| Surface: | Turf |
| Class: | Group I |
| Horse Race: | Levin Classic |
| Location: | Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, (2014-) Otaki Racecourse (1991-2012) Levin Racecourse (1981-1990) |
| Inaugurated: | 1981 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website: | Levin Racing Club |
| Distance: | 1600m (1 mile) |
| Track: | Left-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-year-olds |
| Weight: | Set-Weights |
| Purse: | NZ$500,000 (2023) |
The Group One Levin Classic - formerly the Bayer Classic - is one of the premier races for three-year-old thoroughbreds in New Zealand.
The race, first run under the name Levin Turf Classic, was originally run at Levin Racecourse until that facility was closed as a racing venue in 1990 and the race was transferred to nearby Ōtaki.
For more than a decade the race was sponsored by Bayer, and known as the Bayer Classic.
For much of its history, the race was run at Levin and then Ōtaki on the last Friday in November.
Concern began to grow in the 2000s about the race's close proximity to the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and New Zealand 1000 Guineas, both run in the second week in November. The three Group 1 3-year-old races over a mile in the New Zealand racing season were all run within the space of three weeks, leading to an inevitable dilution of quality of fields. From 2014 the Levin Classic was moved to Trentham Racecourse in Wellington and initially run as part of the Wellington Cup Carnival in January conducted by the Wellington Racing Club. In 2022 and 2023 the race was held in March but it was returned to January in 2024.[1]
Among the most famous winners are:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer(s) | Time | Second place | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024[2] | Quintessa 55 | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 1:35.76 (good) | Zabmanzor 57 | Impendabelle 55 |
| 2023[3] | Romancing The Moon 55 | Kozzi Asano | Mark Walker | 1:37.13 (soft) | Skew Wiff 55 | Luella Cristina 55 |
| 2022[4] | Imperatriz 54.5 | Michael McNab | Jamie Richards | 1:36.43 (dead) | On The Bubbles 56.5 | I Wish I Win 56.5 |
| 2021[5] | Bonham 54.5 | Lisa Allpress | Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard, Otaki | 1:37.67 (good) | Brando 56.5 | Wild Moose 56.5 |
| 2020[6] | Travelling Light 54.5 | Samantha Collett | Ben Foote, Cambridge | 1:36.71 (good) | Harlech 56.5 | Riodini 56.5 |
| 2019[7] | Madison County 56.5 | Matthew Cameron | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge | 1:35.89 (good) | Hypnos 56.5 | Vernanme 56.5 |
| 2018[8] | Age Of Fire 56.5 | Opie Bosson | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata | 1:36.63 (soft) | Belle Du Nord 54.5 | Savvy Coup 54.5 |
| 2017[9] | Hall Of Fame 56.5 | Opie Bosson | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata | 1:35.54 (good) | Saville Row 56.5 | Jon Snow 56.5 |
| 2016[10] | Dukedom 56.5 | Lisa Allpress | Steven Cole | 1:36.96 (good) | Son Of Maher 56.5 | Rangipo 56.5 |
| 2015[11] | Gaultier 56.5 | Michael Coleman | Danica Guy, Matamata | 1:36.62 | Sardaaj 54.5 | Huka Eagle 56.5 |
| 2014[12] | Recite 54.5 | Mark Du Plessis | John Bary, Hastings | 1:36.10 | Franzac 56.5 | Aspen 56.5 |
| 2013 | No race held | |||||
| 2012[13] | Southern Lord 56.5 | Kelly Myers | Alan Tait, Matamata | 1:34.63 (good) | Le Choix 56.5 | Soriano 55 |
| 2011[14] | Distill 56.5 | Robert Hannam | Roydon Bergerson, Awapuni | 1:35.97 (good) | Randall 56.5 | Antonio Lombardo 56.5 |
