Spring Classic
| Group I race | |
| Location |
Hastings Racecourse Hawke's Bay, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1955 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Hawke's Bay Racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2040m (10 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Weight | Weight for Age |
| Purse | NZ$300,000 (in 2011) |
The Kit Ormond Memorial Spring Classic (formerly Kelt Capital Stakes) is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and is New Zealand's richest weight-for-age horse race. It is run at a distance of 2040m and in 2011 will carry prize money of NZ$3000,000.
The race was sponsored by Kelt Capital Limited, and in particular the owner thereof Sam Kelt, a strong supporter of New Zealand and particularly Hawke's Bay racing. The growth in prize money was substantial in the decade up to 2008. In 2000 it was worth $250,000; in 2002 it was the equal richest race in New Zealand at $500,000 and in 2004 it was New Zealand's first million-dollar race for more than a decade. The race was worth $2,000,000 in 2007 and 2008, but the stake had to be reduced to $1,200,000 in 2009 as that level was deemed unsustainable. The 2010 running was worth $250,000, below several major races in New Zealand but still slightly ahead in terms of weight-for-age races. The race has been renamed the Spring Classic after Kelt Capital pulled their sponsorship.
The race is run on the first Saturday in October, along with two other Group features, the Hawke's Bay Guineas for three-year-olds and a 1400 m handicap formerly known as the G.R. Kelt Memorial. The weather in the Hawke's Bay's means the track conditions are usually excellent.
The race is now regarded as New Zealand's premier weight-for-age race and has attracted interest from overseas, most notably with subsequent world champion miler Starcraft who ran second in 2004.
Winners of the Spring Classic
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Ransomed | |||
| 2012 | Shez Sinsational | Opie Bosson | Allan Sharrock | 2:04.89 |
| 2011 | Jimmy Choux | Jonathan Riddell | John Bary | 2:06.24 |
| 2010 | Wall Street | Michael Coleman | Jeff Lynds | 2:02.97 |
| 2009 | Vosne Romanee | Buddy Lammas | Jeff Lynds | 2:08.42 |
| 2008 | Princess Coup | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker | 2:04.58 |
| 2007 | Princess Coup | Noel Harris | Mark Walker | 2:04.16 |
| 2006 | Legs | Lisa Cropp | Kevin Gray | 2:03.82 |
| 2005 | Xcellent | Michael Coleman | Mike & Paul Moroney | 2:03.21 |
| 2004 | Balmuse | Jamie Bullard | Kevin Myers | 2:05.03 |
| 2003 | Distinctly Secret | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker | 2:03.64 |
| 2002 | Prized Gem | Michael Rodd | Murray Baker | 2:04.10 |
| 2001 | Cinder Bella | Lance O'Sullivan | Karen Zimmerman | 2:03.31 |
| 2000 | The Message | Linda Ballantyne | John Ralph | 2:03.91 |
| 1999 | Cent Home | David Walker | Jim Wallace | 2:02.16 |
| 1998 | Just Call Me Sir | Trudy Collett | Moira Murdoch | 2:04.06 |
| 1997 | Moss Downs | Michael Coleman | Chris McNab | 2:03.63 |
| 1996 | Love Dance | Gary Grylls | Bev & Ken Kelso | 2:03.41 |
| 1995 | Italian Saint | Tony Allan | Noel Eales | 2.03.41 |
| 1994 | Solvit | David Walsh | Moira Murdoch | 2.00.16 |
| 1993 | Calm Harbour | Lance O'Sullivan | Noel Eales | 1.59.70 |
| 1992 | Veandercross | |||
| 1991 | Castletown | |||
| 1990 | Timandra Steed | |||
| 1989 | Lomondy | |||
| 1988 | Classic Bay | |||
| 1987 | Secret Seal | |||
| 1986 | Lomondy | |||
| 1985 | Always Summer | |||
| 1984 | Commissionaire | |||
| 1983 | Commissionaire | |||
| 1982 | Ruanuku | |||
| 1981 | Serendiper | |||
| 1980 | Harmanaire | |||
| 1979 | La Mer | |||
| 1978 | La Mer | |||
| 1977 | Balmerino | |||
| 1976 | Duty Free | |||
| 1975 | Curly Wave | |||
| 1974 | Guest Star | |||
| 1973 | Duty Free | |||
| 1972 | Count Kereru | |||
| 1971 | Game | |||
| 1970 | Game | |||
| 1969 | Game | |||
| 1968 | Dalvui | |||
| 1967 | Terrific | |||
| 1966 | Palisade | |||
| 1965 | Empyreus | |||
| 1964 | Tatua | |||
| 1963 | Picaroon | |||
| 1962 | Moy | |||
| 1961 | Picaroon | |||
| 1960 | Picaroon | |||
| 1959 | Supertax | |||
| 1958 | Rover | |||
| 1957 | Pinnacle Ridge | |||
| 1956 | Syntax | |||
| 1955 | Redcraze | |||