Auckland Cup

Auckland Cup

Group Two Betting Guide
Date: March 8, 2025
Location: Ellerslie Racecourse
Prize Money: $500,000
Distance: 3200m

Staying races are big news in New Zealand and the time honoured Group 2 Auckland Cup ranks highly in the local industry.

The 3200m staying event is the flagship race during Auckland Cup Week in March and although the purse has dropped to $500,000 – and from 2022 it is no longer a Group one, it remains one of the must-win races on the New Zealand Racing calendar.

With recent past winners including Melbourne Cup winner Jezabeel, top four-year-old Sangster and multiple Melbourne Cup entrant Who Shot The Barman – it’s a race to win on the world stage and New Zealand stayers have a great record when they travel to Australia and the rest of the world.

The history goes back further with wins coming from Castletown, Kindergarten and Cuddle. Which talented staying thoroughbred will be next to take out New Zealand’s premier distance event?


2025 Auckland Cup betting odds

Odds for the 2025 Auckland Cup are currently unavailable.


Top Auckland Cup bookmakers

The Auckland Cup generates betting interest from the likes of Australian, Japanese and Hong Kong punters, so bookmakers know how important framing an early market can be.

Popular races like the Auckland Cup are attractive to futures punters who are hoping to lock in the big value on offer. Bookmakers will also offer fixed odds win and place markets when the field is confirmed.

The bookmakers listed below have markets available for the Auckland Cup. If there are no odds listed, bookmakers can be contacted and odds on your desired runner will be given.

United States Sport Table

Sport Table


Latest Auckland Cup news

Mahrajaan Auckland Cup
New Zealand Cup winner Mahrajaan earned himself a special place in New Zealand racing history by adding Saturday’s Group 2 ...
Kylie Williams
A difficult search for a lightweight jockey for Waisake in Saturday’s Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) led Allan Sharrock to ...
Strong tempo ideal for Cup hope Mahrajaan
A genuinely run Group 2 Auckland Cup will bring out the best in proven stayer Mahrajaan on Saturday when he ...
Asterix back to his best ahead of Auckland Cup
Wexford Stables have fond memories at Ellerslie with Asterix, and they are hoping to add more when they head to ...
Whangaehu
Whangaehu has taken a significantly different route to the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) than Bill Thurlow’s last contender Glory ...
Trust In You
Trust In You will have his second look at Ellerslie on Saturday before he returns to the Auckland track seven ...

2025 Auckland Cup Field

HorseBetting will update this page when the 2025 Auckland Cup final field is released.


Previous Auckland Cup fields

Check out the previous Auckland Cup fields here.

  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Prise De Fer
    Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
    Jonathan Riddell
    6
    57kg
    2 Silks
    Dionysus
    Roger James & Robert Wellwood
    Masa Hashizume
    13
    55kg
    3 Silks
    Trust In You
    Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley
    Michael McNab
    11
    54kg
    4 Silks
    Mahrajaan
    Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray
    Sam Weatherley
    3
    54kg
    5 Silks
    Ocean Billy
    Bill Pomare
    Jasmine Fawcett
    15
    54kg
    6 Silks
    Asterix
    Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
    Lynsey Satherley
    7
    53kg
    7 Silks
    Fierce Flight
    Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
    Joe Doyle
    2
    53kg
    8 Silks
    Terra Mitica
    Lance Noble
    Warren Kennedy
    20
    52.5kg
    9 Silks
    Nest Egg
    Stephen Marsh
    Kozzi Asano
    9
    52.5kg
    10 Silks
    Uareastar
    Fraser Auret
    Courtney Barnes
    19
    52kg
    11 Silks
    Good Oil
    Andrew Forsman
    Sam Spratt
    18
    52kg
    12 Silks
    Khan Hunter
    Antony Fuller
    Darren Danis
    12
    52kg
    13 Silks
    Roger That
    Antony Fuller
    Ulrika Holmquist
    16
    52kg
    14 Silks
    Waisake
    Allan Sharrock
    Kylie Williams
    14
    52kg
    15 Silks
    Canheroc
    Chris Wood
    Kelly Myers
    17
    52kg
    16 Silks
    Mark Twain
    Roger James & Robert Wellwood
    Matthew Cameron
    10
    52kg
    17 Silks
    Whangaehu
    Bill Thurlow
    Lisa Allpress
    4
    52kg
    18 Silks
    My Maebelline Girl
    Kylie Little
    Tegan Newman
    1
    52kg
    19 Silks
    Queen Sarabi (1E)
    Amy Doran
    TBC
    8
    52kg
    20 Silks
    Kiwi Man (2E)
    Debbie Sweeney
    TBC
    5
    52kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Ladies Man
    Allan Sharrock
    Craig Grylls
    10
    56kg
    2 Silks
    Dionysus
    Roger James & Robert Wellwood
    Michael McNab
    7
    56kg
    3 Silks
    Lincoln King
    Stephen Marsh
    Opie Bosson
    5
    56kg
    4 Silks
    Leaderboard
    Mark Walker
    Joe Doyle
    9
    56kg
    5 Silks
    Roger That
    Anthony Fuller
    Lynsey Satherley
    2
    55.5kg
    6 Silks
    Nerve Not Verve
    Mike Moroney & Pam Gerard
    Jake Bayliss
    12
    55kg
    7 Silks
    Platinum Invador
    Lisa Latta
    Ryan Elliot
    6
    55kg
    8 Silks
    Hinepara
    Josh Shaw
    Ashvin Goindasamy
    3
    55kg
    9 Silks
    Dunhill
    Kelvin Tyler & Aimee Tyler
    Jasmine Fawcett
    11
    55kg
    10 Silks
    Daytona Red
    Nicholas Bishara
    Masa Hashizume
    4
    55kg
    11 Silks
    Super Sid
    Darren Hollinshead
    Kate Hercock
    1
    55kg
    12 Silks
    Ata Rangi
    John Bell
    Kozzi Asano
    14
    55kg
    13 Silks
    Aquacade
    Lance Noble
    Warren Kennedy
    13
    53kg
    14 Silks
    Soprano Supreme
    Mark Walker
    Wiremu Pinn
    8
    53kg

