Rowe Cup
| Class | Group I |
|---|---|
| Location | Alexandra Park Auckland, New Zealand |
| Inaugurated | 1918 |
| Race type | Standardbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3200m (2 miles) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Right-handed oval |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Purse | NZ $200,000 (2025) |
The Rowe Cup is a race held annually at Alexandra Park, Auckland, New Zealand for standardbred horses.
The Rowe Cup is run over a distance of 3200 m. Along with the Dominion Handicap raced at Addington Raceway it is one of the major harness races for trotters rather than pacers.[1][2]
The Rowe Cup is currently held in early May on the same night as the Roy Purdon Memorial Handicap (Group 1) for pacers. Previously it was held later in May on the same night as the Auckland Cup and Northern Trotting Derby for 3 year old trotters. In 2024 Australian visitors Greg Sugars and Jess Tubbs won both Cups with Just Believe and Better Eclipse.[3]
Between 1918 and 1971 it was raced in December.
Records
[edit]Most wins:
- 3 - Lyell Creek (2000, 2001, 2004)
Most wins by a driver:
- 6 - Tony Herlihy (1991, 1997, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2022)
- 5 - Peter Wolfenden (1960, 1968, 1969, 1977, 1980)
- 4 - Anthony Butt (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
- 4 - Maurice McKendry (1986, 1992, 1993, 2008)
- 4 - J T Paul (1926, 1927, 1935, 1936)
- 4 - R Young (1946, 1949, 1950, 1952)
- 3 - M F Holmes (1956, 1959, 1961)
- 3 - L J Mahoney (1938, 1939, 1941)
- 3 - W Orange (1920, 1922, 1923)
Winners list
[edit]The following are winners of the Rowe Cup:[4]
| Year |
Horse |
Hcp |
Owner(s) |
Driver |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bet N Win[5] | fr (1) | Odds On Syndicate, P I Baken, R Cole, P I & G J Kennard Bloodstock Limited, Breckon Racing Syndicate, Mrs M J White, C J Markham, A Di lorio, Est W A Ramsay, P I Marriott | Bob Butt | 4:06:5 |
| 2024 | Just Believe | fr (6) | Iona Trotter Syndicate | Greg Sugars[6] | 4:06.1 |
| 2023 | Love N The Port | fr (1) | K P Ussher & Mrs S E White | Matthew Williamson | 4:06.84 |
| 2022 | Bolt For Brilliance[7] | fr (2) | Mrs S Herlihy, D I Donaldson, P J Hailes, Mrs J M Mathews | Tony Herlihy | 4:01.24 |
| 2021 | Sundees Son | fr | C W Hair & Mrs N L Hair | John Dunn | 4:06.61 |
| 2020 | not raced | ||||
| 2019 | Sundees Son | fr | C W Hair & Mrs N L Hair | John Dunn | 4:06.2 |
| 2018 | Speeding Spur | fr | Woodlands Partnership, Kieran Read, Andy Ellis, R J Taylor, D Hewett | Joshua Dickie | 4:08.2 |
| 2017 | Temporale | fr | D P Biddlecombe, D I Donaldson, Mrs S Herlihy, K J Riseley | Tony Herlihy[8] | 4:07.9 |
| 2016 | Monbet | fr | G P Hope, Mrs N M Hope, M J Molloy | Ricky May | 4:06.3 |
