Auckland cup,...New Year's Eve, now end of May

[Ludwig]

So this is what the Auckland Cup is reduced to? The last Friday in May?

Reduced stakes and all. How long can this go on?

[mikeynz]

Invercargill cup friday December 22, note not the Saturday like last year.

Might be the Franklin cup or something else at New year, Auckland cup at New Year is gone.

[Brodie]

12 hours ago, Ludwig said:

So this is what the Auckland Cup is reduced to? The last Friday in May?

Reduced stakes and all. How long can this go on?

All is good Ludwig.

Entain is here to help out racing!

[Ludwig]

5 hours ago, Brodie said:

All is good Ludwig.

Entain is here to help out racing!

I think, the bottom line is that Entain  are here to help their own profits. 

[Gammalite]

18 hours ago, Ludwig said:

So this is what the Auckland Cup is reduced to? The last Friday in May?

Reduced stakes and all. How long can this go on?

Well the Interdominion is now run in December each year to end the season. and I think they would still like Nz competitors to turn up , as that is the tradition and reason for the thing. worth a $1million all up this year. 

I guess the running date of the Auckland Cup was to co-incide with an Autumn Campaign for the open class runners that took them trough the 'Waikato Mile' and 'The Race' at Cambridge >>>>>>>

followed by the 'Taylor Mile' into 'Messenger' into the 'Auckland Cup' big finale. A  BIG 5 race program . 

Copy That surprisingly only won one of them so far with form 2142. wonder if he can finish with a win Friday?? 

then they all have the winter off (or go to QLD ) and come back in the Spring to get ready for the Cup in Nov. 

[Walt]

Every New Years Eve I'd take my wife and children to the Auckland Cup meeting. The timing was perfect about six weeks after the NZ Cup meeting. It was invariably a warm balmy night. There was live music and the night ended with a fireworks display. There was always a very positive feel about things as one year ended and people were looking forward to the new year about to arrive. It was the only meeting my kids attended each year and they loved their $5 wagers.

I don't understand why the change? Some traditions should be retained.

While on the subject, what's happened to the Easter Cup @ Addington...@ Easter. I remember old Bill "Hands Down" winning the Easter Cup three times in the early 80's for DG. His last victory was when he got up late to beat Hilarious Guest. Fantastic!

I looked forward to this years edition of the Easter Cup being at Easter but I am a bit old fashioned. 

[Gammalite]

Great fun those summer nights at Alexandra Park . Back in my Nz days they had The Messenger meeting at Christmas time. was a great Christmas highlight for a young bloke on school holidays. 

Here's Locarno Winning in his dashing style at the end of 78' when the race (Messenger) was just for 4 yearolds and was my first visit there to see the live action. he went on to win a Miracle Mile later !! what a ripper horse.

No Response was winning the National trot at Christmas too, on his way to winning the March Interdominion in spectacular style at Addington. Sapling winning the Auckland Cup towards the end of Summer in February , as Gammalite did winning the Cup too,  a handful of years after that before yet another successful Interdominion campaign for that great warrior. 

Can see why they shifted the Cup to New years week as is holiday time , and a lot of people can go and see the best racing . Delightful Lady won her 2 Auckland Cups as well holding off the 'southern raiders . great stuff !!!

 

[Newmarket]

23 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

Great fun those summer nights at Alexandra Park . Back in my Nz days they had The Messenger meeting at Christmas time. was a great Christmas highlight for a young bloke on school holidays. 

Here's Locarno Winning in his dashing style at the end of 78' when the race (Messenger) was just for 4 yearolds and was my first visit there to see the live action. he went on to win a Miracle Mile later !! what a ripper horse.

No Response was winning the National trot at Christmas too, on his way to winning the March Interdominion in spectacular style at Addington. Sapling winning the Auckland Cup towards the end of Summer in February , as Gammalite did winning the Cup too,  a handful of years after that before yet another successful Interdominion campaign for that great warrior. 

Can see why they shifted the Cup to New years week as is holiday time , and a lot of people can go and see the best racing . Delightful Lady won her 2 Auckland Cups as well holding off the 'southern raiders . great stuff !!!

