# New Zealand Trotting Derby

The New Zealand Derby is a classic event in New Zealand for 3 year old harness horses, run at Addington Raceway.

## History

Formerly called the New Brighton Derby Stakes from 1914 to 1925, the race was conducted by the New Brighton Trotting Cub and decided in the Autumn. In 1925, it was taken over by the Metropolitan Trotting Club and decided in the Spring. In 1982 it was switched to the Summer.
In 1968–1969, the race was 11⁄2 miles and in 1970–1972, 1m 5f. In 1973-83 it was a standing start race over 2600 metres.
From 1984, it became a 2600 Metres Mobile race.

## Records

Most wins by a driver:
* 12 - M F Holmes (1928, 1930, 1931, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1954, 1957, 1960, 1972)
* 11 - Mark Purdon (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2013, 2016, 2017)
* 4 - J D Litten (1951, 1953, 1955, 1964)
Most wins by an owner:
* 4 - H F Nicoll (1921, 1928, 1930, 1931)

## Race results

The past winners of the race are as follows:
| Year | Horse | Owner | Driver | Time |
| 2024 | We Walk By Faith | Dennis & Mark Dunford | Craig Ferguson | 3:10.9 |
| 2023 | Merlin | Montana Park Pty Ltd | Zac Butcher | 3:08.5 |
| 2022 | Akuta | Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon | Mark Purdon | 3:05.6 |
| 2021 | Krug | Mrs C M Dalgety, M P Hanning, McKerrow Bloodstock Limited, G P Merlo, P J Creighton, Mrs M C Creighton, G E Dickey, K J Cummings | Blair Orange | 3:10.9 |
| 2020 | no race held | | | |
| 2019 | Ultimate Sniper | Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, GR Douglas, PJ Creighton, Mrs MC Creighton, KJ Riseley | Natalie Rasmussen | 3:13.3 |
| 2018 | Sheriff | GW Deakins, Mrs PP Gillan, RV Masefield, Small Car World Ltd | Blair Orange | 3:05.4 |
| 2017 | Vincent (Aust) | WR Feiss | Mark Purdon | 3:06.0 |
| 2016 | Lazarus | Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, TG Casey, KJ Riseley | Mark Purdon | 3:08.5 |
| 2015 | Have Faith In Me | Dennis & Mark Dunford | Tim Williams | 3:09.2 |
| 2014 | Locharburn | K K Chapman, Mrs B G Chapman | Dexter Dunn | 3:11.0 |
| 2013 | Border Control | P I & G J Kennard Bloodstock Limited, N Pilcher, G R Douglas | Mark Purdon | 3:10.6 |
| 2012 | Fly Like An Eagle | Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, N Pilcher, G R Douglas, P J Cr | Tony Herlihy | 3:12.3 |
| 2011 | Gold Ace | Mrs W A Reid, D G Moore, M Ng, D D Syndicate | Peter Ferguson | 3:12.3 |
| 2010 | Captain Peacock | GAPMAD Syndicate, G L Ball, W J Wyllie, R Boon, D Ball | Mark Jones | 3:14.1 |
| 2009 | Sleepy Tripp | T D Taylor, Mrs A V Taylor | David Butcher | 3:11.5 |
| 2008 | Auckland Reactor | A J Parker, Mrs P R A Parker | Mark Purdon | 3:09.4 |
| 2007 | Changeover | A.T.C. Trot 2006 Syndicate | Jim Curtin | 3:11.8 |
| 2006 | Pay Me Christian | Pay Me Christian Syndicate | David Butt | 3:18.3 |
| 2005 | Badlands Bute | Lincoln Farms Ltd | Tony Herlihy | 3:13.0 |
| 2004 | Likmesiah | Met Two Syndicate | Mark Purdon | 3:13.3 |
| 2003 | Elsu | Mrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P Small | David Butcher | 3:16.5 |
