Date | March 6, 2022 |
---|---|
Venue | Auckland Racing Club – Ellerslie Racecourse |
Distance | 2400 metres |
Prize Money | NZ $1,000,000 |
First Running | 1973 |
2021 Winner | Rocket Spade |
The New Zealand Derby is the premier staying race for three-year-olds in New Zealand and carries a purse of $1 million, which is equal top billing with the Karaka Million as the race with most prizemoney on offer in NZ.
Held during the Auckland Cup Carnival at Ellerslie, the Carnival runs for a week and is keenly anticipated by racing fans.
First run in 1860 at Riccarton in Christchurch, the New Zealand Derby amalgamated with the Great Northern Derby and moved to Ellerslie in 1875.
Horses such as Jimmy Choux, Silent Achiever and Mongolian Khan, with the latter going on to claim the infamous Caulfield Cup across the ditch.
Best bookmakers for 2022 New Zealand Derby odds
Futures and fixed-odds betting for the New Zealand Derby are available throughout the year. As the race is one of the most prestigious in NZ, betting on the race is always at the front of mind for many punters.
Bookies for the New Zealand Derby
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2022 New Zealand Derby results
Result | Horse | Trainer | Barrier | Jockey | Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | Asterix | L O’Sullivan & A Scott | 10 | Jonathan Parkes | 56.5kg |
2nd | La Crique | S & K Alexander | 1 | Vinnie Colgan | 54.5kg |
3rd | Regal Lion | M Baker & A Forsman | 6 | Matthew Cameron | 56.5kg |
4th | Soldier Boy | G Sharrock | 7 | Kate Hercock | 56.5kg |
New Zealand Derby history
In 1987, Accountant was first past the post in the NZ Derby before Satisfy was sensationally awarded the race through protest. Since records have been kept, this is the only time the horse first past the post has been relegated.
So Casual holds the race record time with a time of 2:24.80 set back in 1998 with only Sherwood Forest getting close in the 21st century when posting a time of 2:26.77 in 2020.
Since 2000, Michael Walker (2020, 2014 & 2010) and Vincent Colgan (2016, 2013 & 2007) are the only two jockeys to have won the NZ Derby on three occasions, whilst Craig Grylls, Opie Bosson, Scott Seamer and Michael Coleman has won the race twice each in that time.
Six of the last 10 Group 2 Avondale Guineas winners have gone on to win the New Zealand Derby at their next start, solidifying the fact it is the best form race for a punter to follow.
Since 2011 the winner has saluted at an average starting price of $14.30, with the race known to spring a few surprises. In 2019 Crown Prosecutor jumped as a $101 chance when shocking the world with a win, whilst in 2012 Silent Achiever got the job done as an even money chance.
Recent New Zealand Derby runnings
- Having been sent around as a $41 chance in the 2022 Nz Derby, Asterix stunned the world when defeating $1.30 race favourite La Crique. Having settled third to last, Jonathan Parkes had the Lance O’Sullivan & Anthony Scott-trained three-year-old on the move a fair way out from home. The move proved decisive as La Crique was locked away on the rail, whilst Asterix went past the filly four wide and had too much momentum and start for the favourite to bridge. The win handed O’Sullivan & Scott a win in the race for a second year in a row.
- In one of the closest finishes in New Zealand history, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Rocket Spade had gone into the race off a strong performance to win the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) in his final lead-up to the feature event at Ellerslie. The extra 300m paid off in the Derby, considering Craig Grylls had the colt in last position inside the final 600m mark. With a majority of his rivals fanning wide, Grylls stuck closer to the rail in hope of a run appearing. The run did come for the pair and with a nice turn of foot, the colt quickened nicely and did enough to hold off Milford and Frontman with 0.3 lengths separating the trifecta across the line in one of the tighest goes in Group 1 history in New Zealand.
