The TAB Classic is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run at weight-for-age over a distance of 1,600 metres (1 mile) at Trentham Racecourse in Wellington, New Zealand. Known for many years as the Captain Cook Stakes, in 2023 it became known as the TAB Classic.

TAB Classic
Group I race
LocationTrentham Racecourse
Wellington, New Zealand
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
SponsorRydges Wellington (2021)
Websitewww.trentham.co.nz
Race information
Distance1,600 metres
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationOpen
WeightWeight-for-age
Purse$220,000 (2021)

Over the years the race has been won by great New Zealand racehorses such as Rough Habit (1992), Solveig (1986) and Copper Belt (1977).[1]

History edit

Name edit

  • Marlboro Mile (1977-1979)
  • Penfolds-Chardon Mile (1980-1981)
  • DB Mile (1982-1983)
  • Double Brown 1600 (1984-1985)
  • Double Brown Mile (1986-1988)
  • DB Draught 1600 (1989)
  • Captain Cook Stakes (1990-2000)
  • Fayette Park Prized Stakes (2001)
  • Captain Cook Stakes (2002–2022)
  • TAB Classic (2023-Present)

Race Date edit

  • Run In March (1977-1997)
  • Run In October (1998-2008)
  • Run In December (2009–Present)

In 2009 the Wellington Racing Club changed the race date from the end of October to the beginning of December, to move it away from the Hawke's Bay Spring Carnival races such as the Spring Classic. Instead the Captain Cook Stakes was fitted in to be three to four weeks after the Coupland's Bakeries Mile [Churchill Stakes] at Riccarton in November and three weeks before the Zabeel Classic [Galaxy Stakes] at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.[2]

