The Telegraph
The Telegraph
Group One Betting Guide
| Date: | Saturday, January 3, 2026 |
| Location: | Trentham Racecourse |
| Prize Money: | NZ$450,000 |
| Distance: | 1200m |
The Telegraph is New Zealand’s premier sprinting race, with a purse of NZ$450,000 and a long list of champion winners.
Staged at Trentham every January alongside the Levin Classic, the 1200m feature is run under set weights and penalties and is open to three-year-olds and up.
The weather usually plays a part in Wellington during the summer, with temperamental conditions leading to some high-priced outsiders winning in recent times, although the cream has historically risen to the top in The Telegraph.
The Telegraph 2026 betting odds
Betting odds for The Telegraph 2026 are currently unavailable.
The Telegraph bookmakers
All of our top-ranked betting sites will offer odds on The Telegraph. The following bookmakers will have form and markets for the Trentham feature:
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The Telegraph News
Within the space of just two starts as a four-year-old, Grail Seeker has announced her arrival as one of the ...
Only one part of Skew Wiff’s build-up to the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday has not gone ...
Babylon Berlin led her rivals a merry dash when she outgunned a small but quality field in the Group 3 ...
A crack at a major summer sprinting prize against the older horses hasn’t been ruled out for quality three-year-old Poetic ...
Well-performed speed merchant Babylon Berlin will strip a fitter mare for Saturday’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes assignment at Ellerslie ...
Group 1 winner Skew Wiff is set to avoid the breeding barn for the time being, with connections opting to ...
The Telegraph 2025 Final Field
Previous The Telegraph Fields
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Waitak Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Masa Hashizume 2 58.5kg 2 CrocettiDanny Walker & Arron TataWarren Kennedy158.5kg3 Sacred Satono Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley Michael McNab 12 58.5kg 4 Mercurial Stephen Marsh Sam Spratt 11 58.5kg 5 IfndoubtgetoutTracey BlissMarc Lerner1358.5kg6 Navigator Cody Cole Ryan Elliot 6 58.5kg 7 Master FayChad OrmsbyTayla Mitchell358.5kg8 Platinum Attack Lisa Latta Jonathan Riddell 14 58.5kg 9 Babylon BerlinBen & Ryan FooteN/A556.5kg10 Bonny Lass Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall Craig Grylls 8 56.5kg 11 Skew Wiff Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Luke Currie 4 56.5kg 12 Grail Seeker Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Kevin Stott 7 56.5kg 13 Luberon Lance Noble Joe Doyle 10 56.5kg 14 Idyllic Kevin & Stephen Gray Kate Hercock 9 56.5kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Dragon Leap Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Warren Kennedy 7 58.5kg 2 Mercurial Stephen Marsh Sam Spratt 8 58.5kg 3 Shamus Allan Sharrock Ryan Elliot 1 58.5kg 4 Lincoln’s Kruz Lisa Latta Jonathan Riddell 9 58.5kg 5 Ifndoubtgetout Tracey Bliss Lisa Allpress 2 58.5kg 6 Is That So Clinton Isdale Michael McNab 11 58.5kg 7 Bonny Lass Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall Craig Grylls 3 56.5kg 8 Maria Farina Darryn & Briar Weatherley Sam Weatherley 5 56.5kg 9 Express Yourself Nikki Hurdle Ryan Hurdle 6 56.5kg 10 Not Guilty Tony Pike Kozzi Asano 4 56.5kg 11 Imwonderfultonight Sam Mynott Joe Doyle 10 56.5kg
The Telegraph 2025 result
1st – Grail Seeker (+340)
2nd – Sacred Satono (+210)
3rd – Navigator (+200)
The Telegraph recent winners
- Within the space of just two starts as a four-year-old, Grail Seeker has announced her arrival as one of the brightest stars in New Zealand racing. A first-up winner of the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings back at the beginning of September, the Iffraaj mare lined up for her first race in 119 days at Trentham on Saturday and blew her rivals away again in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m). Grail Seeker started as a $4.40 favourite with horse racing bookmakers against one of the strongest Telegraph line-ups of the last decade. Grail Seeker was patiently ridden by Kevin Stott and sat at the tail of the field coming into the home straight. But then Stott spotted an opening between Navigator and the tiring Luberon, driving her through it and unleashing her down the outside. The result was in little doubt from that point on as Grail Seeker burst to the lead with big, powerful strides. She bounded away through the last 100m, opening up a winning margin of two and a half lengths over Sacred Satono and Navigator.
