Zabeel Classic

The 2025 Zabeel Classic runs on Friday December 26 at Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, and the TAB NZ have all the best Zabeel Classic odds and tips on the Boxing Day feature race!

Looking for the latest Zabeel Classic betting odds, insider racing tips and form for the Ellerslie Group 1 this Boxing Day? The TAB NZ have all the best betting guides and statistics to make informed bets on the Zabeel Classic race this December 26!

The Group 1 Zabeel Classic is a crucial test for New Zealand’s top middle-distance racehorses. It is one of the most popular Kiwi races held each summer and the final elite level of the calendar year traditionally run at Auckland’s Ellerslie Racecourse on Boxing Day.

To improve your chances of predicting the next Zabeel Classic winner, access the latest Zabeel Classic odds and tips online at the TAB NZ.

TAB NZ provides in-depth analysis, form guides, and betting insights to help you navigate the competitive field of summer contenders.

Whether you’re a seasoned punter or new to betting on the horse races in New Zealand, our comprehensive Zabeel Classic coverage has everything you need.

Back a Boxing Day bolter — get on the Zabeel Classic with TAB NZ! 

 

Zabeel Classic Fast Facts

• Last mare to win the Zabeel Classic: Snazzytavi (2024)
• Last multiple Zabeel Classic winner: Star Dancer (1995-96)
• Last Zabeel Classic favourite to win: Snazzytavi ($2 in 2024)
• Notable Fact: The Zabeel Classic gained Group 1 status in 1987

 

 

2025 Zabeel Classic Betting

2025 Zabeel Classic Preview

Bet on the 2025 Zabeel Classic race now!

Zabeel Classic betting takes place on the popular Zabeel Classic race which is held at Auckland’s Ellerslie Racecourse on Boxing Day in late-December annually.

Zabeel Classic odds are offered on the esteemed Zabeel Classic Meeting Group 1 event, and the field attracts a host of quality thoroughbreds.

The Group 1 Zabeel Classic is one of New Zealand’s most popular horse races and has been run and won since 1985 when Our Boyfriend became the inaugural champion of the event then known as the Auckland Classic.

It has been known under a number of different race names over the years including the Auckland Classic, Oaks Stud Classic and the Japan Racing Association Classic.

Zabeel Classic race history shows that its current Boxing Day timeslot ensures it is one of the country’s most esteemed and bet on horse racing events.

The Zabeel Classic holds a special place in racing history due a host of local greats having won the race during their careers.

Taking place at Auckland’s iconic Ellerslie Racecourse, the Zabeel Classic is a 2000m event.

The Zabeel Classic is a weight-for-age event meaning it is run over the same distance and conditions as Australia’s famous Cox Plate race in the spring.

The event has held Group 1 status since 1987.

The race is named in honor of Zabeel, a champion sire in New Zealand, and it attracts a large crowd of 20,000 or more racegoers, making it a significant event in the New Zealand racing calendar.

2025 Zabeel Classic Tips

Stay tuned for our expert tips and Zabeel Classic betting predictions ahead of this year’s Auckland Boxing Day feature.

Zabeel Classic Tips

Zabeel Classic tips on which horse will win the next edition of the event flood in as the countdown to the important Ellerslie 2000m race heats up.

Zabeel Classic tips on what horse will win the Zabeel Classic this year are highly sought after by smart punters and racing fans every season.

When looking at Zabeel Classic race tips it is important to consider factors including:

• What horses in the Zabeel Classic field are proven over the distance?
• Who the key Zabeel Classic trainers and jockeys are and what horses they have in the Zabeel Classic field this year?
• Zabeel Classic barrier statistics and where your Zabeel Classic betting selections are drawn.
• Zabeel Classic horses that have a good past record at the track.

How long does it take to know if you placed a winning Zabeel Classic race tip? The event itself takes just over two minutes for the competing horses to run the 2,000m trip depending on track conditions.

The official Zabeel Classic winner and winning Zabeel Classic trifecta are known shortly after unless there is a protest or a photo-finish Zabeel Classic result.

