Herbie Dyke Stakes
Herbie Dyke Stakes
Group One Betting Guide
| Date: | February 8, 2025 |
| Location: | Te Rapa Racecourse |
| Prize Money: | $550,000 |
| Distance: | 2000m |
The Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) is the richest weight-for-age race in New Zealand, offering up a prize pool of NZ$400,000.
Formerly known as the New Zealand International Stakes, the race is run on the same day as the Waikato Sprint, making it two weight-for-age Group 1 events at the one meeting.
With the likes of Cox Plate winner Bonecrusher (1986), Captain Cook (1992) and Sangster (2013) on the honour roll, the Herbie Dyke Stakes is quickly growing in popularity.
2025 Herbie Dyke Stakes betting odds
Odds are not available for the 2025 Herbie Dyke Stakes.
Top Herbie Dyke Stakes bookmakers
The Herbie Dyke Stakes 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 Herbie Dyke Stakes 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 online bookmakers listed below have markets available for the Herbie Dyke Stakes. If there are no odds listed, bookmakers can be contacted and odds on your desired runner will be given.
Best Herbie Dyke Stakes Bookies
Latest Herbie Dyke Stakes News
Ken and Bev Kelso have long believed Legarto had the potential to excel over 2000m, and their stable star proved ...
Skyman will be aiming to record his first New Zealand win when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to ...
The good times are rolling for Roger James and Robert Wellwood and further feature race success beckons the duo at ...
Roger James is hoping for a repeat performance from Zabmanzor in the Central Districts, when the colt contests Saturday’s Group ...
Well-performed former Sydney galloper Skyman pleased his connections when stepping out for his first New Zealand outing at Tauranga on ...
Time has been called on the racing career of Group One Herbie Dyke Stakes winner On The Rocks, following a ...
Herbie Dyke Stakes history
With the Herbie Dyke Stakes being used as a lead-up event to the Auckland Cup, only two horses have done the double since the turn of the century: Shez Sinsational (2012) and Sangster (2013).
Graeme Rogerson has four wins to his name in the Herbie Dyke, whilst Donna Logan, Murray Baker, Mike Moroney and Debbie Rogerson have tasted multiple successes in the race this century.
As with most New Zealand horse races, Michael Coleman (4) and Opie Bosson (3) have had the most success among jockeys in the Herbie Dyke Stakes.
The race record time of 1:58.80 was set by Captain Cook in 1992.
2025 Herbie Dyke Stakes Field
The Herbie Dyke Stakes field for 2025 is not available. Horsebetting will update this page when the field is released.
Previous Herbie Dyke Stakes Fields
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 
Sharp ‘N’ Smart Team Rogerson Matthew Cameron 7 59kg 2 No Compromise Bill Thurlow Vinnie Colgan 4 59kg 3 Skyman Stephen Marsh Michael McNab 6 59kg 4 One Bold Cat Robbie Patterson Craig Grylls 9 59kg 5 Mali Ston Darryn & Briar Weatherley Sam Weatherley 11 59kg 6 Arby Darryn & Briar Weatherley Joe Doyle 5 59kg 7 Legarto Ken & Bev Kelso Ryan Elliot 1 57kg 8 Campionessa Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Opie Bosson 8 57kg 9 Aquacade Lance Noble Warren Kennedy 2 57kg 10 Mazzolino Stephen Marsh Sam Spratt 3 57kg 11 Lady Telena Kenny Moore Ulrika Holmquist 10 57kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Defibrillate Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall Warren Kennedy 9 59kg 2 He’s A Doozy Lisa Latta Kozzi Asano 7 57kg 3 Demonetization Nigel Tiley Jonathan Riddell 5 59kg 4 Justamaiz David Greene Samantha Spratt 4 59kg 5 Asterix Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Craig Zackey 6 59kg 6 Tutukaka Tony Pike Jake Bayliss 8 59kg 7 Coventina Bay Robbie Patterson Craig Grylls 10 57kg 8 Campionessa Mark Walker Opie Bosson 3 57kg 9 Sharp ‘N’ Smart Team Rogerson Ryan Elliot 11 54kg 10 Wild Night Mark Walker Michael McNab 2 54kg 11 Cruz Missile Stephen Marsh Vinnie Colgan 1 54kg
2024 Herbie Dyke Stakes result
1st – Legarto (-181.82)
2nd – Campionessa (+120)
3rd – One Bold Cat (+220)
Recent Herbie Dyke Stakes winners
- Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have long believed Legarto had the potential to excel over 2000m, and their stable star proved them right on Saturday with a sparkling performance in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa. Legarto was a Group One superstar on both sides of the Tasman as a three-year-old last season. She blew her rivals off the Riccarton track in a five-length New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) romp in the spring, then ventured to Melbourne in March and launched a stunning burst from nowhere to become the first New Zealand-trained winner of the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington. The 2023-24 season has so far delivered a few ups and downs for the daughter of Proisir. She resumed with a third placing without a lot of luck in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), then won the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) before getting too far back in a rough-run Golden Eagle (1500m) in Sydney. An outstanding first-up win at Ellerslie in mid-January earned Legarto red-hot favouritism for the inaugural Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) on Karaka Millions night, where she was again a victim of circumstances but flashed home for second with the fastest sectional times in the race. The step up to 2000m in the Herbie Dyke Stakes was always going to be the key to Legarto’s four-year-old campaign, and on Saturday she answered the stamina question in no uncertain terms.