 

Gammalite, 

Were you in NZ for these races? 

[Gammalite]

7 minutes ago, Newmarket said:

Gammalite, 

Were you in NZ for these races? 

Yeah those were the days of best horses in my opinion . so did junior driver days there for a few years but too hard (Way Too Hard)  against the local lads winning all the probationary races at the time . Namely a young Tony Herlihy and young Mark Purdon winning them all as they still are 40 years later .😂  . fantastic then. legends now lol.

John Devlin was sending heaps of horses to Aus in the 80's through his South Auckland standardbred agency, so flew out with a plane load of those for him when the chance arose.  and raced all round Aus with them. couple of handy ones . but mainly slow pluggers lol.. good enough to beat the Aussies though lol..

[Gammalite]

Auckland Cup done and dusted for another year .

The legend himself taking victory on the horse he part owns AKUTA . and for good measure trains the Quinella yet again. Nat 2nd on Self Assured. well done Mark. you're just too hard to beat most of the time. 

that makes it 8 straight  Auckland Cups!!!  with Mark Purdon trainer listed. (in combo's with Nat, Hayden Cullen and now son Nathan ) 

Wonder why ADORE ME couldn't win her 2 races ? (2nd twice here on the amazingly fast updated wikipedia chart ) 

Maybe she's not that good ? 😂  she could of made it 10 straight Cups and helped out a little ?? 😎

Winners list[edit]

Year	Month	Distance	Horse	Hcap	Owner(s)	Driver	Time	Second Place	Third Place
2023	May	3200m	Akuta	Fr (9)	Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon	Mark Purdon	4:00.55	Self Assured	Smiffy's Terror
2022	May	3200m	Self Assured	Fr (6)	Mrs J L Feiss	Natalie Rasmussen	3:58.96	Spankem	Kango
2021			Not held due to COVID 19
2020	Dec	3200m	Amazing Dream	Fr (3)		Mark Purdon	3:56.56	Spankem	Copy That
2019	Dec	3200m	Self Assured	Fr (3)	Mrs JL Feiss	Mark Purdon	3:59.4	Thefixer	Triple Eight
2018	Dec	3200m	Turn It Up[3]	Fr (6)	JA Gibbs MNZM, L Pilcher, Mark Purdon,	Mark Purdon	4:03.0	Star Galleria	Ashley Locaz
2017	Dec	3200m	Vincent (Aust)[4]	Fr (4)	W R Feiss	Natalie Rasmussen	4:04.7	Titan Banner	Heaven Rocks
2016	Dec	3200m	Dream About Me[5]	Fr (9)	CJ Roberts, Est Mrs JL Roberts, P G Kenny, Mrs ML Kenny	Mark Purdon	3:55.4	Hug The Wind	Arden's Choice
2015	Dec	3200m	Have Faith In Me[6]	Fr (U1)	DM Dunford & MD Dunford	Tim Williams[7]	4:06.0	Hughie Green	Smolda
2015	Mar	2700m	Christen Me[8]	Fr (11)	CJ Roberts & VL Purdon	Dexter Dunn	3:13.8	Adore Me	Ohoka Punter
2014	Mar	2700m	Terror to Love	Fr (11)	McDonald Bloodstock Ltd	Ricky May	3:15.8	Adore Me	Saveapatrol

 

 

[paleface adios]

8 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

Auckland Cup done and dusted for another year .

The legend himself taking victory on the horse he part owns AKUTA . and for good measure trains the Quinella yet again. Nat 2nd on Self Assured. well done Mark. you're just too hard to beat most of the time. 

that makes it 8 straight  Auckland Cups!!!  with Mark Purdon trainer listed. (in combo's with Nat, Hayden Cullen and now son Nathan ) 

Wonder why ADORE ME couldn't win her 2 races ? (2nd twice here on the amazingly fast updated wikipedia chart ) 

Maybe she's not that good ? 😂  she could of made it 10 straight Cups and helped out a little ?? 😎

Winners list[edit]

