The fillies get their chance in the spotlight in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas run at Riccarton on Saturday.
Legarto was an excellent winner so who takes the 2025 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday?
2025 NEW ZEALAND 1000 GUINEAS - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The New Zealand 1000 Guineas is a Group 1 race run under Set Weights conditions for three year old fillies at Riccarton Park race course conducted by the Canterbury Jockey Club.
The New Zealand 1000 Guineas is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1973.
The New Zealand 1000 Guineas is regarded as one of New Zealand's feature 3yo fillies races along with the Oaks run later in the season.
Over the traditional mile, it is run during the New Zealand Cup week festival of racing and trotting in November. The Guineas races order was swapped in 2025.
The Derby and Oaks were run at Riccarton but when they were moved to Ellerslie and Trentham, Riccarton was decided as a place to contest Guineas races along the same lines as their UK equivalents. This was especially more relevant with the Classics now run much later.
Tycoon Lil is probably the best of the winners in the last 35 years winning Group 1s on both sides of the Tasman and being close up in a Cox Plate behind Might And Power.
Canterbury Belle came to Brisbane and won the Stradbroke that season.
The 2019 edition saw all three placegetters end up being G1 winners as 3yos.
Jamie Richards had five runners in the 2021 running and four of them were the first four home.
The 2022 running was delayed by two days after a track issue and then the race itself by many minutes when the favourite Legarto's bridle broke pre-race but she was still too good by around 5L.
The New Zealand 1000 Guineas was worth NZ$600,000 in 2025.
Notable winners of the New Zealand 1000 Guineas include Legarto (2022), La Diosa (2016), King's Rose (2010), Katie Lee (2009), Daffodil (2008), Seachange (2005), Justa Tad (2004), The Jewel (2002), Ad Alta (1999), Pace Invader (1998), Tycoon Lil (1997), Tartan Tights (1994), Snap (1993), Nimue (1992), Candide (1987) and Canterbury Belle (1984).
The 2024 New Zealand 1000 Guineas was won by Captured By Love from Alabama Lass and Movin Out.
