New Zealand Derby

{{Infobox horseraces

| surface = Turf

| class = Group I

| horse race = New Zealand Derby

| image = 260px

| caption = Gloaming, 1918 winner

| location = Ellerslie Racecourse
Auckland, New Zealand

| inaugurated = 1875

| race type = Thoroughbred – Flat racing

| website = [http://www.ellerslie.co.nz Ellerslie Racecourse]

| distance = 2,400 metres (12 furlongs)

| track = Right-handed

| qualification = Three-year-olds

| weight = Set-Weights

| purse = NZ$1,250,000 (2025)

| bonuses =

}}

The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held in March each year.

History

The New Zealand Derby is an amalgamation of two races – the New Zealand Derby, run since 1860 at Riccarton, Christchurch; and the Great Northern Derby, run since 1875 at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/racecharts/NewZealand/NZDerby.html|title=New Zealand Derby Winners|website=www.tbheritage.com}} The races were combined in 1973. Riccarton was awarded two 1,600 m races for three-year-olds in place of its Derby – the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

After its May debut, the New Zealand Derby was soon moved to New Year's Day, and then to Boxing Day. It continued to be run on this day for many years and became a popular traditional social occasion for Aucklanders until it was moved to the first day of the new Auckland Cup Week in March. The first March running of the Derby in 2006 was won by Wahid, from the stable of Allan Sharrock in New Plymouth.

The race in 2023 - won by Sharp 'N' Smart - was held at Te Rapa Racecourse, due to renovation of the track at Ellerslie Racecourse.

File:Nightmarch entering field with jockey, New South Wales, ca. 1930.jpg, 1928 winner.]]

=Notable winners=

Many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses feature on the list of New Zealand Derby winners,{{Cite web|url=http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/racecharts/NewZealand/NZDerby.html|title = New Zealand Derby Winners}} including:

File:Dalray 1952 VRC Melbourne Cup Jockey Bill Williamson Trainer Clarrie McCarthy.jpg, 1951 winner.]]

File:Nightly 1934 Moonee Valley Cup Jockey Maurice McCarten.jpg

=Multiple winning trainers and jockeys=

Roger James has won the New Zealand Derby six times, including once in partnership with Jim Gibbs and once in partnership with Robert Wellwood. Colin Jillings won the post-1973 New Zealand Derby three times but also twice won the Great Northern Derby with Lawful and Stipulate.

Vinnie Colgan holds the record for the most Derby wins by a jockey. He scored his fifth Derby win aboard Habibi in 2013, breaking Robert Vance's previous record of four, and added a sixth victory with Rangipo in 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10868715|title = Racing: Record on line in $750k Derby}}

=Winning fillies=

Only a small number of fillies have ever won the Derby against the male horses. This list includes:

the great Desert Gold winning the 1915 New Zealand Derby at Riccarton and the 1916 Great Northern Derby
Our Flight in 1983
Tidal Light in 1986
Popsy in 1994
Silent Achiever in 2012
Habibi in 2013
Orchestral in 2024.

On two of those occasions, fillies have also finished second – Cure in 1986 and Fix in 2013.{{cite web| url = http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?query_type=stakes&search_bar=stakes&field=view&id=1180| title = Thoroughbred Horse Pedigree Query}}