What are the best Zabeel Classic lead-up races to look at when placing a Zabeel Classic bet?

Key lead-up races to the Zabeel Classic often include several important events that help horses prepare for the 2000 metre challenge. Some of these races are the:

• Captain Cook Stakes: A Group 1 race over 1600 meters held at Trentham Racecourse.
• Counties Cup: A Group 3 race over 2100 meters at Pukekohe Park.
• Cal Isuzu Stakes: A Group 2 race over 1600 meters at Te Rapa Racecourse.
• Avondale Cup: A Group 2 race over 2400 meters at Ellerslie Racecourse.

These races provide a good mix of distance and competition, helping horses build form and fitness ahead of the Zabeel Classic.

Campionessa (2023) and Snazzytavi (2024) are the latest runners to complete the Isuzu Stakes – Zabeel Classic race double.

New Zealand-Bred Horses in the Zabeel Classic

Betting on the New Zealand-bred horses in the field is key with the race results dominated by locally foaled stayers.

Looking back over the Zabeel Classic history and statistics shows that the only horses bred outside of New Zealand to win the Zabeel Classic in the past 20 years were Danzdanzdance (AUS) in 2018 and Lashed (AUS) in 2004.

Zabeel Classic Tips for a Trifecta

Zabeel Classic tips for a trifecta cover the first three horses to officially go past the finishing post in the Zabeel Classic results.

The horse to finish on top of the Zabeel Classic trifecta is your Zabeel Classic winner, the runner who outlasted all their rivals and finished in the fastest time.

Placing a Zabeel Classic trifecta exotic bet on the race is a great way to add to the thrill and potentially be rewarded with a generous pay-out.

A Zabeel Classic trifecta is only successful if the three horses in your bet finish in the exact order you predict. Punters may choose instead to box their trifecta bets on the Zabeel Classic to cover more finishing options and increase the chances of winning.

Adding the favourite into your Zabeel Classic trifecta bet is a top tip as the favourites have a strong recent strike-rate running in the money.

Zabeel Classic Week

On Zabeel Classic Day several other exciting New Zealand Boxing Day races take place alongside the Zabeel Classic including the:

• Great Northern Auckland Guineas: A Group 2 race for three-year-olds over 1600 meters.
• Hallmark Stud Handicap: A Listed race over 1200 meters.
• Eight Carat Classic: A Group 2 race for three-year-old fillies over 1600 meters.
• Royal Stakes: A Group 2 race for three-year-old fillies over 2000 meters.

Following the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day, other upcoming summer feature horse races in New Zealand include the:

• Group 1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m),
• Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), and the
• Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m).

Zabeel Classic Betting

Zabeel Classic betting is open months ahead of the Group 1 Auckland, summer race at the TAB NZ.

We offer pre-nomination Zabeel Classic betting odds throughout the year that are known as futures Zabeel Classic odds online.

All-In Zabeel Classic betting markets are then available following the official Zabeel Classic nominations.

Betting on the Zabeel Classic field is available following final acceptances.

Betting on the Zabeel Classic often favours the older runners who have a great strike-rate and mares who have more than held their own against the boys in the middle-distance feature.

Zabeel Classic race betting traditionally focuses on the proven Group winning horses who have an outstanding record in the event and those proven over the 2000m distance.

Zabeel Classic race tips centre on proven stars that have good lead-up form in similar grade spring/summer events, horses with previous experience at the Ellerslie track and the veteran runners who have dominated recent Zabeel Classic race results.

The Zabeel Classic is a weight-for-age race meaning the older a horse is the more weight they will carry.

The highest-rated horse in the Zabeel Classic field dons the number one saddlecloth.

Zabeel Classic Odds

Zabeel Classic odds and online betting tips on the Zabeel Classic are dominated by proven Group horses, the locally bred runners in the race and horses aged six and over who have a great record in the event.

What makes betting on the Zabeel Classic so popular?

The fact that the Zabeel Classic is one of the leading Group 1 races run during the Auckland summer racing festival and one of the key Boxing Day races in Australasia make it a must watch and must bet on horse racing event.

The Zabeel Classic is a great race that has produced a host of subsequent Group 1 winning horses.

The Zabeel Classic is one of the most prestigious and lucrative thoroughbred horse races in New Zealand.

For the best online betting on the Zabeel Classic, consider tipping a horse to win both the Zabeel Classic and another Group race over the carnival in a summer race double!

What makes the Zabeel Classic so special?

The Zabeel Classic serves as a great guide historically to other important New Zealand Group 1 races so using the Zabeel Classic winners’ list for upcoming Group events is popular with punters.

The Zabeel Classic holds a special place in New Zealand racing history and grows in prestige each year.

New Zealand and international racing fans, including those in Australia, tune into the thrilling 2000m summer event every season to see if their bets on the Zabeel Classic race won!

The Zabeel Classic currently offers around NZD$450,000 in prize money plus bragging rights with jockeys, trainers and owners from across the country and further abroad keen to add their names to the list of Zabeel Classic champions.

How many mares have won the Zabeel Classic in recent years?

Since the year 2005 (when there were two edition of the event) there have been eight Zabeel Classic winning mares with: Bazelle (December 2005), Shez Sinsational (2011), Soriano (2014), Consensus (2016), Danzdanzdance (2018), Concert Hall (2020), Campionessa (2023), and most recently Snazzytavi (2024).

What age group has the best Zabeel Classic record?

Six-year-olds have dominated the Zabeel Classic results in recent years with ten saluting between 2000 and 2024, most recently Campionessa in 2023.

The oldest recent Zabeel Classic winner was Defibrillate who saluted as an eight-year-old in 2022.

The youngest recent Zabeel Classic winner was Danzdanzdance who won as a four-year-old mare in 2018.

Between 2000 and 2024 the breakdown of Zabeel Classic winners by age is as follows:

• 4YOs – 3 (latest Danzdanzdance in 2018)
• 5YOs – 8 (latest Snazzytavi in 2024)
• 6YOs – 10 (latest Campionessa in 2023)
• 7YOs – 0
• 8YOs – 3 (latest Defibrilliate in 2022)

Where can you bet on the Zabeel Classic?

The best place to bet on this year’s Zabeel Classic race is through the TAB NZ online.

What races will runners out of the Zabeel Classic target next?

Following a run in the Zabeel Classic many horses will target upcoming summer features including the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in late January and the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) in February.

How to Place a Bet on the Zabeel Classic Race

Want to know how to make a bet on the Zabeel Classic? Visit the TAB NZ racing page to access the latest Zabeel Classic betting odds and options.

It is simple to learn how to place a bet on the Zabeel Classic online.

You can place a Zabeel Classic bet online anytime markets are live.

There are more ways than ever to get involved in betting on the Zabeel Classic.

From seasoned punters analysing form guides to casual racing fans drawn to the excitement, the Zabeel Classic is a race for everyone.

Whether you’re diving deep into the latest Zabeel Classic race field, joining a sweepstake with friends, or simply enjoying the atmosphere of the summer Auckland racing, the Zabeel Classic has it all!

This important summer race showcases New Zealand’s finest thoroughbreds and attracts attention from all over the country as one of the biggest races of the year!

How to Bet on the Zabeel Classic in 2025?

1. Log in or sign-up with TAB NZ.

2. Make a secure online deposit using one of the TAB NZ safe deposit methods.

3. Check out the Zabeel Classic betting guide, Zabeel Classic form guide and our expert Zabeel Classic tips.

4. Choose a Zabeel Classic bet to place such as Win, Place, Each-Way or the Zabeel Classic Trifecta. There are many more Zabeel Classic betting options available so make sure to check out our Zabeel Classic betting markets.

5. Select the Zabeel Classic horse you want to bet on from the early markets, Zabeel Classic nominations or Zabeel Classic field.

Zabeel Classic Barriers

The Zabeel Classic barrier draw and allocated Zabeel Classic starting gates play a key role for many punters when deciding on what horses to bet on in the big race.

What is the most successful recent Zabeel Classic barrier draw?