| 2015 | Stent | fr | T G Casey | Colin DeFilippi | 4:03.6 |
| 2014 | Master Lavros | fr | Kypros Kotzikas | Mark Jones | 4:06.4 |
| 2013 | Stig | fr | T G Butt, Mrs Andrea Butt, J S Boyd, Mrs R I Boyd, R G Thomas, Ms J A Gordon | David Butt | 4:06.1 |
| 2012 | I Can Doosit | fr | Fr N N Botica | Mark Purdon | 4:05.0 |
| 2011 | I Can Doosit | fr | Fr N N Botica | Mark Purdon | 4:08.2 |
| 2010 | Sundon's Gift | fr | Fr N N Botica | Chris Lang | 4:08.5 |
| 2009 | One Over Kenny | fr | Fr L E Williams, Mrs H R Williams | Tony Herlihy | 4:07.0 |
| 2008 | Our Sunny Whiz | fr | R A, R M & K A Southey, Mrs S D Lean | Maurice McKendry | 4:12.4 |
| 2007 | One Over Kenny | fr | L E & Mrs. H R Williams | Tony Herlihy | 4:09.0 |
| 2006 | Inspire | fr | Red And White Syndicate, R G H Thomson, G J & P C Nairn | Paul Nairn | 4:13.0 |
| 2005 | Martina H | fr | K D Marr, I D Malcolm, Derek Balle | Derek Balle | 4:09.4 |
| 2004 | Lyell Creek | fr | Mrs K L Butt, Graham Bruton,[9] The Creek Syndicate | Anthony Butt | 4:07.7 |
| 2003 | Take A Moment | fr | Long Drive Syndicate | Anthony Butt | 4:08.0 |
| 2002 | La Coocaracha[10] | 15 m | L J & S Christou/B Meani/G Meani | Kerryn Manning | 4:05.3 |
| 2001 | Lyell Creek | 15 m | A M Butt, Graham Bruton, The Creek Syndicate | Anthony Butt | 4:06.0 |
| 2000 | Lyell Creek | 15 m | Graham Bruton | Anthony Butt | 4:05.8 |
| 1999 | Mountain Gold | fr | The Dual Code Syndicate | Barry Purdon | 4:13.8 |
| 1998 | Merinai | 10 m | J F Bedwell, Miss A M Bedwell, Mrs M E Hill | James Stormont | 4:08.6 |
| 1997 | Eastburn Grant | fr | L A Barnett | Ken Barron | 4:08.8 |
| 1996 | Wagon Apollo | fr | N G Aitken, D V Lang | Graeme Lang | 4:09.5 |
| 1995 | So Long Eden | fr | Ms M J Millar, W J Bishop | Colin De Filippi | 4:06.7 |
| 1994 | Diamond Field | 10 m | Southland St'Breds No 2 Syndicate | Tony Herlihy | 4:15.6 |
| 1993 | David Moss | fr | Est H W Cox, O Andersen | Maurice McKendry | 4:09.8 |
| 1992 | Directorship | fr | Classic Nine Syndicate | Maurice McKendry | 4:13.5 |
| 1991 | Gee du Jour | fr | A D Cain, S J Adlam, J A Lischner | Tony Herlihy | 4:12.3 |
| 1990 | Idle Scott | fr | R F Hunt, M K Chubb, G R Mason, D K Gibbons | Dave Gibbons | 4:10.8 |
| 1989 | Yankee Loch | fr | D K Gibson, Mrs R M Gibson | Jim Curtin | 4:14.0 |
| 1988 | Highwood | fr | W E Stapleton, L J Hanrahan | Ricky May | 4:14.4 |
| 1987 | Landora's Pride | fr | C T Allingham, Mrs V M Allingham | John Langdon | 4:12.8 |
| 1986 | Mairo Sultan | Fr | K Miller, Mrs J P Miller | Maurice McKendry | 4:19.3 |
| 1985 | Tussle | fr | Dr C H G Irvine | Peter N Jones | 4:20.6 |
| 1984 | Jenner | fr | Kenwood Syndicate | John Langdon | 4:13.6 |
| 1983 | Sir Castleton | fr | M S MacPherson | Patrick G O'Reilly jnr | 4:17.0 |
| 1982 | Stormy Morn | 15m | P G Moore | A J (Tony) Perucich | 4:25.3 |
