New Zealand Messenger Championship


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

History

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 many New Zealand Messenger Championship winners or placegetters subsequently becoming 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.
The New Zealand Messenger 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. In recent years the race has been held in late April or early May.

Race results

Previous winners and placegetters are as follows. There was no race in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Year
Month
Horse
Owner
Driver
Time
2nd
3rd
2025AprRepublican PartyMrs C M Dalgety, G E Dickey, Mrs J E Rooney, G A Ayers, First Term Syndicate, D A Schollum, K J Cummings, B A Smith, G P Merlo, A & M SyndicateCarter Dalgety3:18.8Mo'ungaDon't Stop Dreaming
2024MayMach ShardMrs K J Purdon, Mrs C Nausbaum, Mrs T L WhittakerCrystal Hackett 3:17.71Self AssuredBetter Eclipse
2023AprSelf AssuredMrs J L FeissNatalie Rasmussen3:18.8Copy ThatBetter Eclipse
2022AprMajestic CruiserD S Glynn & Mrs H R GlynnCameron Hart3:13.1Self AssuredA G's White Socks
2021AprCopy ThatM W & M T ButterworthMaurice McKendry3:18.81Bad To The BoneAmazing Dream
2019MaySpankemMrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, JA Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, GA Woodham, Mrs KJ WoodhamNatalie Rasmussen3:17.6Turn It UpMach Shard
2018AprEamon MaguireBD Sceats, GJ Anderson, R Chalklin, SR Pulley, AD Gow, Mrs PP GillanNatalie Rasmussen3:15.7Star GalleriaA G's White Socks
2017AprLazarusMrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, TG Casey, KJ RiseleyMark Purdon3:25.2Waikiki BeachGolden Goddess
2016AprField MarshalMrs S A Brown, S B BrownDexter Dunn3:15.8My Kiwi MateHug The Wind
2015AprSky MajorMrs K J Purdon, T G Casey, Clear View Racing No 4 Syndicate, J Lohman, T F Henderson, The Anzac Racing SyndicateZac Butcher3:15.6Tiger TaraOhoka Punter
2014MayEliosBennett Bloodstock Ltd, C Eynon, M R McKinnon, G Rutledge, B DestounisJohn Dunn3:17.4Franco NelsonNorvic Nightowl
2013MayChristen MeC J Roberts, V L PurdonDexter Dunn3:17.7Jason RulzLets Elope
2012MayMustang MachK Farah, A Kheir, G Braude, M GordonDexter Dunn3:18.0Gold AceState Of Affairs
2011MayFranco EmirateR E NieperJim Curtin3:18.0Mach BannerGomeo Romeo
2010MayTintin In AmericaATC Trot 2008 SyndicateDavid Butcher3:15.8Bonavista BayHarley Earl
2009MayAuckland ReactorAuckland Reactor LtdMark Purdon3:18.8Ohoka DallasAll Tiger
2008MayGotta Go CullenIan DobsonTony Herlihy3:22.9ChangeoverVictory Spirit
2007MayMonkey KingCavalla Bloodstock LimitedSteven Reid3:23.9DivisiveAll Promises
2006MayMainland BannerIan Dobson, S J Dobson, Lynne UmarRicky May3:23.5Mr WilliamsBaileys Dream
2005AprilMi MuchachoR C Anderson, Ms P C LarsenPeter Ferguson3:23.5LikmesiahWinforu
2004AprilElsuMrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P SmallDavid Butcher3:22.2London LegendNapoleon
2003MayJust An ExcuseO Haines, Mrs I K HainesTodd Mitchell3:22.0Sly FlyinAll Hart