2024 Auckland Cup result


1stMahrajaan (+2200)
2ndGood Oil (+390)
3rdMark Twain (+110)

Recent Auckland Cup winners

  • Four months after his triumph in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton, Mahrajaan earned himself a special place in New Zealand racing history by adding the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie. Mahrajaan became only the third horse to ever win the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup in the same season, and the first to do so in more than six decades. The other members of this exclusive group are Lochiel (1887-88), Cuddle (1935-36) and Stipulate (1962-63). Ridden by his New Zealand Cup-winning jockey Sam Weatherley, Mahrajaan enjoyed a perfect run in fifth along the rail as the expected leader My Maebelline Girl set a solid pace out in front. The field packed up coming down the side of the track and approaching the home turn, and Weatherley was able to get away from the rail and into clear air on the outside of My Maebelline Girl, Good Oil and Whangaehu. Good Oil produced a strong kick at the top of the straight to take command, but Mahrajaan moved through his gears and launched an irresistible finish wider out on the track. He swept to the lead at the 50m mark and edged ahead of a brave Good Oil to win by three-quarters of a length. The lightly raced Mark Twain flashed home for an eye-catching third.
  • It was the case of third time lucky for the Lisa Latta-trained stayer Platinum Invador, who upset calculations in the 2023 Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) to register a deserved big race success. The seven-year-old son of Redwood had previously placed fourth in the race in 2021 behind Oceana Billy after filling third place behind Saturday’s race rival, Roger That a year earlier. Sent to Queensland during the winter of 2021, when prepared by Barry Lockwood, Platinum Invador suffered an injury that saw him off the scene for over a year and he has slowly made his way back to full fitness since resuming in November last year. Latta had poured the work into her charge after he finished an encouraging fifth in the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m) on the track a fortnight ago and that worked the oracle as rider Ryan Elliot set him alight from midfield at the 600m, to swoop down the outer of the track and collar game mare Nerve Not Verve in the shadows of the post.
  • Apprentice Wiremu Pinn added another highlight to his burgeoning riding career when he produced a daring ride aboard Marton visitor Uareastar to take out the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie. Pinn, who has had a chequered-start to his apprenticeship and only recently returned from a lengthy suspension, had registered his first Group One victory just the month prior when guiding Mascarpone to victory in the Group 1 WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki. He has now added the feature two-mile race to his achievements, taking the bull by the horns when making a mid-race move to get handy to the pace on the Fraser Auret-trained five-year-old mare, which proved the winning of the race. From barrier 16, Uareastar raced back with cover early, but under a calculated Pinn ride eased forward down the back straight to join pacemaker He No Opilio. Urged to the front with 600m to run, Uareastar shot three lengths clear rounding the home turn as race favourites Concert Hall and Sound began to hunt her down. Despite wandering around under pressure over the concluding stages, the daughter of Jakkalberry clung gamely to the lead, outlasting Concert Hall by a neck with Sound a length back in third.
  • On the back of a positive ride from Jonathan Parkes, it was the Bill Pomare-trained Ocean Billy who raced away with the 2021 Auckland Cup. Having needed to travel three wide with cover, Parkes made his move 800m out from home to send the five-year-old son of Ocean Park to the front. He managed to hit the lead on the home turn and kept kicking throughout the home straight to go on and win in impressive fashion and in the process went on to book his spot in both the Caulfield Cup & Melbourne Cup later in the year.
