Levin Classic prize money
The Levin Classic is worth £176,360 for the 2026 running . That makes it the 361st richest of the 997 races on this site and the 17th richest in New Zealand.
The race announces its purse as NZ$400,000, and every figure here is that money converted. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
What the Levin Classic is
Group 1, Group 2 (2025-) · 1600m (1 mile), 1400m (2025-) · Turf · Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, (2014-)
- Racecourse
- Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, (2014-)
- Country
- New Zealand
- Grade
- Group 1, Group 2 (2025-)
- Distance
- 1600m (1 mile), 1400m (2025-)
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Thoroughbred - Flat racing
- Open to
- Three-year-olds
- Direction
- Left-handed
- First run
- 1981
- As published
- NZ$400,000
We hold the total fund for the Levin Classic and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.
Run in 1:24.40 in 2026, the Levin Classic pays £2,090 for every second of the race, which is 228th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 14th in New Zealand.
Every Levin Classic winner
45 runnings, 1981 to 2026, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | La Dorada 551:24.40 (soft) | Craig Grylls | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson |
| 2025 | Savaglee 571:23.22 (good, 1400m) | Samantha Spratt | Pam Gerard |
| 2024 | Quintessa 551:35.76 (good) | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson |
| 2023 | Romancing The Moon 551:37.13 (soft) | Kozzi Asano | Mark Walker |
| 2022 | Imperatriz 54.51:36.43 (dead) | Michael McNab | Jamie Richards |
| 2021 | Bonham 54.51:37.67 (good) | Lisa Allpress | Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard, Otaki |
| 2020 | Travelling Light 54.51:36.71 (good) | Samantha Collett | Ben Foote, Cambridge |
| 2019 | Madison County 56.51:35.89 (good) | Matthew Cameron | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge |
| 2018 | Age Of Fire 56.51:36.63 (soft) | Opie Bosson | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata |
| 2017 | Hall Of Fame 56.51:35.54 (good) | Opie Bosson | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata |
| 2016 | Dukedom 56.51:36.96 (good) | Lisa Allpress | Steven Cole |
| 2015 | Gaultier 56.51:36.62 (good) | Michael Coleman | Danica Guy, Matamata |
| 2014 | Recite 54.51:36.10 (firm) | Mark Du Plessis | John Bary, Hastings |
| 2012 | Southern Lord 56.51:34.63 (good) | Kelly Myers | Alan Tait, Matamata |
| 2011 | Distill 56.51:35.97 (good) | Robert Hannam | Roydon Bergerson, Awapuni |
| 2010 | We Can Say It Now 54.51:34.27 (good) | Leith Innes | Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge |
| 2009 | Eileen Dubh 551:35.43 (good) | Jonathan Riddell | Francis Finnegan, Woodville |
| 2008 | Altered Image 561:32.50 (good) | Michael Coleman | Michael & Paul Moroney, Matamata |
| 2007 | Keepa Cruisin 54.51:34.85 (good) | Leith Innes | Stephen McKee, Ardmore |
| 2006 | Porotene Gem 54.51:40.10 (soft) | David Walker | Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge |
| 2005 | Wahid 561:36.18 (dead) | Hayden Tinsley | Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth |
| 2004 | Ambitious Owner 55.51:34.77 (Good) | Leith Innes | Murray Baker, Cambridge |
| 2003 | Russian Pearl 561:34.96 (soft) | Hayden Tinsley | Bruce & Stephen Marsh, Woodville |
| 2002 | Bunker 561:37.14 (soft) | Opie Bosson | Trevor & Stephen McKee, Takanini |
| 2001 | Final Destination 53.51:34.9 (good) | Gary Grylls | Vannessa Hillis, Matamata |
| 2000 | Tit For Taat 561:35.11 (good) | Hayden Tinsley | Wayne Herbert |
| 1999 | Buzz Lightyear 561:35.28 | Opie Bosson | Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu |
| 1998 | Tobruk 561:37.67 (soft) | Leith Innes | Graham Richardson, Matamata |
| 1997 | Love De Tor 531:33.69 (good) | Greg Childs | Michael Moroney, Matamata |
| 1996 | O'Reilly 55.51:35.74 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata |
| 1995 | Prussian Blue 55.51:34.97 (good) | Shane Udy | Davina Waddell, Pukekohe |
| 1994 | Avedon 55.51:34.81 | Darryl Bradley | Felix Patrick Campbell, Awapuni |
| 1993 | Al Akbar 55.51:43.97 (heavy) | Gary Grylls | Chris Wood, Cambridge |
| 1992 | Nimue 531:33.66 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata |
| 1991 | Veandercross 55.51:34.35 | Jim Walker | Chris Turner, New Plymouth |
| 1990 | Eagle Eye 55.51:39.64 | Noel Harris | Murray Baker, Woodville |