| 2010[15] | We Can Say It Now 54.5 | Leith Innes | Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge | 1:34.27 (good) | Blinding 54.5 | Lady Kipling 54.5 |
| 2009[16] | Eileen Dubh 55 | Jonathan Riddell | Francis Finnegan, Woodville | 1:35.43 (good) | St Germaine 54.5 | Green Supreme 56 |
| 2008[17] | Altered Image 56 | Michael Coleman | Michael & Paul Moroney, Matamata | 1:32.50 (good) | Spontaneous 56 | Izonit 56 |
| 2007[18] | Keepa Cruisin 54.5 | Leith Innes | Stephen McKee, Ardmore | 1:34.85 (good) | Run Like Al 56 | Satinka 54.5 |
| 2006[19] | Porotene Gem 54.5 | David Walker | Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge | 1:40.10 (soft) | Jokers Wild 56 | Figueres 56 |
| 2005[20] | Wahid 56 | Hayden Tinsley | Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth | 1:36.18 (Dead) | Shikoba 53.5 | Izzat 56 |
| 2004 | Ambitious Owner 55.5 | Leith Innes | Murray Baker, Cambridge | 1:34.77 (Good) | Fiscal Madness 55.5 | Magnetism 55.5 |
| 2003 | Russian Pearl 56 | Hayden Tinsley | Bruce & Stephen Marsh, Woodville | 1:34.96 (soft) | Taatletail 53.5 | King’s Chapel 56 |
| 2002 | Bunker 56 | Opie Bosson | Trevor & Stephen McKee, Takanini | 1:37.14 (soft) | Dane choice 56 | Cheerine Kid 56 |
| 2001 | Final Destination 53.5 | Gary Grylls | Vannessa Hillis, Matamata | 1:34.9 (good) | Shinnecock 54 | Armondo 56 |
| 2000 | Tit For Taat 56 | Hayden Tinsley | Wayne Herbert | 1:35.11 (good) | Star Satire 56 | Sir Clive 54 |
| 1999 | Buzz Lightyear 56 | Opie Bosson | Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu | 1:35.28 | Domero 56 | Greatthings Happen 56 |
| 1998 | Tobruk 56 | Leith Innes | Graham Richardson, Matamata | 1:37.67 (soft) | With Drawn 56 | Kaapeon 56 |
| 1997 | Love De Tor 53 | Greg Childs | Michael Moroney, Matamata | 1:33.69 (good) | Foxwood 53 | Quality Kingdom 53 |
| 1996 | O'Reilly 55.5 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:35.74 | High Return 55.5 | Rebel 55.5 |
| 1995 | Prussian Blue 55.5 | Shane Udy | Davina Waddell, Pukekohe | 1:34.97 (good) | Anemos 56 | Super Crest 53 |
| 1994 | Avedon 55.5 | Darryl Bradley | Felix Patrick Campbell, Awapuni | 1:34.81 | Starcent 53 | Allegro 55.5 |
| 1993 | Al Akbar 55.5 | Gary Grylls | Chris Wood, Cambridge | 1:43.97 (heavy) | Western Red 55.5 | Facing The Music 53 |
| 1992 | Nimue 53 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:33.66 | Kaaptive Edition 55.5 | Hula Strike 55.5 |
| 1991 | Veandercross 55.5 | Jim Walker | Chris Turner, New Plymouth | 1:34.35 | Overwhelmed 55.5 | Captain Cook 55.5 |
| 1990 | Eagle Eye 55.5 | Noel Harris | Murray Baker, Woodville | 1:39.64 | Sir Alberton 55.5 | Play On 55.5 |
| 1989 | Phillipa Rush 53 | Lance O'Sullivan | Jim Campin, Cambridge | 1:36.20 | Pumpernickel 55.5 | Status 55.5 |
| 1988 | Krona 55.5 | Peter Tims | Roger McGlade, Taupo | 1:35.53 (good) | Straight Order 55.5 | Kate’s Myth 53 |
| 1987 | Young Indian 55.5 | Peter Tims | Norm Morgan, Ruakaka | 1:35.75 (good) | Sound Belt 55.5 | Candide 53 |
| 1986 | The Bishop 55.5 | Maree Lyndon | Don Couchman, Hawera | 1:36.78 | Margarella 53 | Precocious Lad 55.5 |
| 1985 | Bonecrusher 55.5 | Jim Cassidy | Frank Ritchie, Takanini | 1:36.90 | French Polish 53 | Seadreamer 53 |
| 1984 | Princess Dram 53 | Maree Lyndon | Neil Bradley, Hawera | 1:35.90 | Avana 53 | Kingdom Bay 55.5 |
| 1983 | Burletta 53 | Jim Cassidy | Felix Patrick Campbell, Hastings | 1:36.0 | Eastern Bay 53 | Prince Ariba 55.5 |
| 1982 | Our Flight 53 | Maurice Campbell | Errol Skelton, Levin | 1:36.2 (good) | Red Tempo 55.5 | Clansman 55.5 |
| 1981 | Altitude 55.5 | Stephen Autridge | Bill Ford, Matamata | 1:36.00 (good) | Noble Heights 53 | Volare 55.5 |