  • Not many gave the Anthony Fuller-trained Roger That much of a chance leading into the 2020 Auckland Cup, but Roger That managed to take out the Cup at a massive price. Having hit the front on the home turn, the seven-year-old son of Shinko King had market fancies Sound and Platinum Invador breathing down his neck. However, under Samantha Collett, Roger That kept finding throughout the home straight to land victory as a $41 chance and hand Collett her second successive Auckland Cup victory.
  • In a sensational staying performance Glory Days delivered Sam Collett’s maiden win at Group 1 level. Staying on strongly throughout the run Glory Days hit the front midway down the straight and sustained to the line, holding out last year’s runner up Five To Midnight.
  • It was a famous victory for Ladies First in 2018, gripping on for a gritty win. In one of the closest margins in the race’s history, Five to Midnight surged to the line to almost topple the winner, whose trainer Lisa Latta even thought had been beaten. Ladies First clung on however in a photo finish.
  • Chenille justified its favouritism in 2017 when scoring an impressive victory. The Tony Pike-trained runner was well-found in the betting markets and punters came away happy with the result. A couple of long shot chances filled the placings which made for improved pay outs from bookmakers. It wasn’t the typical Auckland Cup field which included Melbourne Cup-type runners, but the winner was a class above the rest.
  • El Soldado caused the biggest Auckland Cup upset of all time when winning at odds of $125. The nine-year-old turned back the clock in what was massive win for connections and bookmakers. Most of the money came for Sacred Master and the well-performed Benzini, but a steady ride from Darryl Bradley was enough to see the old boy home at Ellerslie. Future Melbourne Cup entrant Rose Of Virginia finished in second at odds of $6.10 to place and favourite Sacred Master was a further length behind.
  • Rock Diva continued its success on Auckland Cup Day, having won the McKee Sunline Vase the year prior on the same day. The Tony Pike-trained mare ran as the $4.90 favourite with bookmakers and it was able to find the advantage of the line in holding off King Kamada by just under a length. There were no superstars in behind the daughter of Lucky Unicorn, but the Raffles-owned runner got the job done nicely.
  • Who Shot Thebarman was a short-priced favourite when winning the Auckland Cup in 2014. The talented Mark Oulaghan-trained gelding showed its class when winning by a length and bigger and better things would later come in Australia. The son of Yamanin Vital paid $2.50 with bookmakers which was one of the shortest-priced winner in recent history and the trifecta of $132.30 was also one of the lowest in history. Celtic Prince and More Than Sacred ran on into the placings with Travolta and Australian jockey Nash Rawiller finishing fourth.
  • Sangster justified its $2 favouritism tag when winning by 2.25 lengths. The Busuttin/Young-trained son of Savabeel put the training duo on the map by scoring an easy Auckland Cup victory. The classy gelding never looked like being beaten against a field lacking the top notch form. El Soldado finished second at place odds of $17 and Chaparrone, with Craig Williams in the saddle, finished off well for third. The dominant win was one of the best in Auckland Cup history.
  • Shez Sinsational was just that in 2012 when winning in a driving finish. The Allan Sharrock-trained mare launched late down the outside with James McDonald in the saddle to score by a long head over Spiro and Six O’Clock News. The four-year-old by Ekraar was well-backed into $3.20 after showing good ability throughout the summer and it was able to handle the likes of Booming which had Hugh Bowman in the saddle. The turn-of-foot shown by Shez Sinsational was one of the best in the races’ history.