2002AprilYoung RufusH Manolitsis, V, T & W Lynch, G J Carey, K R HyslopMark Purdon3:21.4Eagles TogetherParisian Falcon
2001MarchTupelo RoseG L Banks, M J Hanover, J D CurtinPeter Jones3:23.6Gracious KnightFalcon Rise
2000MarchPic Me PocketsH R BosherTony Herlihy3:19.8Classic TurboMac De Stroyer
1999AprilHomin HosedMrs M A Macey, B L MaceyTodd Mitchell3:23.1Holmes D GYulestar
1998MayOK RoyalJack Smolenski, M J WardJack Smolenski3:20.6KlikliteLiminka Lad
1997AprilAgua CalienteD S Short, Mrs D E J Short, Mrs D E Woods, Miss S M ShortGlen Wolfenden3:24.7Adio RoutineCaptain Rufus
1996AprilDecision TimeJ M WardJames Stormont3:22.3GrinaldiUltra Soky
1995AprilRain AgainB C MadsenNeil Brady3:23.0Just RoyceGinger Man
1994AprilMontana VanceJ B Hart, Mrs K J Purdon, J B Ede, D H SixtonTony Herlihy3:23.0Camberley OctaneNippon Home
1993MarchChokinPacers Australia Synd, M Joyce, J Loughnan, B De BoerTony Herlihy3:23.3Butler's FirstSan Sabriel
1992AprilAbdiasJ Butcher, Mrs C M ButcherPhilip Butcher3:27.0Tartan ClansmanSmooth Gretna
1991AprilChristopher VanceR R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C ReidTony Herlihy3:19.5Franco IceMark Hanover
1990MarchAlert FullaJ FriedhofMaurice McKendry3:25.8Inky LordDefoe
1989MarchDillon DeanD P Dwyer, Mrs H M C BurleyColin De Filippi3:22.7Surmo WayReba Lord
1988FebruaryRostriever HanoverI A Munro, Mrs A H MunroPatrick O'Reilly3:23.5Speedy ChevalElmer Gantry
1986DecemberTridentThe Horseplayers SyndicateJohn Hay3:25.8Captain CavallaFree's Best
1985DecemberPlacid VictorMrs L G WilsonMaurice McKendry3:23.2Luxury LinerQuiet Touch
1984DecemberRoydon GlenR A McKenzieFred Fletcher3:25.4Comedy LadKing Alba
1983DecemberNostradamusW J Francis & P I RenwickPeter N Jones3:32.4Mighty MeBorana
1982DecemberHilarious GuestM G VermeulenPeter Wolfenden3:26.2Sharvid SkipperEnterprise
1981DecemberMelton MonarchJim DalgetyBarry Purdon3:26.5Te Puke ExpectsEl Regale
1980DecemberJohn TudorH T & A P Dodds & B C NewtonThomas H Knowles3:29.3WickliffeFrosty Lopez
1979DecemberTempest TigerP K RyderJack Smolenski3:27.9GenesisKane
1978DecemberLocarnoB J & E J FrancisRobin D Butt3:34.6Gerry JuniorWatbro
1978MarchSaplingG C Cruickshank & R GivenHenry Skinner3:26.4Scottish HeathLancia
1977MarchStanley RioW J Francis & G B & J B NobleJohn B Noble3:28.4Trusty ScotAnne's Day
1976MarchForto ProntezzaMrs E & A R J McNaughtHenry Skinner3:29.2Sole CommandFinal Curtain
1975MarchJosiasJ & Mrs C M ButcherRobert F Mitchell3:29.6Captain HarcourtDavid Garrison
1974MarchSpeedy GuestW F WoolleyJack Smolenski3:28.8Scottish FoilHill Crest
1973MarchTonton MacouteN M Allcock & W E RossA K Holmes3:10Ava HanoverDouble Cash
1972MarchScottish WarriorR A McKenzieCharlie Hunter3:10.2MorpheusRossi Gennari
1970DecemberSam TryaxMrs & R C WhitfordBarry J Anderson3:11.6False DreamCeltic Lord
1969DecemberWestern RidgeT E RenshawReg J Weatherley3:14.2CourtnalVia Veneto
1968DecemberBewitchedG B NobleJohn B Noble2:55.8Light ForbesHenry Allan
1967DecemberGovernor FrostC HadleyPeter Wolfenden2:55.4CingaleseCheeky

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