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.

Railway Stakes

Class	Group I
Location	Ellerslie Racecourse Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated	1890
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.ellerslie.co.nz
Race information
Distance	1200m (6 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Right-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds and up
Weight	Set Weights & Penalties
Purse	NZ$700,000 (2025)

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.^[1]

Winners Since 1970

The following are brief details of the previous winners^[2] of the Railway Stakes.^[3]

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer(s)	Time	Second	Third
2025[4]	Crocetti 56.5	Warren Kennedy[5]	Danny Walker & Arron Tata	1:10.22 (soft)	Alabama Lass 52	Luberon 55
2024[6]	Waitak 55	Warren Kennedy	Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott	1:09.76 (Pukekohe)	Bonny Lass 54	Mercurial 55
2023[7]	Imperatriz 56	Opie Bosson	Mark Walker	1:08.90 (Te Rapa)	Babylon Berlin 54	Levante 57
2022[8]	Entriviere 55	Opie Bosson	Jamie Richards, Matamata	1:09.36	Levante 55	Babylon Berlin 53.5
2021[9]	Avantage 57	Opie Bosson	Jamie Richards, Matamata	1:08.91	Julius 58	Levante 53.5
2020[10]	Julius[11] 56	Jason Waddell[12]	John Bell, Cambridge	1:09.70	Winter Bride	Evalina
2019[13]	Santa Monica 53 [14]	Trudy Thornton	Stephen Ralph, Te Awamutu	1:09.47	Princess Kereru	Melody Belle
2018[15][16]	Volpe Veloce 54 [17]	Jake Bayliss	Graham Richardson, Matamata	1:10.65	Packing Eagle	Volks Lightning
2017[18][19]	Start Wondering 55.5	Johnathan Parkes	J J & Evan Rayner, Whanganui	1:08.84	Perfect Fit	Reilly Lincoln
2016[20]	Ryan Mark 56 [21]	Opie Bosson	John Morell, Te Rapa	1:11.04	Allez Eagle	Natuzzi
2015[22]	In Style 54	Leith Innes	Danica Guy, Matamata	1:10.34	Whosyourmaster	Durham Town
2014[23]	Bounding [24] 52	Mark Du Plessis	Ken & Bev Kelso, Matamata	1:10.25	Waterford	Little Wonder
2013[25]	Fleur de Lune 54	Jason Jago	Lee Somerville, Cambridge	1:09.21	Jetset Lad	Durham Town
2012[26]	Atomic Force 58	Nash Rawiller	Gai Waterhouse, Randwick (AUS)	1:11.57	The Hombre	Twilight Savings
2011[27]	Miss Raggedy Ann 53	Natasha Collett	Andrew Scott, Matamata	1:09.87	Atapi	Tip The Wink
2010[28]	A Gold Trail 57	Michael Rodd	Gary Portelli, Warwick Farm Racecourse (AUS)	1:09.34	Atapi	Richard Beymer
2009[29]	Jacowils 55.5	Mark Hills	Kristin Stead, Te Rapa	1:09.60	Dashing Donna	Pinsoir
2008[30][31]	Imananabaa 54	Andrew Calder	Don Sellwood, Cambridge	1:09.04	Needuask	Brianna
2007[32]	Donna Rosita 51	Lisa Cropp	Piri Ranui, Tauranga	1:09.74	Gee I Jane	Imananabaa
2006[33]	Baldessarini 53.5	Lisa Cropp	Anne Herbert	1:08.85	Gee I Jane 55	Pin Up Boy 52.5
2005[34]	Recurring 56	Hayden Tinsley	Gerald Ryan, Rosehill (AUS)	1:10.12	Gee I Jane 51.5	Sedecrem 56
2004[35]	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[36]	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[37]	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[38]	Coberger 48.5	Matthew Williamson	Chris & Jim Gibbs, Matamata	1:09.74	Lord Tridan 57	Ensign Ewart 51.5
1994[39]	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[40]	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[41]	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[42]	Ardee One 47	Roy McKay	Bill Weal, Te Awamutu	1:08.63	War Like 47.5	Romantic Bay 47.5
1984[43]	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[44]	Valencia 51.5	Greg Childs	Jim Gibbs, Matamata	1:11.34	Our Shah 53.5 / Kerryman 51 (dead heat)	-
1981[45]	Gold Hope 49	David Peake	Ray Verner, Takanini	1:10.87	Valencia 51	Royal Fencer 52.5
1980 [46]	Arbre Chene 55.5	Alvin Tweedie	Clive Bennett, Pukekoe	1:13.2	Babbling Brooke 53.5	Luck Roona 52.5
1979[47]	Al Donte 49.5	Rodney Heaslip	Don Sellwood, Hastings	1:11.31	Babbling Brooke 53.5	Lady Belle 56.5
1978 [48]	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 [49]	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[50] 8.12	Brian Andrews	Ray Wallace, Takanini[51]	1:09.8

See also

• Recent winners of major NZ sprint races
• Telegraph Handicap
• Waikato Sprint
• Auckland Cup
• Zabeel Classic

References

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• Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips
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