Past Auckland Cup winners

Auckland Cup Past Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2024 Mahrajaan Sam Weatherley Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray
2023 Platinum Invador Ryan Elliot Lisa Latta
2022 Uareastar Wiremu Pinn Fraser Auret
2021 Ocean Billy Jonathan Parkes Bob Pomare
2020 Roger That Samantha Collett Anthony Fuller
2019 Glory Days Samantha Collett Bill Thurlow
2018 Ladies First Jonathan Parkes Allan Sharrock
2017 Chenille Leith Innes Tony Pike
2016 El Soldado Darryl Bradley Phillip Devcich
2015 Rock Diva Mark Du Plessis Tony Pike
2014 Who Shot Thebarman Matt Cameron Mark Oulaghan
2013 Sangster Opie Bosson Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
2012 Shez Sinsational James McDonald Allan Sharrock
2011 Titch Opie Bosson Kevin Myers
2010 Zavite Damien Oliver Anthony Cummings
2009 Spin Around Vinnie Colgan Steven Cooper
2008 Prize Lady Mark Sweeney Graeme & Mark Sanders
2007 Prize Lady Mark Du Plessis Graeme Sanders & Debbie Sweeney
2006 Pentane Michael Walker Lance O’Sullivan
2005 Bazelle Mark Du Plessis Paul Jenkins
2004 Upsetthym Gemma Sliz Karen Fursdon
2003 Bodie Noel Harris Neil Connors
2002 Maguire Scott Seamer John Collins
2001 Our Unicorn Michael Coleman Alan Jones & Brett Macdonald
2000 Able Master Grant Cooksley Bruce Wallace

Auckland Cup Past Winners Pre 2000

Auckland Cup Past Winners Pre 2000
Year Horse
1999 Irish Chance
1998 Jezabeel
1997 Yobro
1996 Senator
1995 Royal Tiara
1994 Mitak
1993 Ligeiro
1992 Castletown
1991 Star Harvest
1990 Miss Stanima
1989 Spyglass
1988 Sea Swift
1987 Kotare Chief
1986 Kerry Lane
1985 Secured Deposit
1984 Stylish Dude
1983 Foutnaincourt
1982 Chimbu
1981 Drum
1980 My Blue Denim
1979 Tamboura
1978 Stylemaster
1977 Royal Cadenza
1976 Perhaps
1975 Kia Maia
1974 Rose Mellay
1973 Apollo Eleven
1972 Sailing Home
1971 Artifice
1970 Il Tempo
1969 Il Tempo
1968 Bright Chief
1967 Royal Sheen
1966 Apa
1965 Lucky Son
1964 Senor
1963 Stipulate
1962 Floutulla
1961 Ruato
1960 Marie Brizard
1959 Froth
1958 Red Eagle
1957 Race Not Held
1956 Yeman
1955 Tesla
1954 Arawa
1953 Coaltown
1952 Rev
1951 Classowa
1950 Beaumaris
1949 Swanee
1948 Frances
1947 Balgowan
1946 Sylis
1945 Expanse
1944 Foxwyn
1943 Lord Chancellor
1942 Kindergarten
1941 Piastre
1940 Beau Vite
1939 Cheval de Volee
1938 Cheval de Volee
1937 The Buzzer
1936 Cuddle
1935 Cuddle
1934 Gold Trail
1933 Minerval
1932 Fast Passage
1931 Admiral Drake
1930 Motere
1929 Concentrate
1928 Corinax
1927 Rapier
1926 Tanadees
1925 Rapine
1924 Te Kara
1923 Muraahi
1922 Scion
1921 Malaga
1920 Starland
1919 Karo
1918 Mascot
1917 Fiery Cross
1916 Depredation
1915 Balboa
1914 Warstep
1913 Sir Solo
1912 Bobrikoff
1911 Santa Rosa
1910 Waimangu
1909 All Red
1908 All Red
1907 Zimmerman
1906 Master Delaval
1905 Putty
1904 Mahutonga
1903 Wairiki
1902 Siege Gun
1901 St. Michael
1900 Blue Jacket
1899 Blue Jacket
1898 Uhlan
1897 Antares
1896 Nestor
1895 Anita
1894 Lottie
1893 Pegasus
1892 St. Hippo
1891 Pinfire
1890 Crackshot
1889 Leopold
1888 Lochiel
1887 Nelson
1886 Nelson
1885 Nelson
1884 The Poet
1883 Savage
1882 Welcome Jack
1881 King Quail
1880 Foul Play
1879 Ariel
1878 Ariel
1877 Lara
1876 Ariel
1875 Kingfisher
1874 Templeton

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