| 1989 | Phillipa Rush 531:36.20 | Lance O'Sullivan | Jim Campin, Cambridge |
| 1988 | Krona 55.51:35.53 (good) | Peter Tims | Roger McGlade, Taupo |
| 1987 | Young Indian 55.51:35.75 (good) | Peter Tims | Norm Morgan, Ruakaka |
| 1986 | The Bishop 55.51:36.78 | Maree Lyndon | Don Couchman, Hawera |
| 1985 | Bonecrusher 55.51:36.90 | Jim Cassidy | Frank Ritchie, Takanini |
| 1984 | Princess Dram 531:35.90 | Maree Lyndon | Neil Bradley, Hawera |
| 1983 | Burletta 531:36.0 | Jim Cassidy | Felix Patrick Campbell, Hastings |
| 1982 | Our Flight 531:36.2 (good) | Maurice Campbell | Errol Skelton, Levin |
| 1981 | Altitude 55.51:36.00 (good) | Stephen Autridge | Bill Ford, Matamata |
45 of the 45 runnings name the rider, 45 name the trainer and 0 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the Levin Classic more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a jockey
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Levin Classic in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 351 | Super DerbyLouisiana Downs | United States | £187,970 | $250,000 |
| 352 | Withers StakesAqueduct Racetrack | United States | £187,970 | $250,000 |
| 353 | Adelaide CupMorphettville Racecourse, South Australia | Australia | £185,185 | AU$350,000 |
| 354 | Australia StakesMoonee Valley Racecourse | Australia | £185,185 | AU$350,000 |
| 355 | Blue Diamond Prelude C&GCaulfield Racecourse, Sandown Racecourse | Australia | £185,185 | AU$350,000 |
| 356 | Blue Diamond Prelude FilliesCaulfield Racecourse, Sandown Racecourse | Australia | £185,185 | AU$350,000 |
| 357 | Queensland GuineasEagle Farm Racecourse | Australia | £185,185 | AU$350,000 |
| 358 | Sky High StakesRosehill Gardens Racecourse | Australia | £185,185 | AU$350,000 |
| 359 | Dominion (harness race)Addington Raceway | New Zealand | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 360 | Howden Insurance MileHastings Racecourse | New Zealand | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 362 | Mufhasa ClassicTrentham Racecourse | New Zealand | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 363 | Proisir PlateEllerslie Racecourse, Auckland. Formerly Hastings Racecourse | New Zealand | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 364 | Wellington CupTrentham Racecourse | New Zealand | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 365 | Bet365 Gold CupSandown Park | Great Britain | £175,000 | £175,000 |
| 366 | Celebration ChaseSandown Park | Great Britain | £175,000 | £175,000 |
| 367 | Tingle Creek ChaseSandown Park Racecourse | Great Britain | £175,000 | £175,000 |
| 368 | Grand Prix de DeauvilleDeauville Racecourse | France | £170,940 | €200,000 |
| 369 | Prix ChaudenayLongchamp Racecourse | France | £170,940 | €200,000 |
| 370 | Prix Daniel WildensteinLongchamp Racecourse | France | £170,940 | €200,000 |
| 371 | Prix DollarLongchamp Racecourse | France | £170,940 | €200,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Levin Classic in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in New Zealand
35 races, 17th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zabeel Classic | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group I | £220,450 |
| New Zealand Cup | Riccarton Park Racecourse | Group III | £198,405 |
| Dominion (harness race) | Addington Raceway | Group I | £176,360 |
| Howden Insurance Mile | Hastings Racecourse | Group I | £176,360 |
| Mufhasa Classic | Trentham Racecourse | Group I | £176,360 |
| Proisir Plate | Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland. Formerly Hastings Racecourse | Group I | £176,360 |
| Wellington Cup | Trentham Racecourse | Group 3 | £176,360 |
| New Zealand Trotting Derby | Addington Raceway | Group I | £132,270 |
Every race in New Zealand we hold a purse for is on the New Zealand prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total Levin Classic prize money?
£176,360, for the 2026 running. The race announces it as NZ$400,000.
Where does the Levin Classic rank among the richest races in the world?
361st of 997. 360 races pay more, the nearest of them Super Derby. In New Zealand it is 17th of 35.
Which jockey has won the Levin Classic most often?
Opie Bosson, with 5 wins between 1999 and 2024.
When was the Levin Classic first run?
1981. This page holds 45 runnings, from 1981 to 2026.
How far is the Levin Classic?
1600m (1 mile), 1400m (2025-), on turf, at Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, (2014-).
Where to next
The rest of the racing money