Barriers 2 and 7 produced four Zabeel Classic winners each between 2000 and 2024 most recently Shez Sinstational (barrier 2 in 2011) and Defibrillate (barrier 7 in 2022).

Barrier 12 is the widest gate to produce a Zabeel Classic winner between 2000 and 2024 with Bazelle the latest in 2005.

Barrier 3 is the latest Zabeel Classic winning barrier with Snazzytavi in 2024.

Breakdown of winning Zabeel Classic barriers between 2000-24:

• Barrier 1 – 1 (latest Veryon in 2012)
• Barrier 2 – 4 (latest Shez Sinsational in 2011)
• Barrier 3 – 3 (latest Snazzytavi in 2024)
• Barrier 4 – 4 (latest Campionessa in 2023)
• Barrier 5 – 1 (latest St Reims in January 2005)
• Barrier 6 – 0
• Barrier 7 – 4 (latest Defibrillate in 2022)
• Barrier 8 – 3 (latest Soriana in 2014)
• Barrier 9 – 3 (latest Concert Hall in 2020)
• Barrier 10 – 0
• Barrier 11 – 2 (latest Kawi in 2015)
• Barrier 12 – 1 (latest Bazelle in 2005)

Zabeel Classic Form

We offer a complete Zabeel Classic form guide and expert analysis on every horse in the Zabeel Classic field in addition to insider Zabeel Classic racing tips and betting odds.

Our Zabeel Classic form guides include:

• Zabeel Classic race preview and predictions
• Racing analysis on the event and runners
• Previous runs, barrier trials and lead-up statistics
• Key information on all horses in the race like trainer and jockey form
• Runner commentary

Whether you are just starting out tipping horses in the Zabeel Classic or you are an expert Zabeel Classic tipster, our form guide gives you all the statistics and information you need to make a smart bet on the Zabeel Classic.

Zabeel Classic Results

The Zabeel Classic results are known when the event takes place on Boxing Day on December 26 annually.

You can bet on the Zabeel Classic race results weeks ahead of race day with our futures Zabeel Classic markets here at the TAB NZ.

Betting on the Zabeel Classic results entails picking the Zabeel Classic winning horse and we can help you place an informed bet on the Zabeel Classic field with our Zabeel Classic tips and form guide.

Other Zabeel Classic race results include the winning jockeys, trainers, successful barrier and finishing time.

The complete Zabeel Classic finishing order shows what position every horse in the field ran.

Some punters even like to place bets on what horse will finish last in the Zabeel Classic results!

Zabeel Classic exotic results show how all the exotic Zabeel Classic bet types resulted like the Zabeel Classic Quinella, Zabeel Classic Exacta, Zabeel Classic Trifecta, and Zabeel Classic First Four.

Zabeel Classic Jockeys

Securing a ride in the Zabeel Classic field is a highly sought-after achievement for jockeys around New Zealand and Australia. Winning this important summer race is a nice campaign goal for many of Australasia’s top riders looking to secure a Group trophy during the carnival.

What jockeys are riding in the Zabeel Classic field is determined by the owners and trainers of the horses, and official Zabeel Classic jockey announcements are made in the weeks and days leading up to the race.

Warren Kennedy is the latest Zabeel Classic winning jockey having ridden Snazzytavi to victory in 2024.

Opie Bosson is the most successful Zabeel Classic jockey with four victories aboard: Campionessa in 2023, Danzdanzdance in 2018, Lashed in 2004, and Mikki Street in 2006.

Bruce Herd is the last back-to-back Zabeel Classic winning jockey having ridden Mikki Steet (2006) and Sir Slick (2007) to victory.

Alysha Collett was the last female Zabeel Classic winning jockey aboard Consensus in 2016.

Stay tuned to the TAB NZ racing blog to see what jockeys lock in a confirmed ride on one of the Zabeel Classic horses this summer.

Zabeel Classic Trainers

Murray Baker is the most successful Zabeel Classic winning trainer with five victories with: True Enough (2019), Veyron (2012), Harris Tweed (2010), Prized Gem (2002), and The Phantom (1990).

Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall are the latest Zabeel Classic winning trainers having prepared Snazzytavi in 2024.

Zabeel Classic Winners

Notable Zabeel Classic winners throughout history include:

Horlicks (1990): Famous for winning the 1989 Japan Cup, setting a world record time for 2400 meters.

(Our) Waverley Star (1986): Known for his epic duel with Bonecrusher in the 1986 Cox Plate, finishing second in one of the greatest races in Australasian history.

Kawi (2015): A multiple Group 1 winner in New Zealand, known for his versatility and consistency across various distances.

Danzdanzdance (2018): A top-performing mare who also won the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes and the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes.

Veyron (2012): A crowd favourite with five Group 1 victories, showcasing his dominance in New Zealand racing.

Sir Slick (2007): A durable and popular horse, known for his numerous Group race wins and his longevity in racing.

Campionessa (2023): Campioness added the Zabeel Classic to her impressive list of victories under the guidance of top jockey Opie Bosson.

Bet on the next Zabeel Classic winner with our comprehensive Zabeel Classic form guide and expert Zabeel Classic tips at the TAB NZ! 

Past Zabeel Classic Results

Recent Zabeel Classic winners dating back to the year 2005 are detailed in the below table.

Year	Winner – Age & Gender	Jockey	Weight (kg)	Trainer/s	Barrier
2024	SNAZZYTAVI (NZ) – 5M	WARREN KENNEDY	57.0	GRAHAM RICHARDSON & ROGAN NORVALL	3
2023	CAMPIONESSA (NZ) – 6M	O P BOSSON	57.0	MARK WALKER & SAM BERGERSON	4
2022	DEFIBRILLATE (NZ) – 8G	WARREN KENNEDY	59.0	GRAHAM RICHARDSON & ROGAN NORVALL	7
2021	TIPTRONIC (NZ) – 8G	ASHVIN GOINDASAMY	59.0	GRAHAM RICHARDSON & ROGAN NORVALL	7
2020	CONCERT HALL (NZ) – 6M	V A COLGAN	57.0	ROGER JAMES & ROBERT WELLWOOD	9
2019	TRUE ENOUGH (NZ) – 6G	JAMES MCDONALD	59.0	MURRAY BAKER & ANDREW FORSMAN	4
2018	DANZDANZDANCE (AUS) – 4M	O P BOSSON	56.5	CHRISTOPHER GIBBS & MICHELLE BRADLEY	7
2017	AUTHENTIC PADDY (NZ) – 8G	T D THORNTON	59.0	L LATTA	4
2016	CONSENSUS (NZ) – 5M	ALYSHA COLLETT	57.0	STEPHEN MCKEE	7
2015	KAWI (NZ) – 5G	L G INNES	59.0	A SHARROCK	11
2014	SORIANO (NZ) – 5M	RORY HUTCHINGS	57.0	GRAEME & DEBBIE ROGERSON	8
2013	HISTORIAN (NZ) – 6G	M CAMERON	59.0	G ALTON	3
2012	VEYRON (NZ) – 7G	R M NORVALL	59.0	LINDA LAING	1
2011	SHEZ SINSATIONAL (NZ) – 4M	JAMES MCDONALD	56.5	A SHARROCK	2
2010	BOOMING (NZ) – 6G	V A COLGAN	59.0	JEFF LYNDS	8
2009	VOSNE ROMANEE (NZ) – 7G	M CAMERON	59.0	JEFF LYNDS	2
2008	GALLIONS REACH (NZ) – 6G	S C SPRATT	59.0	RICHARD YUILL	11
2007	SIR SLICK (NZ) – 6G	B S HERD	59.0	GRAEME NICHOLSON & PAUL ALLBON	9
2006	MIKKI STREET (NZ) – 5H	B S HERD	59.0		8
2005	BAZELLE (NZ) – 6M	J L WADDELL	56.0	PAUL JENKINS	12
2005	ST REIMS (NZ) – 5H	L G INNES	58.5	C MCNAB	5

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