Levin Classic
The Levin Classic is a Group 1 race run under set weights conditions for three year olds at Trentham race course conducted by the Wellington Racing Club.
The Levin Classic is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1981 and won by Altitude.
The Levin Classic was previously one of the early lead ins to the New Zealand Derby run a couple of months later.
Previously known as the Bayer Classic, it had been run at Levin racecourse until 1990 and then at Otaki until 2012 when moved to Wellington.
Initially it was run in later November but with the Guineas races just before that, it was moved to the Wellington carnival in January to provide some space between the feature classic races. However it was changed again to be run on Oaks day in March then back again to January from 2024.
Some former grand stayers like Veandercross and Eagle Eye won in the 90s but the most famous winner has to be Cox Plate and Derby hero Bonecrusher with Jimmy Cassidy in the saddle.
On the breeding side O'Reilly would go on to become a top sire of winners on both sides of the Tasman and 1993 winner Al Akbar's claim to fame is being the damsire of the champ Winx.
Fillies hadn't won the race that often but from 2020 to 2024 they won it five times on the trot.
The Levin Classic was worth NZ$500,000 in 2024.
Notable winners of the Levin Classic include Imperatriz (2022), Bonham (2021), Madison County (2019), Wahid (2005), Russian Pearl (2003), Tit For Taat (2000), O'Reilly (1996), Al Akbar (1993), Nimue (1992), Veandercross (1991), Eagle Eye (1990), Krona (1988) and Bonecrusher (1985).
The 2024 Levin Classic was won by Quintessa from Zabmanzor and Impendabelle.