National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.
| Class | Group 3 |
|---|---|
| Location | Ellerslie Racecourse |
| Inaugurated | 2024 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1,600 metres (8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Qualification | Four-year-old horses |
| Weight | Set weights (57.5kg for male horses, 55.5kg for female) |
| Purse | $1,040,000 (2026) |
History
editThe first edition of the race was held Saturday 27 January 2024 when Desert Lightning won from Legarto and Rudyard.[2] The 2025 edition was a listed race and it attained Group Three status in 2026. It was reported that the 2026 Aotearoa Classic was the highest race for turnover in New Zealand for January with $1.2 million bet on it via the New Zealand TAB and it's betcha app.[3]
Recent results
edit| Year |
Stake |
Winner |
Sire |
Dam |
Jockey |
Trainer(s) |
Time |
Second |
Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026[4] | $1,040,000 | Tuxedo 57.5 | Tivaci (Aus) | Ball Gown | Opie Bosson | Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray | 1:36.06 (soft) | Hinekaha 55.5 | Knobelas 55.5 |
| 2025[5][6] | $1,000,000 | Orchestral 55.5[7] | Savabeel | Symphonic | Craig Grylls | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | 1:35.99 (soft) | Mary Shan 55.5 | Mosinvader 57.5 |
| 2024[8][9] | $1,000,000 | Desert Lightning 57.5 | Pride of Dubhai (Aus) | Isstoora (Aus) | Vincent Colgan | Peter & Dawn Williams | 1:32.53 (good) | Legarto 55.5 | Rudyard 57.5 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Aotearoa Classic". Racing and Sports.
- ↑ "Desert Lightning upstages Legarto in Aotearoa Classic". Love Racing.
- ↑ "Classic surprises as NZ highest turnover race in January". The Straight News. 25 February 2026.
- ↑ "Race 3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing on 24 Jan 2026". Love Racing.
- ↑ "Race 2 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing on 25 Jan 2025". Love Racing.
- ↑ "Barneswood Farm go back-to-back in Aotearoa Classic". NZ Racing News. 25 January 2025.
- ↑ Guerin, Michael. "Mick On Monday: Shock retirement after Orchestral loses her rhythm". NZ Herald.
- ↑ "Race 5 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing on 27 Jan 2024". Love Racing.
- ↑ "Desert Lightning (NZ) Spectacular in Aotearoa Classic". NZB Thoroughbred. 11 April 2026.