- A placegetter in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in the spring, the Tony Pike-trained Sherwood Forest claimed Group 1 glory in the NZ Derby.In what turned out to be one of the fastest run New Zealand Derby’s since So Casual clocked 2:24.8 in 1998, it was Sherwood Forest who stood strongest of all. Ridden by Michael Walker, Sherwood Forest managed to upset the two race favourites Dragon Leap and Two Illicit. It was billed to be a match race between the two market elects, but it was Sherwood Forest at $13 who claimed the win by 1.25 lengths for the Melbourne-based Walker and for trainer Tony Pike.
- The pre-race chatter heading into 2019 was all about star prospect Surely Sacred, but a boilover ensued as Crown Prosecutor saluted at odds of $81. After getting a charmed run behind the speed the Stephen Marsh runner hit the front midway down the straight and managed to fend off all of his rivals in the home straight to grip on in one of the biggest upsets in the race’s history.
- Vin De Dance scored his most impressive win to date in New Zealand, taking out the Derby in narrow circumstances. Vin De Dance and Mongolianconquer sailed away in the stretch, powering clear of the rest of the 18-horse field and fighting a two-horse war to the finish. The pair went stride-for-stride down the Ellerslie straight where the lead changed with every bob of the head, in the end it was the Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained Vin De Dance who prevailed by a nose in a photo finish with Danzdanzdance a further short-half head back.
- Kiwi racing favourite Gingernuts was a hot favourite heading into the 2017 New Zealand Derby and under a perfect ride from Opie Bosson, the popular runner delivered. The win helped catapult the well-named runner to further Group 1 glory, as he would go on to claim victory in the Randwick Guineas at his next start.
Previous New Zealand Derby winners since 2000
Year | Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Asterix | Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott | Jonathan Parkes |
2021 | Rocket Spade | Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott | Craig Grylls |
2020 | Sherwood Forest | Tony Pike | Michael Walker |
2019 | Crown Prosecutor | Stephen Marsh | Craig Grylls |
2018 | Vin De Dance | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Jason Waddell |
2017 | Gingernuts | Stephen Autridge | Opie Bosson |
2016 | Rangipo | Tony Pike | Vincent Colgan |
2015 | Mongolian Khan | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Opie Bosson |
2014 | Puccini | Peter McKay | Michael Walker |
2013 | Habibi | Donna & Dean Logan | Vincent Colgan |
2012 | Silent Achiever | Roger James | James McDonald |
2011 | Jimmy Choux | John Bary | Jonathan Riddell |
2010 | Military Move | Shaun Ritchie | Michael Walker |
2009 | Coniston Bluebird | Bede Murray | Scott Seamer |
2008 | C’est La Guerre | Kevin Myers | David Walker |
2007 | Redoute’s Dancer | Tim martin | Vincent Colgan |
2006 | Wahid | Allan Sharrock | Leith Inness |
2005 | Race Not Held | ||
2004 | Xcellent | Michael Moroney & Andrew Scott | Michael Coleman |
2003 | Cut The Cake | Michael Moroney & Andrew Scott | Michael Coleman |
2002 | St Reims | Chris McNab | Greg Childs |
2001 | Leica Guv | Jeff McVean | Scott Seamer |
2000 | Hail | Bruce Marsh | Noel Harris |
New Zealand Derby Winners before 2000
Year | Horse |
---|---|
1999 | Hades |
1998 | So Casual |
1997 | Zonda |
1996 | Great Command |
1995 | Roysyn |
1994 | Look Who’s Talking |
1993 | Popsy |
1992 | The Phantom Chance |
1991 | Cavallieri |
1990 | Surfers Paradise |
1989 | Castletown |
1988 | The Gentry |
1987 | Satisfy |
1986 | Tidal Light |
1985 | Bonecrusher |
1984 | Jolly Jake |
1983 | I’m Henry |
1982 | Our Flight |
1981 | Isle Of Man |
1980 | Ring The Bell |
1979 | Ruling Lad |
1978 | Kaiser |
1977 | Uncle Remus |
1976 | Silver Lad |
1975 | Balmerino |
1974 | Mansingh |
1973 | Furys Order |