- Sam Spratt teamed up with arguably New Zealand’s most improved racehorse to land a boilover victory in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham – her third time triumphing in a meeting that once came close to claiming her life. Spratt’s Telegraph heroics aboard Mercurial came some 21 years after Spratt suffered severe head injuries in a shocking fall in an undercard race on Telegraph Day on January 25, 2003. She not only recovered but later made a triumphant return to the saddle, going on to join New Zealand’s 1000-win club and boasting 20 Group One wins and counting. Spratt is now a three-time Telegraph winner, with Mercurial following in the footsteps of her old favourite Mufhasa (2009 and 2011).Spratt showed her customary front-running prowess aboard Mercurial, recovering from an awkward start to charge forward and take up a position on the outside of Express Yourself. The pace came right out of the race through the middle stages, causing significant interference to several runners in the chasing pack and leading Lincoln’s Kruz to dislodge jockey Jonathan Riddell. Mercurial stayed well out of trouble and was full of running as he threw down the gauntlet to Express Yourself at the top of the straight. That rival rose to meet the challenge, and the pair went to war at the 300m. Favourite Bonny Lass regathered herself after a rocky run and found the line strongly late in the piece, but it remained a two-horse battle to the line and Mercurial won it by a nose. Bonny Lass finished third, a neck behind the first pair.
- Champion sprinting mare Levante returned to the scene of her inaugural Group One victory on Saturday and made it back-to-back triumphs in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) after another titanic struggle in the home straight. Last year its was subsequent dual Australian Group One winner Roch ‘N’ Horse that went within a nose of victory against the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained daughter of Proisir, while this year it was last start Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) runner-up Babylon Berlin who went to war with her in the closing stages. After travelling sweetly outside pacemaker Packing Rockstar, rider Kozzi Asano had Babylon Berlin cuddled up in front with 300m to run as he waited for the finishing charge of Levante. He wasn’t disappointed as Levante burst into the clear wider out for Ryan Elliot and launched her sprint which quickly took her up to the leader. The pair went head-to-head for the final 250m with Levante gaining the upper hand in the last few strides to take the victory by a neck with outsider Iffndoubtgetout taking a meritorious third a further five lengths back.
- High-class mare Levante broke through for a deserved Group One victory in a heart-stopping finish to The Telegraph at Trentham. The five-year-old daughter of Proisir went into the time-honoured sprint as an eight-race winner from 13 starts, including the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) and two editions of the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m). But a Group One victory had eluded the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained mare, who had previously finished second, third, fourth and fifth at the elite level. Clashes with high-class Te Akau Racing mares had previously proven to be a Group One stumbling block, beaten by Avantage in three meetings at the elite level, and she was a last-start second to Entriviere in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) on New Year’s Day. It was widely expected to be more of the same on Saturday with Entriviere an overpowering $1.60 favourite, but this time Levante turned the tables. Ridden by Ryan Elliot, Levante was a world away from her old habit of costly tardiness at the start. This time she broke sharply from gate five and took up a prominent position on the heels of the front-running Ocean Point and Tavi Mac. Levante went for gold at the top of the straight, and with Entriviere getting no closer than fifth after being last to straighten for home, it began to look like this might be Levante’s day. But another Matamata mare had other ideas. Roch ‘N’ Horse burst out of the pack and drew up alongside Levante, the lead changing with every stride through the last 50m as the pair fought out a pulsating finish. They hit the line locked together, with more than two lengths back to the third-placed Mascarpone. After an anxious wait, there was a roar from the Trentham crowd as Levante was declared a deserving Group One winner. The head-turning time for the 1200m of 1:06.18 is being claimed by the Wellington Racing Club as an unofficial world record.
- Class prevailed at Trentham when versatile mare Avantage was at her very best in taking out the Telegraph Handicap for the second year in succession. The Jamie Richards-trained five-year-old had scored fresh-up in the Group 1 Railway Handicap at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day to take her Group 1 winning tally to five and added a sixth as she defended the title she captured in 2020 with another superb performance.
- Having been beaten in the race 12 months earlier when Melody Belle, the Te Akau team led by Jamie Richards got their revenge with Avantage. With Enzo’s Lad pushing for three straight wins in the Telegraph Handicap, Avantage managed to wear down the reigning champion when the pair broke clear in the home straight. Jockey Opie Bosson was praised by Jamie Richards following the race, giving the jockey plenty of praise for the ride with Avantage needing to navigate a tricky barrier. Once the pair managed to find cover, it was always going to benefit Avantage chances in the home straight.
- Big dividends and an upset win were the order of the day once again in 2019 as Enzo’s Lad went back-to-back in the Trentham feature. A wide barrier saw favourite Melody Belle struggle to get into the race, which left the race ripe for the taking. Ferrando looked like he had kicked away to claim the prize but the reigning champ launched a late bid and just got up in a photo finish.