| 2002 | Jack Cade | J H Seaton, M Purdon | Mark Purdon | 3:14.3 |
| 2001 | Young Rufus | Lets Party Syndicate | Mark Purdon | 3:18.0 |
| 2000 | Stars And Stripes | C N Radford, Mrs J Z Radford | Ken Barron | 3:14.5 |
| 1999 | Courage Under Fire | G W Brodie | Colin De Filippi | 3:15.9 |
| 1998 | Holmes D G | Second Five Syndicate | Barry Purdon | 3:11.1 |
| 1997 | Bogan Fella | P J Cates, Mrs J Cates | Mark Purdon | 3:11.6 |
| 1996 | The Court Owl | W G Kitcher, G W Hutchison | Mark Purdon | 3:13.1 |
| 1995 | Il Vicolo | J H Seaton, M Purdon | Mark Purdon | 3:17.4 |
| 1994 | Ginger Man | G W Brodie | Barry Purdon | 3:15.7 |
| 1993 | Mark Roy | R R Reid/R C Purdon/Mrs J C Reid/Lorna Reid Synd | Mark Purdon | 3:16.2 |
| 1992 | Kiwi Scooter | B Purdon, C C Johnson | Barry Purdon | 3:13.6 |
| 1991 | Master Musician | R J Dunn, K L McDonald, E C Storck | Robert Dunn | 3:13.5 |
| 1990 | Winning Blue Chip | K G Chandler, W K Parlane, R G Chandler | Anthony Butt | 3:12.2 |
| 1989 | Westburn Grant | B J Breen, Mrs C M Breen, V W Frost, Mrs M Frost | Vic Frost | 3:16.5 |
| 1988 | Dillon Dean | K C Burley, D P Dwyer | Maurice McKendry | 3:16.0 |
| 1987 | Race Ruler | A E Wallis, L W Giraud | Maurice McKendry | 3:16.4 |
| 1986 | Alba's Reign | G Harris, C R Elliott, Mrs T D Elliott | Graeme Harris | 3:17.8 |
| 1985 | Placid Victor | Mrs L G Wilson | Maurice McKendry | 3:16.4 |
| 1984 | Naval Officer | B A O'Meara, R Taiaroa & D W Edwards | Michael R De Filippi | 3:22.5 |
| 1983 | Mighty Me | C W & Mrs S M McLachlan | Robert M Cameron | 3:25.6 |
| 1982 | Hilarious Guest | M G Vermeulen | Peter N Jones | 3:20.9 |
| 1980 | Amaze | J M & Mrs E C Connelly & S E Harley | Jack W Smolenski | 3:21.7 |
| 1979 | Game Adios | A L & Mrs B Kerslake & F Woolley | Robert M Cameron | 3:24.8 |
| 1978 | Sovereign | J M G & M Osborne & J W Smolenski | Jack W Smolenski | 3:29.6 |
| 1977 | Motu Prince | G F Timperley | Peter Wolfenden | 3:21.1 |
| 1976 | Rustic Zephyr | Mr & Mrs A K Greenslade & Mr & Mrs R L Sanders | J B Noble | 3:24.6 |
| 1975 | Main Adios | Mrs B & A L Kerslake & F Woolley | Derek G Jones | 3:23.3 |
| 1974 | Noodlum | Mrs A A Wilson & F L Holmes | F L Holmes | 3:27 |
| 1973 | Koarakau | C Wood | G Nyhan | 3:23 |
| 1972 | Willie Win | R H Negus | M F Holmes | 3:25 |
| 1971 | Bachelor Star | W F Woolley | Robert M Cameron | 3:29.6 |
| 1970 | New Law | L Law & F E Newfield | Felix E Newfield | 3:28.8 |
| 1969 | Berkleigh | Mrs & C A Winter | J A Carmichael | 3:18.6 |
| 1968 | Leroy | Mrs H & E J Goodyer | A K Holmes | 3:13.2 |
| 1967 | Good Chase | O J Watson | D G Watson | 3:12.6 |
| 1966 | Holy Hal | J R Rodgers & D Keenan | K Balloch | 3:10.6 |
| 1965 | Bass Strait | A L Bell & Cecil Devine | Cecil Devine | 3:14.8 |
| 1964 | Doctor Barry | Dr B W Nixon & B Steel | J D Litten | 3:13.4 |
| 1963 | Bellajily | D Matyasevic | Doody Townley | 3:12.6 |
| 1962 | Tactile | A J & D P Dynes | K Balloch | 3:10.4 |
| 1961 | Lordship | Mrs D G Nyhan | Denis Nyhan | 3:12 |
| 1960 | Student Prince | H S Barry | M F Holmes | 3:12.8 |