Results edit

Year Stake Winner Sire Dam Jockey Trainer(s) Owner(s) Time Second Third
2023[3] $400,000 Desert Lightning Pride of Dubai Isstoora Vincent Colgan Peter & Dawn Williams Barneswood Farm Ltd for S C Green & G C Beemsterboer 1:35.05 Faraglioni Malt Time
2022[4] $300,000 Prise De Fer Savabeel Foiled Michael McNab Mark Walker Te Akau En Garde Syndicate 1:38.14 Aegon Chase
2021 (Te Rapa)[5] $220,000 Two Illicit Jimmy Choux Gemini Danielle Johnson Roger James & Robert Wellwood, Cambridge Brent & Cherry Taylor, Faith Taylor, Jane Taylor & Scott Malcolm 1:34.39 Prise De Fer Tiptronic
2020[6] $200,000 Rock On Wood Redwood Rock On Rye Ryan Elliot Leanne Elliot, Levin L E Elliot, J Ker & Y J Ker 1:39.66 Concert Hall Deerfield
2019[7] $200,000 Wyndspelle[8] Iffraaj Western Star Jason Waddell Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard, Otaki J Frew, S Hanna, Jen Campin Bloodstock Ltd & NP Randles 1:34.66 Shadows Cast True Enough
2018[9] $200,000 Danzdanzdance Mastercraftsman Night Danza Opie Bosson Chris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley, Ruakaka BAX Bloodstock Achieving Xcellence Ltd, S Barnao, M Hawes, J Loose, R J Stern, R Tierney & L Wotton 1:36.58 Authentic Paddy Our Abbadean
2017 $200,000 Kawi Savabeel Magic Time Jason Waddell Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth AA Baeyertz, JP Goodin, T Kemp, GA Macdonald, GH Phillips, BR & SA Sharrock 1:36.28 (dead) Consensus Sofia Rosa
2016 $200,000 Aide Memoire Remind Explain Robert Hannam Fraser Auret, Marton MJ Askew, MI Deans, D Garraway, CJ Gerbs, A Groves & DE Tuffery 1:35.87 (dead) Authentic Paddy Ringo
2015 $200,000 Julinsky Prince Darci Brahma Julinsky Princess Johnathon Parkes Fraser Auret, Marton Bromley Bloodstock Ltd 1:38.73 Authentic Paddy Soriano
2014 $200,000 Shuka Bachelor Duke Alabama Rose Danielle Johnson Peter & Dawn Williams, Byerley Park Parr Bloodstock Ltd 1:37.53 Nashville / Puccini (dead heat) -
2013 $200,000 Shuka Bachelor Duke Alabama Rose Danielle Johnson Peter & Dawn Williams, Byerley Park Parr Bloodstock Ltd 1:35.42 Viadana Brave Centaur
2012 $200,000 Final Touch Kashani My Lydia Chris Johnson John & Karen Parsons, Balciarn Mrs K G Parsons 1:35.91 Lady Kipling / Mufhasa n/a
2011 $200,000 Mufhasa Pentire Sheila Cheval Samantha Spratt Stephen McKee, Ardmore D L, Ms N N & S C Archer & Mrs D J Wright 1:36.40 (good) Vonusti Dating
2010 $200,000 We Can Say It Now Starcraft We Can't Say That Lisa Allpress Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge Paulyn Investments Pty Ltd 1:34.04 Mandela Obsession
2009 (December) $200,000 Ekstreme Ekraar Cashcade Opie Bosson Bryce Revell, New Plymouth Waimea Racing Syndicate 1:36.32 Veloz Fritzy Boy
2008 $200,000 Dezigna Volksraad Label Basher Troy Harris Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata Mrs M.E.A. Evans 1:44.65 (heavy 11) O'Ceirins Angel Bulginbaah
2007 $200,000 Dorabella Postponed Caserio Hayden Tinsley Howie & Lorraine Matthews, Otaki D Ha 1:34.50 Seachange Porotene Gem
2006 $150,000 Jurys Out Faltaat (USA) Tarantia Michael Coleman David & Sarah Haworth, Foxton D Mck & KM Duncan & DR Haworth 1:35.42 Rosina Lad Sir Slick
2005 $100,000 Hurrah Bahhare (USA) Shock Attack Hayden Tinsley Shane Kennedy & Ricky Carston, Riccarton GF Kirkpatrick, PB McLaughlin, TJ O'Shannessey, KJ Smith, MR Spinks, PW Timbs & BJ Vieceli 1:35.81 Millenium Jurys Out
2004 (Otaki) $100,000 Rodin Masterpiece Fine Decision Darryl Bradley Karen Zimmerman, Otaki Victory Park Syndicate & Ywurree Syndicate 1:36.95 Keeninsky Rapid Kay
2003 $100,000 Penny Gem Pentire Gemscap (by Maizcay) Michael Coleman Michael Moroney & Andrew Scott, Matamata AF & Mrs CI Abel, AK Bell, CW Cherrie, PA Moroney & BA Schroder 1:34.57 Marie Clare Hustler
2002 Dead heat $100,000 Elevenses Star Way Celtic Joy Leith Innes Debbie & Graeme Sanders, Te Awamutu Elevenses Syndicate 1:38.33 n/a Hello Dolly
2002 Dead heat $100,000 Tit For Taat Faltaat Miss Kiwitea Michael Walker W Herbert, Riwa Park RI & Est Late WD Scott 1:38.33 n/a Hello Dolly
2001 $100,000 Hello Dolly Mi Perferido Drambuie Bruce Herd Bill Wills, Cambridge W G Wills 1:42.3 (Heavy) Cinder Bella Fritz
2000 $100,000 Cinder Bella Victory Dance (Ire) Lucky Jewell Lance O'Sullivan Karen Zimmerman, Otaki Messrs BM Hancock & CJG McFarlane 1:25.47 (1400m) Integrate Sir Howard