- For the second-straight year it was a huge outsider that took out the Telegraph after Enzo’s Lad saluted at $74. Enzo’s Lad cornered into the straight just behind the leader and looked like he was struggling to get to the front but under a brilliant ride from Sam Weatherley the horse hit the front and held off all comers.
- Signify caused a big upset in 2017 when winning at odds of $46.30. The southerner had solid form leading into the race, but not on the scale as some of the well-fancied runners. Under the urging of jockey Racha Cuneen, Signify was able to finish over the top of Start Wondering to score its biggest career win.
- On an overcast and rain-affected track at Trentham, Adventador caused the biggest upset in the 127-year history of the Telegraph Handicap. The seven-year-old won paying $80.90 and caused a shock around New Zealand in the process. It was racing against one of the better Telegraph Handicap fields in history, but it managed to turn questionable form around and take the big victory. In second place was Miss Seton Sands at $8.30 to place and in third was Trepidation at $9.20 to place – setting up a $62,332.30 trifecta.
- Sacred Star entered the Telegraph having not won in four starts since taking out the Group 2 QTC Cup at Eagle Farm, but class is permanent and it showed a quality field a clean pair of heels. The Tony Pike-trained gelding won by four lengths in a lightning time of 1:07.01, but the biggest surprise of the day was the odds on offer. Bookmakers dished out $27.40 for the win despite the form it had shown in Australia. It would later go on to win the Group 1 NRM Sprint and the Group 3 Darley Plate, but subsequently finish a disappointing 11th in the 2016 Telegraph Handicap as the $2 favourite.
- Trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen scored their first of two Telegraph Handicap winners with Irish Fling after later winning with Adventador. The five-year-old was an each way chance in the market at $8.50 and it just held on over the fast-finishing Natuzzi to win by a neck in a time of 1:07.48. The race was run on a rare Fast 1 track at Trentham which caused plenty of controversy. Again the multiples payouts were big as despised outsider Jaggard finished third paying $19.10 for the place.
- Final Touch was too classy for its rivals in 2013 and due to the quality of opposition it faced, the champion South Island runner won paying $14.50. Ridden by Chris Johnson, the five-year-old was given a quiet ride at the back of the field before Johnson let it loose in the straight. It held on by a long neck over the well-favoured Xanadu and Burgundy with the likes of 2012 champion Guiseppina finishing well down the track.
- Guiseppina scored a win for the shorter-priced runners in 2012 when winning at odds of $4.70. The five-year-old scored by a long neck over Australian raider and Railway Stakes winner Atomic Force, with El Chico running in third at odds of $8.40. James McDonald was the winning jockey, beating out Nash Rawiller who was in second. Due to the firm track, two-time winner Mufhasa was scratched in the lead-up.
The Telegraph past winners list
| The Telegraph Past Winners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2025 | Grail Seeker | Kevin Stott | Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott |
| 2024 | Mercurial | Sam Spratt | Stephen Marsh |
| 2023 | Levante | Ryan Elliot | Ken & Bev Kelso |
| 2022 | Levante | Ryan Elliot | Ken & Bev Kelso |
| 2021 | Avantage | Danielle Johnson | Jamie Richards |
| 2020 | Avantage | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards |
| 2019 | Enzo’s Lad | Michael McNab | Michael & Matthew Pitman |
| 2018 | Enzo’s Lad | Sam Weatherley | Michael & Matthew Pitman |
| 2017 | Signify | Racha Cunnen | Alex Cowan |