| 1959 | Stormont | J E V & K A Chapman | K A Chapman | 3:11.8 |
| 1958 | Blue | A Holmes & J Shelly | F G Holmes | 3:12.4 |
| 1957 | Tobacco Road | N Simpson | M F Holmes | 3:17.8 |
| 1956 | Bon Ton | D A Morland | D A Morland | 3:15.2 |
| 1955 | False Step | J Smyth | J D Litten | 3:12.6 |
| 1954 | Royal Minstrel | Sir John McKenzie | M F Holmes | 3:15 |
| 1954 | Single Medoro | Mrs M R Elliott & E J Kennerley | R D Kennerley | 3:15 |
| 1953 | Caduceus | D D & D R Moore | J D Litten | 3:13.4 |
| 1952 | Rupee | J Grice | Doody Townley | 3:15 |
| 1951 | Fallacy | J D Litten | J D Litten | 3:12.2 |
| 1950 | Johnny Globe | D G Nyhan | D G Nyhan | 3:15 |
| 1949 | Burns Night | G McKendry | G McKendry | 3:16.2 |
| 1948 | Croughton | J S South | R Young | 3:15.8 |
| 1947 | Congo Song | A Holmes & P Symes | M F Holmes | 3:17.6 |
| 1946 | Free Fight | D McFarlane | M F Holmes | 3:17.8 |
| 1945 | Sir Michael | C Tasker | R Young | 3:23 |
| 1944 | Air Marshall | A W Moore | R Donald | 3:21.8 |
| 1943 | Bonny Bridge | G Aitcheson | F Holmes | 3:20.2 |
| 1942 | Scottish Lady | D McFarlane | M F Holmes | 3:25 |
| 1941 | Pacing Power | G Lancaster | R B Berry | 3:19.8 |
| 1940 | Gold Chief | J B Westerman | R Messervey | 3:22.6 |
| 1939 | Imperial Jade | McFarlane & Scott | M F Holmes | 3:22.2 |
| 1938 | Aldershot | A J Nicoll | M F Holmes | 3:19.6 |
| 1937 | Two's Loose | G R Hudson | J Bryce jnr | 3:20 |
| 1936 | Parisienne | Mrs D R Revell | R B Berry | 3:19.6 |
| 1935 | Double Great | J R McKenzie | J Bryce jnr | 3:44 |
| 1934 | Gamble | T C Butcher | M B Edwards | 3:19.8 |
| 1933 | War Buoy | Mrs E K Mauger | M B Edwards | 3:16.2 |
| 1932 | Taxpayer | J R McKenzie | G Mouritz | 3:20.2 |
| 1931 | Ciro | H F Nicoll | M F Holmes | 3:23.6 |
| 1930 | Arethusa | H F Nicoll | M F Holmes | 3:25.2 |
| 1929 | Purser | S Chambers | L O Thomas | 3:22.2 |
| 1928 | Wrackler | H F Nicoll | M F Holmes | 3:25 |
| 1927 | Daphne De Oro | J Washington | F Holmes | 3:25.8 |
| 1926 | Shadowland | J F Poff | W J Tomkinson | 3:27.4 |
| 1925 | Kohara | R M Morten | J Bryce | 3:24.8 |
| 1925 | Native Chief | J Duffy | J J Kennerley | 3:23.8 |
| 1924 | Taurekareka | R M Morten | J Bryce | 3:22.2 |
| 1923 | Acron | J R McKenzie | J J Kennerley | 3:29.4 |
| 1922 | Great Hope | J R Corrigan | J Bryce | 3:31 |
| 1921 | Childe Pointer | H F Nicoll | D Warren | 3:26 |
| 1920 | Doraldina | F E Jones | F E Jones | 3:31 |
| 1919 | Locanda Dillon | W H Robbins | A Pringle | 3:33.8 |
| 1918 | Albert Cling | H Green | J Henderson | 3:26.8 |
| 1917 | Peter Mac | A E Ives | A Hendricksen | 3:35.8 |
| 1916 | Author Dillon | J Knight | B Jarden | 3:29 |
| 1915 | Prince Akwood | Mr Clifton | A Hendricksen | 3:34.6 |
| 1914 | Admiral Wood | W Kerr | C Kerr | 3:37.4 |

## Other major races

* Great Northern Derby
* New Zealand Sires Stakes 3yo Final
* Auckland Trotting Cup
* New Zealand Trotting Cup
* New Zealand Free For All
* Noel J Taylor Mile
* New Zealand Messenger
* Rowe Cup
* Dominion Handicap
* Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
* Inter Dominion Trotting Championship