| 1981 | No Response | 10m | F T N Black | Richard J Brosnan | 4:18.2 |
| 1980 | Special Pride | fr | P J & Mrs M C Harnett | Peter Wolfenden | 4:24.6 |
| 1979 | Even Speed | fr | I H Langford & Dr B W Nixon | Wes Butt | 4:22.0 |
| 1978 | Ritch Hill | fr | E W & T R Running | Bruce Running | 4:21.0 |
| 1977 | Framalda | 10m | A L Daly & F L H Mooney | Peter Wolfenden | 4:17.9 |
| 1976 | Easton Light | 40m | E W & T R Running | Bruce Running | 4:19.4 |
| 1975 | Robyn Evander | fr | P Butterworth & J E Smith | Jim Smith | 4:22.5 |
| 1974 | Cee Ar | fr | R H De Filippi & V Ford | Denis Nyhan | 4:17.3 |
| 1973 | Miss Debra | 12 yds | J R Longville, V Nicholson & G Wood | H P (Paddy) Timmins | 4:25.8 |
| 1971 | Paulette | scr | A Gibbon | Dave Gibbons | 4:36.4 |
| 1970 | Global Hall | scr | R D Butt & E Gaffaney | Robin D Butt | 4:18.6 |
| 1969 | Single Cash | 30 yds | S R Landon & L E B File | Peter Wolfenden | 4:19.2 |
| 1968 | Single Cash | 12 yds | S R Landon & L E B File | Peter Wolfenden | 4:22.4 |
| 1967 | Mountain Pride | scr | J E Smith & Estate L J Ashworth | Jim Smith | 4:23.4 |
| 1966 | Scotleigh | scr | C R Griffin | Cecil R Griffin | 4:21.4 |
| 1965 | Astralight | 12 yds | W F Woolley | Jack Carmichael | 4:25.0 |
| 1964 | Dreaming | scr | A H Edge | Colin McDonald | 4:23.0 |
| 1963 | Pohutukawa | 24 yds | R J & G M Oliver | Doody Townley | 4:18.6 |
| 1962 | Pohutukawa | 36 yds | R J & G M Oliver | Robert J Oliver | 4:21.6 |
| 1961 | Ordeal | 78 yds | Mrs L M Bradley | M Holmes | 4:14.0 |
| 1960 | Jewel Derby | 72 yds | E C Parker | Peter Wolfenden | 4:27.0 |
| 1959 | Recruit | 78 yds | J J Rooney | M Holmes | 4:24.8 |
| 1958 | Battle Cry | 72 yds | Mrs & E S Baxter | Wes Butt | 4:21.2 |
| 1957 | Tapuwae | scr | Mrs M Adam | Lawrence Greenaway | 4:32.8 |
| 1956 | Recruit | 132 yds | J Rooney | M Holmes | 4:20.4 |
| 1955 | Indian Parrish | 12 yds | A Ogilvie | O Nicholas | 4:31.6 |
| 1954 | Quick Silver | 24 yds | Mrs J N Oliver | W K Tatterson | 4:30.4 |
| 1953 | Rewa Scott | 36 yds | W A Craddock & R Curragh | D Jones | 4:27.0 |
| 1952 | Indomitable | scr | W E Hyslop | R Young | 4:30.6 |
| 1951 | Fair Isle | 36 yds | V Alborn & E J August | V Alborn | 4:27.6 |
| 1950 | Gay Belwyn | 60 yds | Mrs E A Berryman | R Young | 4:30.6 |
| 1949 | Single Task | 12 yds | Brownson Bros | R Young | 4:26.0 |
| 1948 | Bellisima | 72 yds | W E Sticking | C R Berkett | 4:44.0 |
| 1947 | Noble Star | scr | J Mearn | A W Broughton | 4:32.0 |
| 1946 | Aerial Scott | 24 yds | J Spier | R Young | 4:45.0 |
| 1945 | Casablanca | 72 yds | S T Webster | J B Pringle | 4:34.0 |
| 1944 | Fantom[11] | 24 yds | J R McKenzie | G B Noble | 4:33.0 |
| 1943 | Douglas McElwyn | 36 yds | L F Berkett | L F Berkett | 4:33.6 |
| 1942 | Fantom | scr | J R McKenzie | G B Noble | 4:35.4 |
