Great Northern Derby

The Great Northern Derby is a Group 1 harness racing event for 3 year old standardbreds. It is a major event for 3 year old colts and geldings in New Zealand and currently run at Alexandra Park in Auckland, in March.

Great Northern Derby

Class	Group I
Location	Alexandra Park Auckland, New Zealand
Inaugurated	1916
Race type	Standardbred - Flat racing
Website	www.alexandrapark.co.nz
Race information
Distance	2700m
Surface	dirt
Track	Right-handed oval, Mobile Barrier
Qualification	Three-year-old horses

For the galloping race run up to 1972, see Great Northern Derby (race).

Records

Most wins by an owner:

• 4 - Roy McKenzie (1963, 1968, 1971, 1984)

Winners list

Winners of the Northern Derby include some of the best horses produced in New Zealand.^[1]

Year	Horse	Owner	Driver	Time
2024	Cold Chisel[2] [3]	Montana Park Pty Ltd	Zachary Butcher	3:20.82
2023	Merlin[4] [5] [6]	Montana Park Pty Ltd	Zachary Butcher	3:18.2
2022	Akuta[7] [8]	Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon	Mark Purdon	3:19.9
2021	Krug	Mrs C M Dalgety, M P Hanning, McKerrow Bloodstock Limited, G P Merlo, P J Creighton, Mrs M C Creighton, G E Dickey, K J Cummings	Tony Herlihy	3:18.0
2020	Amazing Dream	Mrs JL Feiss	Mark Purdon	3:16.2
2019	Ultimate Sniper	Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, GR Douglas, PJ Creighton, Mrs MC Creighton, KJ Riseley	Natalie Rasmussen	3:22.6
2018	Chase Auckland	Alabar Racing Syndicate	Natalie Rasmussen	3:16.8
2017	Raukapuka Ruler	Colt 45 Syndicate	Dexter Dunn	3:17.4
2016	Lazarus	Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, TG Casey, KJ Riseley	Mark Purdon	3:17.1
2015	Have Faith In Me	DM Dunford, MD Dunford	Tim Williams	3:18.7
2014	Tiger Tara	R L Sandford, Mrs J A Sandford, J S Gould, G R Dunn	Gerard O'Reilly	3:21.1
2013	Ohoka Punter	K Carville	Tony Herlihy	3:19.2
2012	Ideal Scott	Est J F Twomey, J W Devlin, Mrs P G Hughes, Mrs M E Green	Todd Macfarlane	3:19.1
2011	Sushi Sushi	P Sequenzia, A Cendron, P D'Alessi, P Sergi	Greg Sugars	3:17.0
2010	Russley Rascal	N Pilcher, R W Grice	Blair Orange	3:20.5
2009	Stunin Cullen	T McDonald, E C Griffin	Anthony Butt	3:23.2
2008	Fiery Falcon	Ms M M Wilson, Est Sir Roy McKenzie, Rona McKay, P I Kennard, Mrs G J Kennard, Clive McKay	Mark Purdon	3:20.8
2007	Changeover	A.T.C. Trot 2006 Syndicate	David Butcher	3:21.8
2005	Monkey King	Cavalla Bloodstock Limited	Todd Mitchell	3:24.8
2004	Badlands Bute	Lincoln Farms Ltd	Tony Herlihy	3:23.8
2003	Winforu	Mrs M E Wych, J C McJorrow	Maurice McKendry	3:01.6
2002	Elsu	Mrs J Walters, Double Up Syndicate, Est D Hudson, Mrs P Small	David Butcher	3:20.7
2001	All Hart	J R Duncalf, W Harvey, R C Mills, L C O'Connor	David Butcher	3:20.5
2000	Matai	Mackenzie A.T.C. Trot 2000 Syndicate	Brent Mangos	3:25.2
1999	Stars And Stripes	C N Radford, Mrs J Z Radford	Ken Barron	3:20.4
1998	Courage Under Fire	G W Brodie	Colin De Filippi	3:20.9
1997	Holmes D G	Second Five Syndicate	Barry Purdon	3:20.1
1996	The Court Owl	W G Kitcher, G W Hutchison	Mark Purdon	3:25.7
1996	Lavros Star	R M Cameron, Kypros Kotzikas	Anthony Butt	3:23.4
1995	Il Vicolo	J H Seaton, Mark Purdon	Mark Purdon	3:28.1
1994	Ginger Man	G W Brodie	Barry Purdon	3:23.3
1993	Hitchcock	L G Christensen, W R Pengelly, J S S Richardson, N J Taylor	Barry Purdon	3:23.0
1992	Rainbow Fella	T J Hackett, R J Hall	Richard Brosnan	3:28.2
1991	Sogo	Parnell Syndicate	Barry Purdon	3:23.5
1990	Christopher Vance	R R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C Reid	Tony Herlihy	3:23.3
1989	Inky Lord	G M Saunders	Ricky May	3:29.9
1988	Godfrey	R O Baynes, Mrs B M Ludke	Tony Herlihy	3:22.5
1987	Race Ruler	A E Wallis, L W Giraud	Maurice McKendry	3:25.2
1986	Laser Lad	G Calderwood, B Vickery, W L Crawford, K J English	Peter Jones	3:25.6
1985	Nardinski	B J, B R, D J & Mrs Smolenski	Jack Smolenski	3:28.9
1984	Roydon Glen	Roy McKenzie	W F (Fred) Fletcher	3:29.6
1983	Mighty Me	C W & Mrs S M McLachlan	Robert M Cameron	3:31.2
1982	Mel's Boy	P J & Est B L Robertson	Jack W Smolenski	3:26
1981	Melton Monarch	Jim Dalgety	Barry Purdon	3:30.9
1980	Armbro Wings	S K & J A Somerville & A L Milne	Colin De Filippi	3:36.3
1979	Matai Dreamer	A L & Mrs N Milne	Robert M Cameron	3:29.8
1978	Main Star	A L & Mrs B Kerslake & F Woolley	Robert M Cameron	3:26.8
1977	Sapling	R Given & G C Cruickshank	D J McNaught	3:28.7
1976	Ripper's Delight	Ripper Syndicate	A K Holmes	3:32.6
1974	Captain Harcourt	E J Bennett	Peter Wolfenden	3:27.6
1973	Speedy Guest	W F Woolley	Jack W Smolenski	3:13.4
1971	Roydon Roux	Roy McKenzie	Doug R Mangos	3:12.8
1970	Caledonian Garrison	H C & J S JStormont	J Butcher	3:16.6
1969	First Batch	D Mace	R J Weatherley	3:14.2
1968	Garcon Roux	Roy McKenzie	J B Noble	3:21.8
1967	Cardinal Garrison	Mrs R C Nelmes & P G Trigg	R Young	3:10.4
1966	Governor Frost	C Hadley	Peter Wolfenden	2:56.2
1965	Tutta Tryax	H S Barry	M F Holmes	2:58.2
1964	Golden Oriole	M A Butt	W R Butt	2:55.2
1963	Scottish Laddie	Roy McKenzie	Doug Mangos	2:57.8
1962	Tactile	A J & D P Dynes	D J Townley	3:11.2
1961	Waitaki Hanover	F Smith	Peter Wolfenden	3:15.6
1960	King Hal	C E Dillon	D G Jones	3:23.6
1959	Sun Chief	S Easton	Doody Townley	3:14.2
1958	Call Boy	C E Blackwell	R C Purdon	3:17.2
1957	Firmament	W Hosking	F Smith jnr	3:22-3
1956	Giuseppe	H M Allen & L J R Barrett	H M Allen	3:25.4
1955	Canyon	R B Levy	A B Levy	3:20.2
1954	Celestial	W Hosking	J K Hughes	3:18
1953	Scottish Brigade	C C Scott	J B Scott	3:16
1952	Macall	K D Fraser	D G Jones	3:21.4
1951	Fabius	J S Shaw	J S Shaw	3:19.2
1950	Johnny Globe	D G Nyhan	D G Nyhan	3:17.2
1949	Soangetaha	Mrs M A Ryland	D G Jones	3:20.4
1948	Chamfer	D McFarlane	M F Holmes	3:19
1947	Sir Vivian	P V Flexman	R Young	3:18.4
1946	Snowflake	L F Berkett	L F Berkett	3:19
1945	Local Gold	J H Parsons	A B Holmes	3:21.4
1944	Acropolis	T J Atkinson	R B Berry	3:29.6
1944	Josie Dell	F A Bridgens	G Gray	3:25.2
1943	Golden Shadow	T Rothwell	J Bryce jnr	3:23
1942	Symphony	E G Bridgens	F J Smith	3:24
1941	Peter'S Find	A W Bailey	G T Mitchell	3:24
1940	Bonniedene	Mesdames G Young & G Downes	F J Smith	3:32.4
1939	Contender	J T Paul	J T Paul	3:28
1938	Horsepower	G Rosenbaum	R B Berry	3:38
1936	Parisienne	R Revell	R B Berry	3:30.6
1935	Valdor	S W Kelly	R B Berry	3:22.6
1934	Subsidy	W J Doyle	W J Doyle	3:23.2
1933	Chancellor	E G & F A Bridgens	F J Smith	3:27.4
1932	Indianapolis	G J Barton	E C McDermott	3:26
1931	Tempest	G J Barton	W J Tomkinson	3:30
1930	Red Shadow	Deyell & Neale	J Bryce	3:20.4
1929	Great Parrish	J T Paul	J T Paul	3:30.6
1928	Wrackler	H F Nicoll	M F Holmes	3:35.4
1927	Daphne de Oro	J Washington	F Holmes	3:34.6
1926	Great Peter	J W Tims	J T Paul	3:30
1925	Nantwich	H F Nicoll	A Hendricksen	3:29.6
1924	Glenelg	C M Ollivier	A Butterfield	3:33.4
1923	Taurekareka	R M Morten	J Bryce	3:29
1922	Acron	J R McKenzie	J J Kennerley	3:29.2
1921	Great Hope	R McMillan	R A McMillan	3:31
1920	Nelson Derby	G Craw	J G Robertson	3:32.2
1919	Lady Switin	H F Nicoll	F Holmes	3:35.6
1918	Locanda Dillon	W H Robbins	A Pringle	3:31.4
1917	President Wilson	F J Remington	A Hendricksen	3:34.6
1916	Chid	W B Masham	J Bryce	3:36.6

Other major races

• Auckland Trotting Cup
• New Zealand Sires Stakes 3yo Final
• New Zealand Trotting Cup
• New Zealand Free For All
• New Zealand Trotting Derby
• Noel J Taylor Mile
• New Zealand Messenger
• Rowe Cup
• Dominion Handicap
• Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
• Inter Dominion Trotting Championship

See also

• Harness racing
• Harness racing in New Zealand