New Zealand 2000 Guineas


The New Zealand 2000 Guineas is a Group One set-weight Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 metres at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Christchurch New Zealand cup week

The New Zealand 2000 Guineas was previously held on the first day of Christchurch's famous New Zealand Cup Week. In 2025 it was held on the following Saturday on the same day as the New Zealand Cup.
For thoroughbred horses the week also features:
Christchurch Cup week includes premier standardbred meetings at Addington raceway including:
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 525m
  • the New Zealand Stayers Cup - C2df 732m
The week also features the Canterbury A&P Show

History

Until 1973, both the New Zealand Oaks and the New Zealand Derby were run at Riccarton. When those races were moved to Trentham Racecourse and Ellerslie Racecourse respectively, Riccarton was awarded two new classic races, the New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the New Zealand 2000 Guineas over 1600m. These races are based on the 1000 Guineas Stakes and 2000 Guineas Stakes, run at Newmarket in late April or early May.
Both races quickly established themselves on the New Zealand racing calendar.

Notable winners

Among the best recent winners of the 2000 Guineas are:
Jockey Opie Bosson has won the race a record eight times with:

1000 and 2000 Guineas

Katie Lee is the only horse to win both of these races, having done so in 2009 ridden by Opie Bosson and trained by Graeme & Debbie Rogerson for owners Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan.
In 1997 Tycoon Lil won the 1000 Guineas and 4 days later was 2nd behind Foxwood in the 2000 Guineas.
In 2014 Platinum Witness was 4th in the 2000 Guineas behind Turn Me Loose and then a week later won the 1000 Guineas.

Hawke's Bay Guineas winners

Horses who have won the Hawke's Bay Guineas that have gone on to win the New Zealand 2000 Guineas include: