Telegraph Handicap
Horse race
The Telegraph Handicap is a Group One New Zealand horse race contested by the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham Racecourse in Upper Hutt. It was traditionally raced during the Wellington Cup carnival in mid-January, however from 2025 it has been shifted to earlier in January.
The Telegraph Handicap, raced over 1200 metres, and the Railway Stakes contested at Ellerslie Racecourse are New Zealand's premier sprint races.
In the late 1980s the race was called the Wrightson Handicap.
1954 racebook
1954 WRC Wellington Cup racebook front cover
1954 WRC Wellington Cup raceday officials
1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap page starters and results
1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap page showing the winner, John Gilpin
1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap page starters and results
1954 WRC Wellington Cup train arrangements
Previous winners
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer(s)
Time
Second
Third
2025[ 1]
Grail Seeker 56.5
Kevin Stott
Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott
1.07.71 (soft)
Sacred Satono 58.5
Navigator 58.5
2024[ 2]
Mercurial 58.5
Samantha Spratt
Stephen Marsh
1:08.51 (good)
Express Yourself 56.5
Bonny Lass 56.5
2023[ 3]
Levante 56.5
Ryan Elliot
Ken & Bev Kelso
1:07.11 (good)
Babylon Berlin 56.5
Ifndoubtgetout 58.5
2022[ 4]
Levante 56.5[ 5]
Ryan Elliott
Ken & Bev Kelso
1:06.18 (good)
Roch 'N' Horse 56.5
Mascarpone 58.5
2021[ 6]
Avantage 56.5
Danielle Johnson
Jamie Richards
1:06.97 (good)
Spring Heat 56.5
Burgundy Belle 56.5
2020[ 7]
Avantage 56.5
Opie Bosson
Jamie Richards
1:07.04 (good)
Enzo’s Lad 58.5
Spring Heat 56.5
2019 [ 8]
Enzo's Lad 58
Michael McNab
Michael & Matthew Pitman
1:06.95 (good)
Ferrando 55.5
Sensei 55.5
2018 [ 9] [ 10]
Enzo's Lad 55.5
Sam Weatherley
Michael & Matthew Pitman
1:08.30 (good)
Kawi 59
Ferrando 55.5
2017[ 11]
Signify 55
Racha Cuneen
Alex Cowan, Ashburton
1:07.71
Start Wondering 58
Perfect Fit 56
2016
Adventador 55.5
Matt Cameron
Gus Lowry & Grant Cullen
1:08.34
Miss Seton Sands 53.5
Trepidation 53
2015
Sacred Star 57
Vinnie Colgan
Tony Pike
1:07.71
Designated Driver 53
Trepidation 53
2014
Irish Fling 52
Mark Du Plessis
Gus Lowry & Grant Cullen
1:07.48
Natuzzi 54.5
Jaggard 52
2013
Final Touch 58
Chris Johnson
John & Karen Parsons
1:08.53
Xanadu 55
Burgundy 55
2012
Guiseppina 53
James McDonald
Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari
1:06.94
Atomic Force 59
El Chico 55
2011
Mufhasa 56.5
Samantha Spratt
Stephen McKee, Ardmore
1:07.04
First Command 58.5
Coup Align 56.5
2010
Vonusti 52.5
Noel Harris
Tim & Margaret Carter
1:09.36
Tootsie 52.5
Stupendous 52.5
2009
Mufhasa 55.5
Samantha Spratt
Stephen McKee, Ardmore
1:07.39
Atapi 55
Ruud Van Slaats 53.5
2008[ 12]
Seachange 58.5
Gavin McKeon
Ralph Manning, Cambridge
1:06.66
Kay’s Awake 55
Maximum Star 52
2007
Darci Brahma 57
Opie Bosson
Mark Walker
1:07.00
Seachange 55.5
Kay's Awake 53
2006
Gee I Jane 55.5
Scott Seamer
Neville Couchman, Cambridge
1:07.77
Dezigna 52.5
Magistra Decta 53
2005
Keeninsky 50.5
Allan Peard[ 13]
Graeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge, Tuhikaramea
1:07.55
Sedecrem 56.5
Dezigna 50.5
2004
King's Chapel
Noel Harris
Mark Walker
1:06.79
Sunlaw
Sedecrem
2003
Tit For Taat 58.5
Michael Walker
Anne Herbert
1:07.64
Egyptian Raine 58
Fair Embrace 54
2002
Vinaka 52.5
Lance O'Sullivan
Jim Gibbs
1:08.06
Life Of Riley 52
Spring Rain 54
2001
Star Of Gold 53
Peter D Johnson
