Spring Classic

Spring Classic

Group I race
Location	Hastings Racecourse Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Inaugurated	1955
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Hawke's Bay Racing
Race information
Distance	2040m (10 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds and up
Weight	Weight for Age
Purse	NZ$300,000 (in 2011)

The Kit Ormond Memorial Spring Classic (formerley Kelt Capital Stakes) is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and is New Zealand's richest weight-for-age horse race. It is run at a distance of 2040m and in 2011 will carry prize money of NZ$3000,000.

The race was sponsored by Kelt Capital Limited, and in particular the owner thereof Sam Kelt, a strong supporter of New Zealand and particularly Hawke's Bay racing. The growth in prize money was substantial in the decade up to 2008. In 2000 it was worth $250,000; in 2002 it was the equal richest race in New Zealand at $500,000 and in 2004 it was New Zealand's first million-dollar race for more than a decade. The race was worth $2,000,000 in 2007 and 2008, but the stake had to be reduced to $1,200,000 in 2009 as that level was deemed unsustainable. The 2010 running was worth $250,000, below several major races in New Zealand but still slightly ahead in terms of weight-for-age races. The race has been renamed the Spring Classic after Kelt Capital pulled their sponsorship.

The race is run on the first Saturday in October, along with two other Group features, the Hawke's Bay Guineas for three-year-olds and a 1400 m handicap formerly known as the G.R. Kelt Memorial. The weather in the Hawke's Bay's means the track conditions are usually excellent.

The race is now regarded as New Zealand's premier weight-for-age race and has attracted interest from overseas, most notably with subsequent world champion miler Starcraft who ran second in 2004.

Winners of the Spring Classic

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Time
2013	Ransomed
2012	Shez Sinsational	Opie Bosson	Allan Sharrock	2:04.89
2011	Jimmy Choux	Jonathan Riddell	John Bary	2:06.24
2010	Wall Street	Michael Coleman	Jeff Lynds	2:02.97
2009	Vosne Romanee	Buddy Lammas	Jeff Lynds	2:08.42
2008	Princess Coup	Opie Bosson	Mark Walker	2:04.58
2007	Princess Coup	Noel Harris	Mark Walker	2:04.16
2006	Legs	Lisa Cropp	Kevin Gray	2:03.82
2005	Xcellent	Michael Coleman	Mike & Paul Moroney	2:03.21
2004	Balmuse	Jamie Bullard	Kevin Myers	2:05.03
2003	Distinctly Secret	Opie Bosson	Mark Walker	2:03.64
2002	Prized Gem	Michael Rodd	Murray Baker	2:04.10
2001	Cinder Bella	Lance O'Sullivan	Karen Zimmerman	2:03.31
2000	The Message	Linda Ballantyne	John Ralph	2:03.91
1999	Cent Home	David Walker	Jim Wallace	2:02.16
1998	Just Call Me Sir	Trudy Collett	Moira Murdoch	2:04.06
1997	Moss Downs	Michael Coleman	Chris McNab	2:03.63
1996	Love Dance	Gary Grylls	Bev & Ken Kelso	2:03.41
1995	Italian Saint	Tony Allan	Noel Eales	2.03.41
1994	Solvit	David Walsh	Moira Murdoch	2.00.16
1993	Calm Harbour	Lance O'Sullivan	Noel Eales	1.59.70
1992	Veandercross
1991	Castletown
1990	Timandra Steed
1989	Lomondy
1988	Classic Bay
1987	Secret Seal
1986	Lomondy
1985	Always Summer
1984	Commissionaire
1983	Commissionaire
1982	Ruanuku
1981	Serendiper
1980	Harmanaire
1979	La Mer
1978	La Mer
1977	Balmerino
1976	Duty Free
1975	Curly Wave
1974	Guest Star
1973	Duty Free
1972	Count Kereru
1971	Game
1970	Game
1969	Game
1968	Dalvui
1967	Terrific
1966	Palisade
1965	Empyreus
1964	Tatua
1963	Picaroon
1962	Moy
1961	Picaroon
1960	Picaroon
1959	Supertax
1958	Rover
1957	Pinnacle Ridge
1956	Syntax
1955	Redcraze