1999 $100,000 Cent Home 57 Lord Ballina Centurial Lance O'Sullivan Jim Wallace, Opaki Jim Wallace 1:34.75 Hero Batavian
1998 (Hastings) (October) $100,000 Foxwood Centaine (AUS) Delia's Choice Vincent Colgan Roger James, Cambridge Mrs HA & JM Hannan 1:33.75 Danske Just Anything
1997 $80,000 Ballroom Babe 55.5 Citidancer Taimian Gary Grylls Graeme Sanders, Te Awamutu BD Old, KW Pennell & GK Sanders 1:36.81 Kingston Bay Ed
1996 $80,000 Marquise Gold and Ivory (USA) Eight Carat (GB) Jim Collett Laurie Laxon, Cambridge Messrs MK Glenn & MH Oram 1:35.31 Corndale Diablo Girl
1995 $80,000 Allegro Red Tempo Gallant Heights Gary Grylls Chris & Mrs CL Wood, Cambridge HE & Mrs PM Ward 1:33.60 Avedon Lord Tridan
1994 $80,000 Lord Tridan Lord Ballina (AUS) Salaprime Gary Grylls Michael Moroney & Graeme Richardson, Matamata Mrs DM, JF & Mrs MM Connelly 1:34.93 Ball Park Cuidado
1993 $80,000 Calm Harbour Spectacular Love (USA) Sooth (NZ) Damon Smith Noel Eales, Awapuni Peter Thorburn 1:35.17 Dead On The Beach Status
1992 $80,000 Rough Habit Roughcast (USA) Certain Habit (NZ) Chris Johnson John Wheeler, New Plymouth JA Battiston, Mrs RE Burns, C Rackley & DW Smith 1:35.54 Modena Rough Harbour
1991 $100,000 Mickey's Town Icelandic Walnor Michael Coleman Jim Gibbs, Matamata BJ McCahill Senior 1:35.09 Fun On The Run Stanmaric
1990 Meeting abandoned
1989 $62,500 Straight Order Straight Strike Nightly Order Greg Childs Patrick Campbell, Awapuni H A & R P Davey 1:33.81 Steeley Dan Compel
1988 $62,500 Steely Dan Standaan (Fra) Miss Jubilee Lance O'Sullivan Tony Gillies, Matamata WT Callaghan, RL Kennedy, JC Parkes & AJJ Parkinson 1:38.94 The Filbert Abit Leica
1987 $62,500 Magnitude Amalgam Beauty Spot Garry Phillips Magaret Bull, Hunterville Miss MJ Bull 1:34.89 The Filbert Pell Mell
1986 $42,250 Solveig Imposing (Aus) Soliloquoy David Peake Colin Curnow and Trevor McKee, Takanini R E & R W E Moore 1:36.48 Canterbury Belle Pinson
1985 $60,000 So Dandy So Vain El Candy Brian York Keith Opie, Te Aroha JL & LGN Erickson 1:39.98 Abit Leica Super Tai
1984 $60,000 Idaho's Gift Rich Gift Veruschka Earl Harrison Brian Coleman, New Plymouth BG Coleman 1:38.49 Super Tai Dig In
1983 $45,000 Clear Gold Bahroona Hebrew Star Grant Cooksley IP Morton, Whakatane Mr & Mrs IP Morton & Mr & Mrs HB Tapper 1:35.7 Super Tai So Dandy
1982 $45,000 Hikotere Redolent II Great Haste Gary Grylls TJ Mora, Te Aroha AJ, Mrs DJ, GD & HJ Prout 1:37.25 Givenchy Prince Majestic
1981 $40,000 The Twinkle Gate Keeper The Pixie ( by Mellay) Ally Robinson Dennis Brothers, Woodlands 1:36.25 Mun Lee Golden Rhapsody
1980 $40,000 Mellseur Riverton Belinda's Flight (by Bellborough) NJ Harnett Ellis Winsloe, Gore FC Anscombe & EJ Smart 1:40.75 Scotch Miss Mun Lee
1979 $26,000 Brutus Balios Monde (by Monitor) Chris McNab Ray Harris, Tuahiwi RT Harris, GE Pilkington, RM Smith & Mrs LS Weaver 1:39.5 Copper Bit Loma Lass
1978 $35,000 March Legend Idolmeneo Gretel (by Golovine) Alwin Tweedie Don Nash, Takanini D R Nash 1:35.75 Orchidra Clive Comet
1977 (March) $25,000 Copper Belt Gold Sovereign Rhodesia (by Blueskin II) Garry Phillips Brian Deacon, Hawera

K & Mrs K Gray

1:36.6 Grey Way On Show

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Captain Cook Stakes | Past Winners | Results | New Zealand". www.racingandsports.com.au. December 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "LOVERACING.NZ - New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing". loveracing.nz.
  3. ^ "Race 8 TAB CLASSIC at WELLINGTON RC on 9 DEC 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  4. ^ "Race 8 RYDGES WELLINGTON CAPTAIN COOK STAKES at WELLINGTON RC on 3 DEC 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  5. ^ "Race 10 RYDGES WELLINGTON CAPTAIN COOK STAKES at WAIKATO RC on 11 DEC 2021 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  6. ^ "Race 8 RYDGES WELLINGTON CAPTAIN COOK STAKES at WELLINGTON RC on 5 DEC 2020 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  7. ^ "Race 8 RYDGES WELLINGTON CAPTAIN COOK STAKES at WELLINGTON RC on 7 DEC 2019 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  8. ^ "Wyndspelle gets elusive Group 1 victory | Horse Betting". 7 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Race 8 RYDGES WELLINGTON CAPTAIN COOK STAKES at WELLINGTON RC on 8 DEC 2018 | LOVERACING.NZ".
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