# Railway Stakes (New Zealand)

The Railway Stakes is a Group One New Zealand horse race. Held at Ellerslie it is raced over 1200 metres, and is one of New Zealand's feature sprint races.
Among its most notable winners are:
* Avantage, the winner of the 2021 Railway, the 2020 and 2021 Telegraph Handicap, 2020 Otaki-Maori Weight for Age, Foxbridge Plate and Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes.
* Bawakalasana the winner of both the Railway and the Telegraph Handicap in 1999.
* Diamond Lover in 1987 who broke the Ellerslie track record, running 1:07.73.
* Imperatriz in 2023, who went on to win multiple group 1 races in Australia.
* Loader, the winner of the Railway and Telegraph Handicap in 1996.
* Mayo Gold in 1970, the first winner to finish under 1:10.
* the great Mr Tiz, who won this race three times (1989-1991), the 1991 Waikato Sprint and the 1989 and 1990 Telegraph Handicap.
* Rizzio, the 1948 and 1949 winner.
* Tudor Light, in 1977.
* Yahabeebe, the 1957 and 1958 winner.
Some of the biggest upsets in the history of the race were in 2009 when Jacowils triumphed at odds of 104-1, and in 2011 when Miss Raggedy Ann won the race as the 86-1 outsider.
In 2014, the exceptional filly Bounding became the first 3-year-old to win the Railway in 33 years.
In 2025 the Railway Stakes was moved from on New Year's Day to the Karaka Million meeting in late January.

