Telegraph Handicap
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Telegraph Handicap is a Group One New Zealand horse race contested by the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham Racecourse in Upper Hutt. It was traditionally raced during the Wellington Cup carnival in mid-January, however from 2025 it has been shifted to earlier in January.
ClassGroup I
LocationTrentham Racecourse
Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand
Inaugurated1891
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
| Class | Group I |
|---|---|
| Location | Trentham Racecourse Wellington, New Zealand |
| Inaugurated | 1891 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1200m (6 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Weight | Set Weights & Penalties |
| Purse | NZ$550,000 (2026) |
The Telegraph Handicap, raced over 1200 metres, and the Railway Stakes contested at Ellerslie Racecourse are New Zealand's premier sprint races.
In the late 1980s the race was called the Wrightson Handicap.
The nature of the Trentham track ensures fast times and some Telegraph Handicap winners have been able to lay claim to world record times over 1200m.[1]
1954 racebook
1954 WRC Wellington Cup racebook front cover
1954 WRC Wellington Cup raceday officials
1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap page starters and results
1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap page showing the winner, John Gilpin
1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap page starters and results
1954 WRC Wellington Cup train arrangements
Previous winners
| Year |
Winner |
Sire |
Dam |
Jockey |
Trainer(s) |
Time |
Second |
Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026[2] | First Five 58.5 | Almanzor | Payette | Wiremu Pinn | David Greene | 1:07.23 (soft) | Navigator 58.5 | Grail Seeker 56.5 |
| 2025[3] | Grail Seeker 56.5 | Iffraaj (GB) | Starwish (Aus) | Kevin Stott | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott | 1.07.71 (soft) | Sacred Satono 58.5 | Navigator 58.5 |
| 2024[4] | Mercurial 58.5 | Burgundy (NZ) | Roxette (NZ) | Samantha Spratt | Stephen Marsh | 1:08.51 (good) | Express Yourself 56.5 | Bonny Lass 56.5 |
| 2023[5] | Levante 56.5 | Proisir (Aus) | Island Doy (GB) | Ryan Elliot | Ken & Bev Kelso | 1:07.11 (good) | Babylon Berlin 56.5 | Ifndoubtgetout 58.5 |
| 2022[6] | Levante 56.5[7] | Proisir (Aus) | Island Doy (GB) | Ryan Elliott | Ken & Bev Kelso | 1:06.18 (good) | Roch 'N' Horse 56.5 | Mascarpone 58.5 |
| 2021[8] | Avantage 56.5 | Fastnet Rock (Aus) | Asavant (NZ) | Danielle Johnson | Jamie Richards | 1:06.97 (good) | Spring Heat 56.5 | Burgundy Belle 56.5 |
| 2020[9] | Avantage 56.5 | Fastnet Rock (Aus) | Asavant (NZ) | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards | 1:07.04 (good) | Enzo’s Lad 58.5 | Spring Heat 56.5 |
| 2019 [10] | Enzo's Lad 58 | Testa Rossa (Aus) | Sheerama (Aus) | Michael McNab | Michael & Matthew Pitman | 1:06.95 (good) | Ferrando 55.5 | Sensei 55.5 |
| 2018 [11][12] | Enzo's Lad 55.5 | Testa Rossa (Aus) | Sheerama (Aus) | Sam Weatherley | Michael & Matthew Pitman | 1:08.30 (good) | Kawi 59 | Ferrando 55.5 |
