Zavite won big races both sides of the Tasman. Is there another like him in the 2023 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Pukekohe on Saturday?

2023 AUCKLAND CUP - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Auckland Cup is a Group 2 race run under Set Weights and Penalty conditions for stayers usually at Ellerslie race course conducted by the Auckland Racing Club.

The Auckland Cup is run over 3200m. It was first run in 1874 and was won by Templeton.

The Auckland Cup is the main New Zealand staying race of the season for all comers. It was run at Pukekohe Park in 2023 due to the redevelopment of Ellerslie racecourse.

Run over the two miles, it used to be run on Boxing Day until 1958 then New Year's Day up to 2006 before moving to later in the season.

It was a G1 race for many years but was downgraded to G2 in 2022. It is still an important staying race.

Who Shot Thebarman won an Auckland Cup in 2014 then came to Chris Waller and has been a grand stayer winning many feature races like the Sydney Cup and placing in several G1s including a Melbourne Cup.

Jezabeel is the only horse to win both the Auckland and Melbourne Cup, taking them in 1998.

New Zealand is universally recognised as a great area for staying horses, so ironically a couple of Australian stayers have won Auckland Cups of recent times. Zavite scored for Anthony Cummings and Yobro won for Kirk Roberts.

Five of the last eight Auckland Cup winners have been mares.

The Auckland Cup was worth NZ$500,000 in 2023.

Notable winners of the Auckland Cup include Who Shot Thebarman (2014), Sangster (2013), Shez Sinsational (2012), Zavite (2010), Prize Lady (2007/2008), Our Unicorn (2001), Jezabeel (1998), Yobro (1997), Senator (1996), Miltak (1994), Castletown (1992), Blue Denim (1980), Apollo Eleven (1973), Il Tempo (1969/1970), Beau Vite (1940), Cheval De Volee (1938/1939), Cuddle (1935/1936), Te Kara (1923/1924), All Red (1908/1909), Blue Jacket (1899/1900), Nelson (1885/1886/1887), Ariel (1876/1878/1879), Kingfisher (1875) and Templeton (1974).

The 2022 Auckland Cup was won by Uareastar from Concert Hall and Sound.