- Outstanding three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart overcame a wide run in transit against a quality field of middle distance performers to capture the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in a performance that had to be seen to be believed. Having just his second start since returning from an Australian Spring campaign that saw him win the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick before being narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), the Team Rogerson-trained runner was sent out a $2.90 favourite, narrowly ahead of fellow three-year-old Wild Night. Rider Ryan Elliot elected to go forward when the starting gates opened, but in a nightmare scenario several runners kicked up on his inside which saw him posted four wide around the first bend before settling three wide with cover in midfield. Forced into the unusual role of pacemaker, Defibrillate set a muddling pace in front before being joined on the point of the home turn by Wild Night, with stablemate Campionessa tracking him through on the inner of Sharp ‘N’ Smart. Elliot got to work on the son of Redwood and despite the wide run he dug deep to defeat Campionessa by a length with Wild Night shading Defibrillate for third.
- An emotional Robbie Patterson was holding back the tears as he reflected on one of the biggest thrills of his life that had occurred with Coventina Bay winning her first Group 1. A winner of nine of her 20 starts prior, Coventina Bay had twice finished runner-up in Group One company without being able to crack the big one for Patterson and her large group of owners. All that was forgotten, courtesy of an inch-perfect ride by Craig Grylls, as Coventina Bay reeled in pacemaker Vernanme in the final 50m to take out the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Grylls settled the mare towards the rear early in the contest before making ground along the inner approaching the home turn. Angled to the centre of the track, the mare produced an undeniable finish to down Vernanme by half a length with The Chosen One running on strongly to finish close-up in third.
- All eyes were on the legendary Melody Belle, who was looking to bring up a remarkable 14 Group 1 wins. However, it was Royal Performer who caused a boilover when saluting at $20 in the Herbie Dyke Stakes. The former Hong Kong-based galloper managed to gain a perfect run in transit and whilst race favourite Melody Belle struck trouble, Jonathan Riddell managed to steal the race aboard Royal Performer. He managed to put a two-length margin on the ever consistent The Chosen One and in doing so handed Bob Vance his first Group 1 win as a trainer alongside his wife Jenny.
- Having settled for a second-place finish in 2019, it was the Graham Richardson-trained Tiptronic who claimed a narrow victory in the Herbie Dyke Stakes. With South Island raider Camino Rocoso setting a breakneck speed in front, it was left to True Enough and Tiptronic to drag the field up to the tearaway who still led by six lengths approaching the home turn. The two then went stride for stride in the home straight and just as True Enough looked to have the race won, Tiptronic dug deep and broke his Group 1 maiden tag.
- Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard caused somewhat of an upset when $15 chance On The Rocks handed jockey Jake Bayliss a second Group 1. The Australian-born Bayliss was enjoying his second stint in NZ and was given all the plaudit from co-trainer Pam Gerard. Having won the 2018 Railway Handicap aboard Volpe Veloce, it was another genuine Group 1 ride from Bayliss who had On The Rocks chasing the tearaway leaders a long way out from home. Having hit the front inside the final 300m mark, the entire had plenty left in reserve to hold off the likes of Tiptronic and Elusive Treasure.