Stephen & Trevor McKee
1:07.76
Spring Rain 53
Travellin' Man 52.5
2000
Fritz 53
Noel Harris
Neil Coulbeck, Leithfield
1:07.63
Cheiron 54
Star Of Gold 54
1999
Bawalaksana 52
Lance O'Sullivan
Paul O’Sullivan
1:06.51
Buster Brookfield 52
Samboa 53
1998
Vegas 51.5
Opie Bosson
Graeme Rogerson & Keith Hawtin
1:08.85
Kiora Star 52
Coogee Walk 53
1997
O'Reilly 49
Lance O'Sullivan
Dave & Paul O’Sullivan , Matamata
1:07.36
Classic Royal 49
Krispin Klear 55.5
1996
Loader 55
Chris Johnson
Peter J & Dawn M Williams
1:06.85
Sun Spot 55
Snap 50
1995
Lord Tridan 57
Tony Allan
Michael Moroney , Matamata
1:07.06
Rampage 48.5
Saxonvale 54.5
1994
Lady Madonna 50
Jim O'Styke
Grant Searle
1:10.40
Enhancer 51.5
Lord Tridan 56
1993
Victory Dias 49.5
Craig Beets
C W & Jim Gibbs & Lance Noble
1:06.59
Lord Tridan 51
Javelin 56
1992
Morar 52.5
Larry Cassidy
Dave & Paul O’Sullivan
1:08.91
Mrs Selleck 49.75
Romanee Conti 47
1991
Vain Sovereign 52
Brian Hibberd
M R Campbell
1:08.31
Mr Tiz 60.5
Hypervain 50
1990
Mr Tiz 55.5
Lance O'Sullivan
Dave & Paul O’Sullivan
1:07.99
Vain Sovereign 52
Zephyr Magic 55.5
1989
Mr Tiz 50.5 (dead heat)
Lance O'Sullivan
Dave & Paul O’Sullivan
1:07.66
-
Sirstaci 50
1989
Festal 49 (dead heat)
Larry Cassidy
Bruce Marsh
1:07.66
-
Sirstaci 50
1988
Courier Bay 58
David Walsh
G A White
1:07.45
Sirstaci 49.5
Squire Gray 47.5
1987
Courier Bay 54.5
David Walsh
G A White
1:07.45
Kosha 57
Knight Invader 50
1986
Tanalyse 54.5
David Walsh
D Grubb
1:07.35
Princess Dram 53
Silver Tip 51.5
1985
High Regards 48.5
Lance O'Sullivan
Dave & Paul O’Sullivan , Matamata
1:07.23
Romantic Bay 48.5
Clear Gold 56.5
Wellington Cup Carnival
Other major races include the:
See also
References
^ "Race 7 TAB TELEGRAPH at WELLINGTON RC on 4 JAN 2025 | LOVERACING.NZ" . loveracing.nz .
^ "Race 8 JR & N BERKETT TELEGRAPH at WELLINGTON RC on 13 JAN 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ" . loveracing.nz .
^ "Race 8 JR & N BERKETT TELEGRAPH at WELLINGTON RC on 14 JAN 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ" . loveracing.nz .
^ "Race 8 JR & N BERKETT TELEGRAPH at WELLINGTON RC on 15 JAN 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ" .
^ "Levante wins Telegraph in unofficial world record time over 1200 metres" . 15 January 2022.
^ "Race 8 JR & N BERKETT TELEGRAPH at WELLINGTON RC on 16 JAN 2021 | LOVERACING.NZ" . loveracing.nz .
^ "Race 7 JR & N BERKETT TELEGRAPH at WELLINGTON RC on 18 JAN 2020 | LOVERACING.NZ" . loveracing.nz .
^ "Race 7 JR & N BERKETT TELEGRAPH at WELLINGTON RC on 19 JAN 2019 | LOVERACING.NZ" . loveracing.nz .
^ "Race 7 JR & N BERKETT TELEGRAPH at WELLINGTON RC on 20 JAN 2018 | LOVERACING.NZ" . loveracing.nz .
^ New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2018 (47th edition) . Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
^ New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2017 (46th edition) . Dennis Ryan, Editor, Racing Media NZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
^ New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 2008 (37th edition) . Bradford, David, Editor. Bradford Publishing Limited, Paeroa, New Zealand.
^ "Racing: Winning post 'just in time' " . NZ Herald . February 6, 2024.
Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips
LOVERACING.NZ - New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
TAB | Sports & Racing Betting Online in New Zealand
New Zealand Horse Racing Statistics and Information - RaceBase
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