The 2016 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 5 March 2016. It was the 141st running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Rangipo.
In what was widely considered to be an unusually even Derby field, Rangipo brought strong form into the race with wins in the Great Northern Guineas, Waikato Guineas and Avondale Guineas. Being a son of speedy Australian stallion Stryker, the main question mark hanging over his credentials was his stamina for the 2400-metre test.
But after sitting midfield behind a solid early pace, Rangipo moved into contention in the home straight and held on strongly to beat the fast-finishing What's The Story by a short head. The winner's stablemate Raghu was third, ahead of fillies Capella and Valley Girl who came with big late finishes from well back in the field.
It was the first New Zealand Derby win for trainer Tony Pike and a sixth for jockey Vinnie Colgan.
Sponsor: BMW
Prize money: NZ$750,000
Track: Dead
Number of runners: 18
Winner's time: 2:28.89
Further details of the winner, Rangipo:
Foaled: 10 August 2012 in Australia
Sire: Stryker; Dam: Holloway (Zabeel)
Owner: John & Margaret Thompson
Trainer: Tony Pike
Breeder: John Thompson
Starts: 12
Wins: 7
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 1
Earnings: $684,570
Early-season appearances in 2013-14 prior to running in the Derby.
Rangipo - 1st Great Northern Guineas, 1st Waikato Guineas, 1st Avondale Guineas, 3rd Levin Classic
What's The Story - 6th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 7th Great Northern Guineas
Raghu - 1st Karaka Mile, 2nd Waikato Guineas, 3rd Avondale Guineas
Capella - 1st Eight Carat Classic, 3rd Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic
Valley Girl - 1st Herbie Dyke Stakes, 3rd Eight Carat Classic, 5th Royal Stakes
Tavago - 1st Wellington Stakes, 3rd Karaka Mile, 13th Waikato Guineas
Predator - 7th Avondale Guineas
Get That Jive - 2nd Great Northern Guineas, 3rd Waikato Guineas, 3rd Avondale Guineas
The Hassler - 5th Avondale Guineas
Brighton - 2nd Avondale Guineas, 4th New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 6th Karaka Mile, 8th Great Northern Guineas
Splendido - 2nd BMW Salver, 6th Zabeel Classic
Thunder Down Under - 1st BMW Salver, 3rd Bonecrusher Stakes, 5th Karaka Mile, 7th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 9th Waikato Guineas, 10th Zabeel Classic, 11th Avondale Guineas
Son Of Maher - 1st Dunedin Guineas, 2nd Levin Classic, 6th New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 9th Avondale Guineas
Subsequent wins at Group 1 level by runners in the 2016 New Zealand Derby.
Tavago - Australian Derby