- Despite a poor showing in the Melbourne spring, the Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained Lizzie L’amour has capped the return to NZ with a dominant win in the Herbie Dyke Stakes. The win capped a remarkable 24 hours for the legendary Murray Baker who had been inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame the night before. The Zabeel mare raced close to the pace at Te Rapa before rider Matt Cameron allowed her to amble closer three wide across the top. They took control 250m from home and drew clear effortlessly to beat Windflower and the winner’s stablemate Nicoletta took third.
- Donna Logan picked up consecutive Herbie Dyke Stakes wins when Volkstok’n’barrell managed to salute as a $3 race favourite. Having been trapped away worse than midfield on the fence, Vinnie Coglan just need a touch of luck in the home straight as he seemingly had a lapful of horse underneath him. He managed to find a gap inside the final 300m and when hitting the front with 100m to go, he had to stage off the fast finishing Saville Row and did so by just under a length.
Past Herbie Dyke Stakes winners
| Herbie Dyke Stakes Past Winners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2024 | Legarto | Ryan Elliot | Ken & Bev Kelso |
| 2023 | Sharp ‘N’ Smart | Ryan Elliot | Team Rogerson |
| 2022 | Coventina Bay | Craig Grylls | Robert Patterson |
| 2021 | Royal Performer | Jonathan Riddell | Jenny & Bob Vance |
| 2020 | Tiptronic | Jason Waddell | Graham Richardson |
| 2019 | On The Rocks | Jake Bayliss | Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard |
| 2018 | Lizzie L’amour | Matt Cameron | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 2017 | Volkstok’n’barrell | Vincent Colgan | Donna Logan |
| 2016 | Valley Girl | Lisa Allpress | Donna Logan |
| 2015 | Soriano | Rory Hutchings | Graeme & Debbie Rogerson |
| 2014 | Costume | Michael Coleman | Graeme & Debbie Rogerson |
| 2013 | Sangster | Opie Bosson | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 2012 | Shez Sinsational | James McDonald | Allan Sharrock |
| 2011 | Red Ruler | Mark Du Plessis | John Sargent |
| 2010 | Veloce Bella | Michael Coleman | Maryann Brosnan |
| 2009 | Maco’reilly | Hayden Tinsley | David Haworth |
| 2008 | Mission Critcial | Michael Coleman | Mike & Paul Moroney |
| 2007 | Sir Slick | Opie Bosson | Graeme Nicholson |
| 2006 | Snazzy | Lisa Cropp | Jeff Lynds |
| 2005 | The Jewel | Leith Innes | Hec & Steve Anderton |
| 2004 | Lashed | Opie Bosson | Graeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge |
| 2003 | Greene Street | Robert Hannam | Noel Eales |
| 2002 | Emerald Dream | Scott Seamer | Murray Baker |
| 2001 | Giovana | Peter Johnson | Carol Marshall |
| 2000 | Bluebird The Word | Michael Coleman | Craig & Frank Ritchie |
Herbie Dyke Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000
| Herbie Dyke Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | ||
| 1999 | Aerosmith | ||
| 1998 | Fayreform | ||
| 1997 | Great Command | ||
| 1996 | Lord Majestic | ||
| 1995 | All In Fun | ||
| 1994 | The Phantom | ||
| 1993 | The Phantom Chance | ||
| 1992 | Captain Cook | ||
| 1991 | Fun On The Run | ||
| 1990 | Race Not Held | ||
| 1989 | Regal City | ||
| 1988 | Sounds Like Fun | ||
| 1987 | Abit Leica | ||
| 1986 | Bonecrusher | ||
| 1985 | Commissionaire | ||
| 1984 | Commissionaire | ||
| 1983 | Commissionaire | ||
| 1982 | Bound To Honour | ||
| 1981 | Speculation | ||
| 1980 | Solo’s Dream | ||
| 1979 | Shivaree | ||
| 1978 | La Mer | ||
| 1976 | Oopik | ||
| 1974 | Battle Heights | ||
Comments are closed.