| 2016 | Adventador | Matthew Cameron | Guy Lowry & Grant Cullen |
| 2015 | Sacred Star | Vinnie Colgan | Tony Pike |
| 2014 | Irish Fling | Mark Du Plessis | Guy Lowry & Grant Cullen |
| 2013 | Final Touch | Chris Johnson | John & Karen Parsons |
| 2012 | Guiseppina | James McDonald | Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie |
| 2011 | Mufhasa | Sam Spratt | Stephen McKee |
| 2010 | Vonusti | Noel Harris | Tim & Margaret Carter |
| 2009 | Mufhasa | Sam Spratt | Stephen McKee |
| 2008 | Seachange | Gavin McKeon | Ralph Manning |
| 2007 | Darci Brahman | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker |
| 2006 | Gee I Jane | Scott Seamer | Neville Couchman |
| 2005 | Keeinsky | Allan Peard | Graeme Rogerson |
| 2004 | King’s Chapel | Noel Harris | Mark Walker |
| 2003 | Tit For Taat | Michael Walker | Wayne Herbert |
| 2002 | Vinaka | Lance O’Sullivan | Jim Gibbs |
| 2001 | Star Of Gold | Peter Johnson | Stephen & Trevor McKee |
| 2000 | Fritz | Noel Harris | Neil Coulbeck |
The Telegraph winners pre-2000
| The Telegraph Past Winners Pre 2000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | ||
| 1999 | Bawalaksana | ||
| 1998 | Vegas | ||
| 1997 | O’Reilly | ||
| 1996 | Loader | ||
| 1995 | Lord Tridan | ||
| 1994 | Lady Madonna | ||
| 1993 | Victory Dias | ||
| 1992 | Morar | ||
| 1991 | Vain Sovereign | ||
| 1990 | Mr Tiz | ||
| 1989 | Festal / Mr Tiz | ||
| 1988 | Courier Bay | ||
| 1987 | Courier Bay | ||
| 1986 | Tanalyse | ||
| 1985 | High Regards | ||
| 1984 | Mac’s Gamble | ||
| 1983 | So Modest | ||
| 1982 | Our Shah | ||
| 1981 | Anderil | ||
| 1980 | Flying View | ||
| 1979 | Arbre Chene | ||
| 1978 | Extra Flash | ||
| 1977 | Blue Blood | ||
| 1976 | Blue Blood | ||
| 1975 | Blue Blood | ||
| 1974 | Show Gate | ||
| 1973 | Sharif | ||
| 1972 | Count Kereru | ||
| 1971 | Sharivari | ||
| 1970 | Grizzly | ||
| 1969 | Elabama | ||
| 1968 | Serena | ||
| 1967 | Serena | ||
| 1966 | Misere | ||
| 1965 | Starlit | ||
| 1964 | Donald Dinnie | ||
| 1963 | Sonare | ||
| 1962 | Rochdale | ||
| 1961 | Fountainhead | ||
| 1960 | Kathey’s Romance | ||
| 1959 | Bamboo | ||
| 1958 | Lorica | ||
| 1957 | Japonica | ||
| 1956 | Ma Reine | ||
| 1955 | Hot Drop | ||
| 1954 | John Gilpin | ||
| 1953 | Lord Fort | ||
| 1952 | Hands Off | ||
| 1951 | Lord Moss | ||
| 1950 | Castlebrae | ||
| 1949 | Citril | ||
| 1948 | Ladyship | ||
| 1947 | Da Vinci | ||
| 1946 | Master Dash | ||
| 1945 | Alright | ||
| 1944 | John Gay | ||
| 1943 | Palora | ||
| 1942 | Autolite | ||
| 1941 | Sir Beau | ||
| 1940 | Sternchase | ||
| 1939 | Rakahanga | ||
| 1938 | Top Row | ||
| 1937 | Gold Boa | ||
| 1936 | Acceptable | ||
| 1935 | Wheriko | ||
| 1934 | Silver Ring | ||
| 1933 | Autopay | ||
| 1932 | Green Linnet | ||
| 1931 | Palermo | ||
| 1930 | Meadow Lark | ||
| 1929 | Meadow Lark | ||
| 1928 | Paperchase | ||
| 1927 | Booster | ||
| 1926 | Cawnpore | ||
| 1925 | Hipo | ||
| 1924 | Parody | ||
| 1923 | Tamatete | ||
| 1922 | The Hawk | ||
| 1921 | Statuette | ||
| 1920 | Statuette | ||
| 1919 | Nanna | ||
| 1918 | Wrestler | ||
| 1917 | Multiplication | ||
| 1916 | Panmure | ||
| 1915 | Hoy | ||
| 1914 | Beldame | ||
| 1913 | Sanguinary | ||
| 1912 | Nyland | ||
| 1911 | Gipsy Belle | ||
| 1910 | Equitas | ||
| 1909 | Tumut | ||
| 1908 | All Red | ||
| 1907 | Munjeet | ||
| 1906 | Alisa | ||
| 1905 | Petrovna | ||
| 1904 | Ballarat | ||
| 1903 | Petrovna | ||
| 1902 | Blazer | ||
| 1901 | Blazer | ||
| 1900 | Blazer | ||
| 1899 | Armoureux | ||
| 1898 | Telephone | ||
| 1897 | Torpina | ||
| 1896 | King’s Bowman | ||
| 1895 | King’s Bowman / Saracen | ||
| 1894 | Vogengang | ||
| 1893 | Rebellion | ||
| 1892 | Regina | ||
| 1891 | Lullaby | ||
| 1890 | Retina | ||
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