| 2017[13] | Signify 55 | Perfectly Ready (Aus) | Pica Pica (NZ) | Racha Cuneen | Alex Cowan, Ashburton | 1:07.71 | Start Wondering 58 | Perfect Fit 56 |
| 2016 | Adventador 55.5 | Fast 'N' Famous (Aus) | Alpine Beauty (NZ) | Matt Cameron | Gus Lowry & Grant Cullen | 1:08.34 | Miss Seton Sands 53.5 | Trepidation 53 |
| 2015 | Sacred Star 57 | Flying Spur (Aus) | Irish Nova (NZ) | Vinnie Colgan | Tony Pike | 1:07.71 | Designated Driver 53 | Trepidation 53 |
| 2014 | Irish Fling 52 | Darci Brahma (NZ) | Irish Belle (NZ) | Mark Du Plessis | Gus Lowry & Grant Cullen | 1:07.48 | Natuzzi 54.5 | Jaggard 52 |
| 2013 | Final Touch 58 | Kashani (USA) | My Lydia (Aus) | Chris Johnson | John & Karen Parsons | 1:08.53 | Xanadu 55 | Burgundy 55 |
| 2012 | Guiseppina 53 | Johar (USA) | Battocchi (NZ) | James McDonald | Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari | 1:06.94 | Atomic Force 59 | El Chico 55 |
| 2011 | Mufhasa 56.5 | Pentire | Sheila Cheval (NZ) | Samantha Spratt | Stephen McKee, Ardmore | 1:07.04 | First Command 58.5 | Coup Align 56.5 |
| 2010 | Vonusti 52.5 | Ustinov (Aus) | Reasonably (Aus) | Noel Harris | Tim & Margaret Carter | 1:09.36 | Tootsie 52.5 | Stupendous 52.5 |
| 2009 | Mufhasa 55.5 | Pentire | Sheila Cheval (NZ) | Samantha Spratt | Stephen McKee, Ardmore | 1:07.39 | Atapi 55 | Ruud Van Slaats 53.5 |
| 2008[14] | Seachange 58.5 | Cape Cross (Ire) | Just Cruising (Aus) | Gavin McKeon | Ralph Manning, Cambridge | 1:06.66 | Kay’s Awake 55 | Maximum Star 52 |
| 2007 | Darci Brahma 57 | Danehill (USA) | Grand Echezeaux (NZ) | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker | 1:07.00 | Seachange 55.5 | Kay's Awake 53 |
| 2006 | Gee I Jane 55.5 | Jahafil (GB) | Miss Distinction (NZ) | Scott Seamer | Neville Couchman, Cambridge | 1:07.77 | Dezigna 52.5 | Magistra Decta 53 |
| 2005[15] | Keeninsky 50.5 | Stravinsky (USA) | So Keen (NZ) | Allan Peard[16] | Graeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge, Tuhikaramea | 1:07.55 | Sedecrem 56.5 | Dezigna 50.5 |
| 2004[17] | King's Chapel | King of Kings (Ire) | Lower Chapel (GB) | Noel Harris | Mark Walker | 1:06.79 | Sunlaw | Sedecrem |
| 2003 | Tit For Taat 58.5 | Faltaat (USA) | Miss Kiwitea (NZ) | Michael Walker | Anne Herbert | 1:07.64 | Egyptian Raine 58 | Fair Embrace 54 |
| 2002 | Vinaka 52.5 | Volksraad (GB) | Shepherd's Delight (NZ) | Lance O'Sullivan | Jim Gibbs | 1:08.06 | Life Of Riley 52 | Spring Rain 54 |
| 2001 | Star Of Gold 53 | Famous Star (GB) | Goldtaine (NZ) | Peter D Johnson | Stephen & Trevor McKee | 1:07.76 | Spring Rain 53 | Travellin' Man 52.5 |
| 2000[18] | Fritz 53 | Kreisler (Ire) | Brighten Up (GB) | Noel Harris | Neil Coulbeck, Leithfield | 1:07.63 | Cheiron 54 | Star Of Gold 54 |
| 1999 | Bawalaksana 52 | Straight Strike (USA) | Princess Jocinda (NZ) | Lance O'Sullivan | Paul O’Sullivan | 1:06.51 | Buster Brookfield 52 | Samboa 53 |
| 1998 | Vegas 51.5 | Kaapstad (NZ) | Some Jewel (Aus) | Opie Bosson | Graeme Rogerson & Keith Hawtin | 1:08.85 | Kiora Star 52 | Coogee Walk 53 |
| 1997[19] | O'Reilly 49 | Last Tycoon (Ire) | Courtza (NZ) | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan, Matamata | 1:07.36 | Classic Royal 49 | Krispin Klear 55.5 |
