Inaugurated 1973 Distance 1600m (1 mile) Purse 300,000 NZD | Website Riccarton Park Surface Turf | |
Location Riccarton Park
Christchurch, New Zealand Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing | ||
The 1000 Guineas is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run over a distance of 1600 m at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand. As of 2009, it is held on the final Saturday of Christchurch's famous New Zealand Cup Week in November, which centres on the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on the Tuesday. Riccarton's other major races during the week include the Coupland's Bakeries Mile on the Wednesday, the New Zealand 2000 Guineas on the first Saturday and the thoroughbred equivalent of the New Zealand Cup, also on the final Saturday.
The 1000 Guineas is currently run for a purse of NZ$300,000.
History
Until 1973, both the New Zealand Oaks and the New Zealand Derby were run at Riccarton. When those races were moved to Trentham and Ellerslie respectively, Riccarton was awarded two new classic races, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas over 1600m. These races are based on those of the same name in the United Kingdom, run at Newmarket in the first weekend in May.
Both races have quickly established themselves on the New Zealand calendar, and the 1000 Guineas routinely attracts all of the country's leading fillies and, as a crucial race in the Filly Of The Year series, is regularly taken out by the eventual winner of that title.
Among the best recent winners are Katie Lee, Seachange, King's Rose, the brilliant but ill-fated Taatletail and Tycoon Lil.