• History of the Stella Artois Auckland Cup Race
• The Stella Artois Auckland Cup trophy

History of the Stella Artois Auckland Cup Race
There is no surprise that Stella Artois Auckland Cup carries the title of New Zealand’s most prestigious and richest staying event. First run in 1874, the Auckland Cup has been won by some of this country’s best gallopers.

That inaugural race more than 130 years ago was won by the leading Canterbury based stayer Templeton for prominent South Island sporting personality of the time, Mr FW Delamain. The brave four year old was ridden by the popular James Wattie, a jockey who enjoyed a career marked by his extraordinary feat of riding the winner of two steeplechases, a hurdle race and a flat race on the same day. Given there were only five races held on that day (and he came second in the fifth race) it was a remarkable feat of horsemanship.

The second Auckland Cup was raced on the 1st of January 1876 but reverted back to Boxing Day later that year. That Boxing Day event was won by Ariel who was raced by the first President of the Auckland Racing Club, Mr James Watt. Ariel triumphed again in 1878 and 1879 to become the first three time winner of the Cup. Of note was the unusual detail that on each occasion he was in different ownership with Mr A McDonald enjoying success in 1878 and Mr M Edgar in 1879.

Nelson became the second (and last) horse to win the Auckland Cup three times with victory in 1885, 1886 and 1888. Since that year six horses have won the Cup on two occasions, the last being the mighty Il Tempo in 1969, 1970.

The history and tradition of the Auckland Cup was formed in those early years and as befits the most prestigious race in the country it is invariably won by a galloper that the entire country takes to heart. In the mid 1930’s one of the gamest mares in commission entered the history books by becoming a dual winner of the Cup. The bonny mare Cuddle was triumphant in 1935 and again in 1936 when she carried 9st. 3lb. to victory in race record time.

Just six years later another star of the turf and household name shattered the mighty Cuddle’s record when the freakish Kindergarten mastered 10st. 2lb, which converts to a mind-boggling 64.5kgs in the time of 3:22s! In what was described as the greatest of all Kindergarten’s 25 wins, a crowd of 45,000 wartime racegoers cheered the chestnut from Gisborne to a five-length victory that set the seal on his status as one of the best horses ever bred in New Zealand.

Ellerslie was again the place to be just over a decade after Kindergarten’s memorable win when the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II included Auckland Cup day in the itinerary of her inaugural New Zealand tour. The main racing drawcard proved a thriller, with Coaltown and his jockey Cleve Mackie beating Rangitau and Vic Sellars by a nose.

Fortunately the photo-finish camera was in use by this time (it was introduced to New Zealand racing at Ellerslie in the spring of 1946), as despite Sellars lining up at the birdcage gate to salute the judge and the young monarch, the photo print showed that Coaltown had in fact prevailed.

In 1974 the Auckland Cup distance became the metric two mile equivalent, 3200m and weights were declared in kilograms. The winner on that occasion was Rose Mellay ridden by one of the country’s master jockeys in RJ (Bob) Skelton. Bob was following his brother “Bustling” Bill Skelton’s lead after Bill was successful in 1965 on Lucky Son. Since then the race is again littered with modern day champions including names such as Blue Denim, Sea Swift, Castletown and 1998 Melbourne Cup winner, Jezabeel.

Just as the Auckland Cup is a career highlight for a horse it has similar sentiment for the owner, trainer and jockey. The rider of three time winner Nelson was W Brown who managed to win the Cup again in 1890. He remains the only jockey to have won the race four times. In modern times both Grant Cooksley and Noel Harris have won on three separate occasions, the last being Harris on Bodie in 2003. In 2007 they will look to match the feat of W Brown as both are likely to be aboard favoured contenders.

The first female jockey to have won the race was Maree Lyndon on Miss Stanima in 1990. Trudy Thornton was denied victory on Shugar in 1991 when beaten to the finish by her husband at the time, Jim Collett, on outsider Star Harvest. Since 1990 other female riders to have triumphed include Sarah Campbell in 1995 on Royal Tiara and Gemma Sliz in 2004 on the aptly named, Upsetthym.

Those who believe in the Cup’s family connection should also look to the mount of apprentice rider Craig Grylls in 2007. His grandfather, the late John Grylls won the race in 1975 on Kia Maia, whilst father Gary was successful in 1986 on Kerry Lane.

At approximately 5:45pm on Wednesday the 10th of March the next chapter in Auckland Cup history will unfold. Given the rich tapestry of history the race has provided in the past 136 years there is no doubt the winner will provide a rich story that will be recounted many times over the next 136 years. 

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Stella Artois Auckland Cup Trophy
After 80 years in storage, the newly named Auckland Cup has been polished to perfection and is now enjoying its current role as New Zealand's ultimate racing trophy.

Gifted in perpetuity to the Auckland Racing Club by Moss Davis in 1928, the Cup was made in 1889 by the Crown Jeweller of the time, Robert Garrard.

On arrival, the Cup featured in the New Zealand Herald where the writer noted it as a "beautiful specimen of the silversmith's art being chased with the Royal Arms, foliage and scroll work. The handles are supported by ram's heads."

The trainer, jockey and owner of the winning horse in the Stella Artois Auckland Cup will each receive a stunning replica of this impressive trophy to keep as a treasured memento of their thrilling win.

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