DERBY & CUP NIGHT

Date

12.03.2010

Description

 $500,000 WOODLANDS DERBY

The Derby is regarded as the greatest of all classic races and is confined to three-year-old pacers.
 The Woodlands Derby at Alexandra Park is the richest age group pacing race in the Southern Hemipshere and is a huge stepping stone on the path to greatest.
 Run over 2700m from behind a mobile start, it has been won by such modern day champions as Courage Under Fire, Elsu, Holmes D G and Changeover.
These days it often attracts the best Australian three-year-old of its year, making it one of the world’s few truly international Derbys.
 This year’s Derby will be run on March 12 and will comprise the best 13 horses to compete in the two preludes at Alexandra Park on March 5.

$500,000 TRILLIAN TRUST AUCKLAND CUP

The Auckland Cup is one of the world’s great harness races.
 It brings together the best open class pacers from around Australasia to compete over 2700m from a mobile start at Alexandra Park on March 12.
 Because of its later timing (it used to be run in December) it not only hosts the elite older horses but has become a major target for the best four-year-olds.
 This season that will prove the case again with the likes of Tintin In America and Highview Tommy using it as their springboard to open class.
 Add to that superstars like Monkey King, Changeover, Mr Feelgood, Baileys Dream and many more and the pacing greats who contest this year’s Cup may have won over $12million between them.
 So who will be the next to add their name to the list of Auckland Cup legends alongside Cardigan Bay, Youn Quinn, Christian Cullen and Elsu?