## Winners Since 1970

The following are brief details of the previous winners of the Railway Stakes.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer(s) | Time | Second | Third |
| 2025 | Crocetti 56.5 | Warren Kennedy | Danny Walker & Arron Tata | 1:10.22 (soft) | Alabama Lass 52 | Luberon 55 |
| 2024 | Waitak 55 | Warren Kennedy | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott | 1:09.76 (Pukekohe) | Bonny Lass 54 | Mercurial 55 |
| 2023 | Imperatriz 56 | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker | 1:08.90 (Te Rapa) | Babylon Berlin 54 | Levante 57 |
| 2022 | Entriviere 55 | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards, Matamata | 1:09.36 | Levante 55 | Babylon Berlin 53.5 |
| 2021 | Avantage 57 | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards, Matamata | 1:08.91 | Julius 58 | Levante 53.5 |
| 2020 | Julius 56 | Jason Waddell | John Bell, Cambridge | 1:09.70 | Winter Bride | Evalina |
| 2019 | Santa Monica 53 | Trudy Thornton | Stephen Ralph, Te Awamutu | 1:09.47 | Princess Kereru | Melody Belle |
| 2018 | Volpe Veloce 54 | Jake Bayliss | Graham Richardson, Matamata | 1:10.65 | Packing Eagle | Volks Lightning |
| 2017 | Start Wondering 55.5 | Johnathan Parkes | J J & Evan Rayner, Whanganui | 1:08.84 | Perfect Fit | Reilly Lincoln |
| 2016 | Ryan Mark 56 | Opie Bosson | John Morell, Te Rapa | 1:11.04 | Allez Eagle | Natuzzi |
| 2015 | In Style 54 | Leith Innes | Danica Guy, Matamata | 1:10.34 | Whosyourmaster | Durham Town |
| 2014 | Bounding 52 | Mark Du Plessis | Ken & Bev Kelso, Matamata | 1:10.25 | Waterford | Little Wonder |
| 2013 | Fleur de Lune 54 | Jason Jago | Lee Somerville, Cambridge | 1:09.21 | Jetset Lad | Durham Town |
| 2012 | Atomic Force 58 | Nash Rawiller | Gai Waterhouse, Randwick (AUS) | 1:11.57 | The Hombre | Twilight Savings |
| 2011 | Miss Raggedy Ann 53 | Natasha Collett | Andrew Scott, Matamata | 1:09.87 | Atapi | Tip The Wink |
| 2010 | A Gold Trail 57 | Michael Rodd | Gary Portelli, Warwick Farm Racecourse (AUS) | 1:09.34 | Atapi | Richard Beymer |
| 2009 | Jacowils 55.5 | Mark Hills | Kristin Stead, Te Rapa | 1:09.60 | Dashing Donna | Pinsoir |
| 2008 | Imananabaa 54 | Andrew Calder | Don Sellwood, Cambridge | 1:09.04 | Needuask | Brianna |
| 2007 | Donna Rosita 51 | Lisa Cropp | Piri Ranui, Tauranga | 1:09.74 | Gee I Jane | Imananabaa |
| 2006 | Baldessarini 53.5 | Lisa Cropp | Anne Herbert | 1:08.85 | Gee I Jane 55 | Pin Up Boy 52.5 |
| 2005 | Recurring 56 | Hayden Tinsley | Gerald Ryan, Rosehill (AUS) | 1:10.12 | Gee I Jane 51.5 | Sedecrem 56 |
| 2004 | Vinaka | Opie Bosson | Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:08.66 | Pay My Bail | Tully Dane |
| 2003 | Egyptian Raine 52 | Lance O'Sullivan | Kenny Rae, Ruakaka | 1:08.66 | Gwen’s Rules 52 | Marcurous 52 |
| 2002 | Sound The Alarm | Gary Grylls | Richard Otto, Te Aroha | 1:09.97 | Super Impressive | Vinaka |
| 2001 | Fritz 58 | Noel Harris | Neil Coulbeck, Leithfield | 1:10.45 | O’Malleys Boy 58 | Travellin’ Man 56 |
| 2000 | Cannsea 53.5 | Michael Coleman | Michael Moroney & Andrew Scott, Matamata | 1:09.63 | Cullen 51.5 | Star Of Gold 53.5 |
| 1999 | Bawalaksana 50.5 | Chris Munce | Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:09.69 | Dantelah 50 | Vain Ana 54 |
| 1998 | Coogee Walk 51 | Shane Dye | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:08.55 | Rebel 51 | Paint 50 |
| 1997 | Kailey 50.5 | Lisa Cropp | Graham Richardson, Matamata | 1:08.50 | Krispin Klear 55.5 | Coberger 55 |
| 1996 | Loader 52.5 | Chris Johnson | Peter & Dawn Williams | 1:08.83 | Red Cent 52 | So Keen 51 |
| 1995 | Coberger 48.5 | Matthew Williamson | Chris & Jim Gibbs, Matamata | 1:09.74 | Lord Tridan 57 | Ensign Ewart 51.5 |
| 1994 | Ensign Ewart 50.5 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan, Matamata | 1:08.70 | Lord Tridan 53.5 | Delanira 49 |
| 1993 | Hypervain 54 | David Peake | Charlie Faulkner, Takanini | 1:08.42 | Lord Tridan 54 | Hulastrike 51 |
| 1992 | Vain Sovereign 55 | Brian Hibberd | Maurice Campbell, Wanganui | 1:10.68 | Rua Rukuna 55 | Morar 48 |
| 1991 | Mr Tiz 58.5 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:10.28 | Anne Of Stratford 52.75 | Foreign Influence 47.75 |
| 1990 | Mr Tiz 52.5 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:09.83 | Este’s Park 50.5 | Vain Sovereign 51 |
| 1989 (Dead Heat) | Mr Tiz 48.5 | Lisa Cropp | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:10.57 | - | Her Royal Highness 48 |
| 1989 (Dead Heat) | Westminster 54.5 | Maurice Campbell | Ngaire Fraser | 1:10.57 | - | Her Royal Highness 48 |
| 1988 | Alynda 48.5 | Cathrine Treymane | Alan Jones, Cambridge | 1:08.47 | Courier Bay 57.5 | Spring Easy 49.5 |
| 1987 | Diamond Lover 51.75 | Grant Cooksley | Colin Jillings & Richard Yuill, Takanini | 1:07.73 | Courier Bay 53.5 | High Regards 53.5 |
| 1986 | Silver Tip 48 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:08.37 | Wrens Trophy 47.5 | Princess Dram 52 |
| 1985 | Ardee One 47 | Roy McKay | Bill Weal, Te Awamutu | 1:08.63 | War Like 47.5 | Romantic Bay 47.5 |
| 1984 | Pinson 53 | Gary Phillips | Don Couchman, Hawera | 1:09.69 | Flying Dream 47.5 | Ebony Belle 47.5 |
| 1983 | So Dandy 53.5 | David Walsh | Keith Opie, Te Aroha | 1:09.69 | Our Shah 57 | Pia Roona 53 |
| 1982 | Valencia 51.5 | Greg Childs | Jim Gibbs, Matamata | 1:11.34 | Our Shah 53.5 / Kerryman 51 (dead heat) | - |
| 1981 | Gold Hope 49 | David Peake | Ray Verner, Takanini | 1:10.87 | Valencia 51 | Royal Fencer 52.5 |
| 1980 | Arbre Chene 55.5 | Alvin Tweedie | Clive Bennett, Pukekoe | 1:13.2 | Babbling Brooke 53.5 | Luck Roona 52.5 |
| 1979 | Al Donte 49.5 | Rodney Heaslip | Don Sellwood, Hastings | 1:11.31 | Babbling Brooke 53.5 | Lady Belle 56.5 |
| 1978 | Silver Liner 52.5 | Brent Thomson | Eric Ropiha, Woodville | 1:10.58 | Silver Wraith 48 | Sly Wink 50 |
| 1977 | Tudor Light 55.5 | Warwick Robinson | John Malcolm, Te Rapa | 1:11.5 | Blue Blood | Chrisarda |
| 1976 | Marinoto 49.5 | Danny Southworth | F M Walsh, Inglewood | 1:10.9 | Blue Blood 57.5 | Glengarick 50 |
| 1975 | Shifnal Chief 59 | Bob Skelton | I M & J R Cameron, Taupiri | 1:11 | Soliloquy | Blanco Sol |
| 1974 | Blue Blood 50 | David Peake | Ray Verner, Takanini | 1:10 | Sharif 54.5 | Ernader 52.5 |
| 1973 | Lilt 8.13 | Bob Skelton | Ray Bain, Hastings | 1:10 | | |
| 1972 | Ajasco 8.8 | Bruce Marsh | Eric Ropiha, Woodville | 1:12.6 | New Moon | Tauporae |
| 1971 | Sharivari 8.12 | Grenville Hughes | Colin Jillings, Takanini | 1:10 | | Tauporae |
| 1970 | Mayo Gold 8.12 | Brian Andrews | Ray Wallace, Takanini | 1:09.8 | | |