| 1996 | Loader 55 | Pre Catelan (Aus) | Rhapsody Rose (NZ) | Chris Johnson | Peter J & Dawn M Williams | 1:06.85 | Sun Spot 55 | Snap 50 |
| 1995[20] | Lord Tridan 57 | Lord Ballina (Aus) | Salaprime (NZ) | Tony Allan | Michael Moroney, Matamata | 1:07.06 | Rampage 48.5 | Saxonvale 54.5 |
| 1994[21] | Lady Madonna 50 | Kingdom Bay (NZ) | Donna's Habit (NZ) | Jim O'Styke | Grant Searle | 1:10.40 | Enhancer 51.5 | Lord Tridan 56 |
| 1993 | Victory Dias 49.5 | Avon's Lord (NZ) | My Totara Lass (NZ) | Craig Beets | C W & Jim Gibbs & Lance Noble | 1:06.59 | Lord Tridan 51 | Javelin 56 |
| 1992 | Morar[22] 52.5 | Otehi Bay (Aus) | Hinewai (NZ) | Larry Cassidy | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan | 1:08.91 | Mrs Selleck 49.75 | Romanee Conti 47 |
| 1991[23] | Vain Sovereign[24] 52 | Truly Vain (Aus) | Sherwyn's Gold (NZ) | Brian Hibberd | M R Campbell | 1:08.31 | Mr Tiz 60.5 | Hypervain 50 |
| 1990 | Mr Tiz[25] 55.5 | Bletchingly (Aus) | Yir Tiz (NZ) | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan | 1:07.99 | Vain Sovereign 52 | Zephyr Magic 55.5 |
| 1989 | Mr Tiz 50.5 (dead heat) | Bletchingly (Aus) | Yir Tiz (NZ) | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan | 1:07.66 | - | Sirstaci 50 |
| 1989 | Festal 49 (dead heat) | Vain (Aus) | Party (Aus) | Larry Cassidy | Bruce Marsh | 1:07.66 | - | Sirstaci 50 |
| 1988 | Courier Bay[26] 58 | Diplomatic Agent (USA) | Bay Ruth (NZ) | David Walsh | G A White | 1:07.45 | Sirstaci 49.5 | Squire Gray 47.5 |
| 1987[27] | Courier Bay 54.5 | Diplomatic Agent (USA) | Bay Ruth (NZ) | David Walsh | G A White | 1:07.45 | Kosha 57 | Knight Invader 50 |
| 1986 | Tanalyse[28] 54.5 | Alvaro (GB) | Ventian Topaz (GB) | David Walsh | D Grubb | 1:07.35 | Princess Dram 53 | Silver Tip 51.5 |
| 1985[29] | High Regards[30] 48.5 | Trictrac (Fra) | Savarnah (NZ) | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan, Matamata | 1:07.23 | Romantic Bay 48.5 | Clear Gold 56.5 |
| 1984[31] | Mac's Gamble[32] 53 | Shifnal (Aus) | Mac's Bonnie (NZ) | Debbie Healey | M M Phillips | 1:08.45 | Pinson 55.5 | Atrapar 54.5 |
| 1983 | So Modest[33] 49.5 | So Vain (Aus) | Darilyn Kaye (NZ) | Greg Childs | K, KR & N Crawford | 1:07.52 | Diplomante 54 | So Dandy 56 |
| 1982[34] | Our Shah[35] 55 | Shahram (GB) | Our Rene (NZ) | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan & Mike Moroney | 1:09.52 | Diplomante 55 | Anderil 55 |
| 1981[36] | Anderil[37] 54.5 | Hasty Cloud (Ire) | Charsada (NZ) | C McNab | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan & Mike Moroney | 1:07.50 | Diplomante 49.5 | Valencia 52.5 |
| 1980[38] | Flying View[39] 54 | Country Dance (GB) | Loch View (NZ) | S Laming | K H Pratt | 1:09.50 | Anderil 48.5 | Silver Nymph 50 |
| 1979[40] | Arbre Chene[41] 57 | Oakville (GB) | Marija Jean (NZ) | R D Vance | P K Cathro | 1:09.75 | Pennevari 48.5 | Purple Kiwi 52 |
| 1978[42] | Extra Flash[43] 47 | Serenader II (Ire) | Princess Nike (NZ) | S R Autridge | H W Mathews | 1:09.75 | Sly Wink 50.5 | Heidelberg 49.5 |
Wellington Racing Club
Other major races held at Trentham include the: