{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox horseraces | surface = Turf | class = Group 3 | horse race = Aotearoa Classic | image = | caption = | location = Ellerslie Racecourse | inaugurated = 2024 | race type = Thoroughbred – Flat racing | website = | distance = 1,600 metres (8 furlongs) | track = | qualification = Four-year-old horses | weight = Set weights (57.5kg for male horses, 55.5kg for female) | purse = $1,040,000 (2026) | bonuses = }}
The '''Aotearoa Classic''' is a Group three horse race for four year old horses held on Karaka Million night in late January each year at Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.racingandsports.com.au/thoroughbred/feature-race/new-zealand/aotearoa-classic/3649|title=Aotearoa Classic |website=Racing and Sports}}</ref> The Karaka Million race night is held on the eve of the National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.
==History==
The first edition of the race was held Saturday 27 January 2024 when Desert Lightning won from Legarto and Rudyard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://events.loveracing.nz/news/desert-lightning-upstages-legarto-aotearoa-classic|title=Desert Lightning upstages Legarto in Aotearoa Classic|website=Love Racing}}</ref> The 2025 edition was a listed race and it attained Group Three status in 2026. It was reported that the 2026 Aotearoa Classic was the highest race for turnover in New Zealand for January with $1.2 million bet on it via the New Zealand TAB and it's betcha app.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thestraight.com.au/classic-surprises-as-nz-highest-turnover-race-in-january/|title=Classic surprises as NZ highest turnover race in January|website=The Straight News |date=25 February 2026}}</ref>
== Recent results== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%" |- ! width="56px" | Year<br /> ! width="56px" | Stake<br /> ! width="100px" | Winner<br /> ! width="100px" | Sire<br /> ! width="100px" | Dam<br /> ! width="100px" | Jockey<br /> ! width="180px" | Trainer(s)<br /> ! width="50px" | Time<br /> ! width="100px" | Second<br /> ! width="100px" | Third<br /> |- |2026<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/54883/3/Race-Detail.aspx|title=Race 3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing on 24 Jan 2026 |website=Love Racing}}</ref> ||$1,040,000 || Tuxedo 57.5||Tivaci (Aus) ||Ball Gown ||Opie Bosson ||Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray ||1:36.06 (soft)||Hinekaha 55.5||Knobelas 55.5 |- |2025<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/53316/2/Race-Detail.aspx|title=Race 2 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing on 25 Jan 2025 |website=Love Racing}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.racingnews.co.nz/barneswood-farm-go-back-to-back-in-aotearoa-classic/|title=Barneswood Farm go back-to-back in Aotearoa Classic|date=25 January 2025|website=NZ Racing News}}</ref>||$1,000,000 ||Orchestral 55.5<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing/horse-racing-shock-retirement-after-orchestral-loses-her-rhythm-michael-guerin/QSAASRWPVZGRLHPC6YKULSHJCI/|title=Mick On Monday: Shock retirement after Orchestral loses her rhythm|first=Michael|last=Guerin|website=NZ Herald}}</ref> ||Savabeel ||Symphonic || Craig Grylls||Roger James & Robert Wellwood ||1:35.99 (soft)||Mary Shan 55.5 ||Mosinvader 57.5 |- |2024<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/52530/5/Race-Detail.aspx|title=Race 5 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing on 27 Jan 2024 |website=Love Racing}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzb.co.nz/news/desert-lightning-nz-spectacular-in-aotearoa-classic|title=Desert Lightning (NZ) Spectacular in Aotearoa Classic |date=11 April 2026|website=NZB Thoroughbred}}</ref> ||$1,000,000 || Desert Lightning 57.5|| Pride of Dubhai (Aus) ||Isstoora (Aus) ||Vincent Colgan ||Peter & Dawn Williams||1:32.53 (good) || Legarto 55.5||Rudyard 57.5 |- |}
==See also == * Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes * Otaki-Maori Weight for Age * Thorndon Mile * Zabeel Classic * Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Horse races in New Zealand Category:Thoroughbred races in New Zealand