| 1941 | Jimmy Drusus | scr | P V Flexman | L J Mahoney | 4:42.0 |
| 1940 | Margin | scr | C Moran | C Moran | 4:40.0 |
| 1939 | Gay Moko | 36 yds | J Mahoney | L J Mahoney | 4:41.4 |
| 1938 | Pirate's Last | 60 yds | J Mahoney | L J Mahoney | 4:39.2 |
| 1937 | Parrish Belle | 36 yds | A G Pillinger | A G Pillinger | 4:34.6 |
| 1936 | Great Admiral | 48 yds | J T Paul | J T Paul | 4:33.0 |
| 1935 | Great Admiral | 60 yds | J T Paul | J T Paul | 4:36.0 |
| 1934 | Nell Volo | 108 yds | F J Smith | F J Smith | 4:26.4 |
| 1933 | Nell Volo | scr | F J Smith | F J Smith | 4:41.0 |
| 1932 | Garner | scr | E C McDermot | E C McDermott | 3:27.0 (1.5 miles) |
| 1931 | Surprise Journey | 96 yds | G J Barton | W J Tomkinson | 4:32.6 |
| 1930 | Raima | 24 yds | J H Lloyd | J A Gerrard | 4:34.0 |
| 1929 | Raima | scr | J H Lloyd | J J Kennerly | 4:45.2 |
| 1928 | Kempton | scr | Mrs E Berryman | C S Donald | 4:40.4 |
| 1927 | Waikaha | 12 yds | J T Paul | J T Paul | 4:36.6 |
| 1926 | Waikaha | 24 yds | J T Paul | J T Paul | 4:37.8 |
| 1925 | Rose Bingen | 36 yds | C Johnstone | W Willietts | 4:36.0 |
| 1924 | Pyramus | 24 yds | F J Rayner | A J Julian | 4:44.4 |
| 1923 | Mutu | scr | A W Jones | W Orange | 4:44.0 |
| 1922 | Aerial Bingen | 36 yds | J Pettie | W Orange | 4:45.8 |
| 1921 | Native King | 24 yds | B Shadbolt | B Shadbolt Jnr | 4:46.0 |
| 1920 | Grattan Abbey | scr | W Orange | W Orange | 4:48.0 |
| 1919 | Bluewood | scr | R M Morten | J Bryce | 4:54.6 |
| 1918 | Whist | 48 yds | J R Corrigan | A Adams | 4:48.4 |
Other major races
[edit]- Dominion Handicap
- Inter Dominion Trotting Championship
- Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
- Auckland Trotting Cup
- New Zealand Trotting Cup
- Great Northern Derby
- Noel J Taylor Mile
- New Zealand Messenger
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Guerin, Michael (28 April 2009). "Racing: Trotting queen faces full Rowe Cup field". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ "GOLD N GOLD ARRIVES IN AUCKLAND". www.harnesslink.com.
- ^ "Greg Sugars grabs Rowe Cup - Auckland Cup double at Alexandra Park". www.hrnz.co.nz.
- ^ "HRNZ Rowe Cup results".
- ^ Stewart, Bruce (May 3, 2025). "Fitting win for Bet N Win in big $200,000 trot - Harnesslink".
- ^ HRNZ, Michael Guerin for. "Two Cups end a successful New Zealand odyssey for team Larajay". Harness Racing Victoria.
- ^ "Big upset in $250,000 Rowe Cup - Harnesslink". 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Tony Herlihy takes out fifth Rowe Cup with peach of a drive". 28 April 2017.
- ^ "Wild ride of gambler who ran - New Zealand News". NZ Herald. May 2, 2025.
- ^ "Australasian Grand Circuit - Stories 2001/2002 - NZ Rowe Cup". www.harness.org.au.
- ^ "Fantom's Rowe Cup double in the 1940s". www.hrnz.co.nz.