The New Zealand Cup is a thoroughbred horse race run at the Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch.
New Zealand Cup week
The New Zealand Cup is raced on the final Saturday of Christchurch "Cup week" held each year in the second week of November.
For thoroughbred horses the week also features:
the New Zealand 1000 Guineas for 3 year old fillies, the New Zealand 2000 Guineas for 3 year olds, the Stewards Handicap sprint, and the TAB Mile (formerly the Coupland's Bakeries Mile).
Christchurch Cup week includes premier standardbred meetings at Addington raceway including: the New Zealand Trotting Cup for pacers on the Tuesday. the New Zealand Free For All for pacers on the Friday. the Dominion Handicap for trotters on the Friday.
There is also greyhound racing on the Thursday, including the following Group 1 races: the New Zealand Galaxy - C5f 295m. the New Zealand Greyhound Cup - C5f 520m. the New Zealand Stayers Cup - C2df 732m.
History of the New Zealand Cup
The New Zealand Cup is one of the oldest races in New Zealand having been run each year since 1865. It is a race for stayers, over 3200 metres, which is also the distance of the Auckland Cup, Wellington Cup as well as some major Australian races such as the Melbourne Cup.
Despite it dropping over time from a Group 1 race down to Group 3 status, it remains one of the most popular racing events in New Zealand with the 150th running in 2013.
Maree Lyndon was the first female jockey to win a Group I race in New Zealand when winning the 1982 Cup on Sirtain.
Notable winners include:
Blood Brotha (2011 and 2012), the 2013 Wellington Cup winner. Cuddle (1935), 2× winner of the Auckland Cup and the Doncaster Handicap. Empire Rose (1987), the 1988 Melbourne Cup winner. Fury's Order (1974), the 1975 Cox Plate winner. Nightmarch (1930), winner of the 1929 Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. Samasaan (1985), the 1986 Wellington Cup winner. Sapio (1995 and 1998), the winner of the 1997 Tattersall's Cup (Eagle Farm) and Doomben Cup. Sasanof (1918), two years after becoming the first New Zealand owned, trained, and bred Melbourne Cup winner. Watallan (1973), winning the Cup as a 10 year old, for his 21st victory from 111 starts, and paying a $98 dividend.
Group Status
1865–1977 (Principal Race) 1978–1990 (Group 1) 1991–2008 (Group 2) 2009–present (Group 3)
Race results