Year	Month	Distance	Horse	Hcap	Owner(s)	Driver	Time	Second Place	Third Place
2023	May	3200m	Akuta	Fr (9)	Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon	Mark Purdon	4:00.55	Self Assured	Smiffy's Terror
2022	May	3200m	Self Assured	Fr (6)	Mrs J L Feiss	Natalie Rasmussen	3:58.96	Spankem	Kango
2021			Not held due to COVID 19
2020	Dec	3200m	Amazing Dream	Fr (3)		Mark Purdon	3:56.56	Spankem	Copy That
2019	Dec	3200m	Self Assured	Fr (3)	Mrs JL Feiss	Mark Purdon	3:59.4	Thefixer	Triple Eight
2018	Dec	3200m	Turn It Up[3]	Fr (6)	JA Gibbs MNZM, L Pilcher, Mark Purdon,	Mark Purdon	4:03.0	Star Galleria	Ashley Locaz
2017	Dec	3200m	Vincent (Aust)[4]	Fr (4)	W R Feiss	Natalie Rasmussen	4:04.7	Titan Banner	Heaven Rocks
2016	Dec	3200m	Dream About Me[5]	Fr (9)	CJ Roberts, Est Mrs JL Roberts, P G Kenny, Mrs ML Kenny	Mark Purdon	3:55.4	Hug The Wind	Arden's Choice
2015	Dec	3200m	Have Faith In Me[6]	Fr (U1)	DM Dunford & MD Dunford	Tim Williams[7]	4:06.0	Hughie Green	Smolda
2015	Mar	2700m	Christen Me[8]	Fr (11)	CJ Roberts & VL Purdon	Dexter Dunn	3:13.8	Adore Me	Ohoka Punter
2014	Mar	2700m	Terror to Love	Fr (11)	McDonald Bloodstock Ltd	Ricky May	3:15.8	Adore Me	Saveapatrol

 

 

2018 was great win for Kanes horsie 

[Walt]

12 hours ago, Gammalite said:

Great fun those summer nights at Alexandra Park . Back in my Nz days they had The Messenger meeting at Christmas time. was a great Christmas highlight for a young bloke on school holidays. 

Here's Locarno Winning in his dashing style at the end of 78' when the race (Messenger) was just for 4 yearolds and was my first visit there to see the live action. he went on to win a Miracle Mile later !! what a ripper horse.

No Response was winning the National trot at Christmas too, on his way to winning the March Interdominion in spectacular style at Addington. Sapling winning the Auckland Cup towards the end of Summer in February , as Gammalite did winning the Cup too,  a handful of years after that before yet another successful Interdominion campaign for that great warrior. 

Can see why they shifted the Cup to New years week as is holiday time , and a lot of people can go and see the best racing . Delightful Lady won her 2 Auckland Cups as well holding off the 'southern raiders . great stuff !!!

 

Enjoy your posts Gammalite. 

I remember Locarno very well. Robin Butt had a beauty who could flash past the best of them. Camelot was pretty good for him as well. 

As for Auckland Cups. My interest in the Cup started in 1969 when DG won it with Leading Light. I have personal reasons for being extra fond of that result. He beat Holy Hal and Stella Frost and paid a handsome $23. Peter Wolfenden won the Rowe Cup later on the card with Single Cash. 

[Newmarket]

4 hours ago, Walt said:

Enjoy your posts Gammalite. 

I remember Locarno very well. Robin Butt had a beauty who could flash past the best of them. Camelot was pretty good for him as well. 

As for Auckland Cups. My interest in the Cup started in 1969 when DG won it with Leading Light. I have personal reasons for being extra fond of that result. He beat Holy Hal and Stella Frost and paid a handsome $23. Peter Wolfenden won the Rowe Cup later on the card with Single Cash. 

Robin Butt seemed a real nice bloke. I remember he trained a nice mare in Agrinion. Backed her one day against Royden Glen who was red hot fav. He galloped a lap or so out, Agrinion in front and I was counting my money. 
Only thing, Royden Glenn put up an amazing performance to just get up on the line….I was filthy😆

[Chief Stipe]