Kiwi (horse)
Encyclopedia
Kiwi was a Thoroughbred
racehorse
who in 1983 won the Wellington Cup
in New Zealand
and won the Melbourne Cup
in Australia
. Kiwi, who raced from 1980 to 1987, remains the only horse ever to win both cups.
Kiwi was bred by H. B. Fischer and bought by Waverley sheep farmer Snowy Lupton for only NZ$
1000, originally to be used as a stock horse on the farm, and was never intended to be tried as a thoroughbred racing galloper.
Local legend has it that as Kiwi proved to be a fast and tireless horse on Lupton's farm that friends convinced him to enter Kiwi in a race at nearby Wanganui
, to see how he ran. Kiwi instantly showed promise, especially over longer distances. He was an unknown quantity at the two-mile distance (3200 metres) when he was entered in the 1983 Wellington Cup, yet won with ease, coming from well back to win.
No Wellington Cup winner had previously won the Melbourne Cup, which is esteemed as the premier staying race in Australia and New Zealand. Some considered this reflects a lower quality field in the Wellington Cup, however it is more likely to be related to when the races are held - the Wellington Cup in late January and the Melbourne Cup in November.
When entered for the Melbourne Cup, despite having won over 3200-metre distance,Kiwi was considered very much an outsider and started with odds of 10/1. As usual, Kiwi (ridden by jockey Jim Cassidy
) settled at the very back of the 24-horse field. At the turn, on the Flemington track, with 500 metres to run, Kiwi was second to last. With a storming run through the field, Kiwi won the race by just over a length. So quick was his run that many race commentators only picked up Kiwi as he neared the finish line..."and here comes Kiwi out of the blue". His win has become one of the most memorable performances in the history of the Melbourne Cup, especially as it illustrated a classic stayers victory.
On winning the race, Kiwi became a household sporting hero in New Zealand, an example of the underdog winning against the odds. And showing that a simple trainer, with good horse can win the greatest prize. As incredible as it may seem for a champion horse, Lupton openly admitted that Kiwi was used to ‘round up the sheep’ when having a break from racing.
Kiwi entered the 1984 Melbourne Cup but was controversially scratched due to a veterinary check. His trainer, Snowy Lupton, always maintained Kiwi was fit for the race and could have won. Some historians consider the scratching had elements of bad sportsmanship
due to the rivalry between New Zealand and Australia. Kiwi ran in the 1985 Melbourne Cup, running fifth and in 1986 looked to repeat his 1983 'come-from-behind' victory but pulled up lame close to the finish line. Later that year, he represented New Zealand in the Japan Cup
, running a creditable fifth. After this race, he was retired to the Luptons' farm.
Kiwi died in 1995 and is buried on the Lupton farm. The headstone simply states: "Kiwi, 1983 Melbourne Cup". A plaque commemorating Kiwi is also located at the Waverly Racecourse, Taranaki, New Zealand.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who in 1983 won the Wellington Cup
Wellington Cup
The Wellington Cup is a Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand held annually in late January at Trentham Racecourse in Trentham by the Wellington Racing Club....
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and won the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Kiwi, who raced from 1980 to 1987, remains the only horse ever to win both cups.
Kiwi was bred by H. B. Fischer and bought by Waverley sheep farmer Snowy Lupton for only NZ$
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
1000, originally to be used as a stock horse on the farm, and was never intended to be tried as a thoroughbred racing galloper.
Local legend has it that as Kiwi proved to be a fast and tireless horse on Lupton's farm that friends convinced him to enter Kiwi in a race at nearby Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
, to see how he ran. Kiwi instantly showed promise, especially over longer distances. He was an unknown quantity at the two-mile distance (3200 metres) when he was entered in the 1983 Wellington Cup, yet won with ease, coming from well back to win.
No Wellington Cup winner had previously won the Melbourne Cup, which is esteemed as the premier staying race in Australia and New Zealand. Some considered this reflects a lower quality field in the Wellington Cup, however it is more likely to be related to when the races are held - the Wellington Cup in late January and the Melbourne Cup in November.
When entered for the Melbourne Cup, despite having won over 3200-metre distance,Kiwi was considered very much an outsider and started with odds of 10/1. As usual, Kiwi (ridden by jockey Jim Cassidy
Jim Cassidy (jockey)
Jim Cassidy is a New Zealand jockey who famously rode Kiwi from last into the straight to win the 1983 Melbourne Cup. He won his second Melbourne Cup in 1997 aboard Might and Power whom he also rode to victory in the following year's Cox Plate.Cassidy has won the Australian Derby three times; in...
) settled at the very back of the 24-horse field. At the turn, on the Flemington track, with 500 metres to run, Kiwi was second to last. With a storming run through the field, Kiwi won the race by just over a length. So quick was his run that many race commentators only picked up Kiwi as he neared the finish line..."and here comes Kiwi out of the blue". His win has become one of the most memorable performances in the history of the Melbourne Cup, especially as it illustrated a classic stayers victory.
On winning the race, Kiwi became a household sporting hero in New Zealand, an example of the underdog winning against the odds. And showing that a simple trainer, with good horse can win the greatest prize. As incredible as it may seem for a champion horse, Lupton openly admitted that Kiwi was used to ‘round up the sheep’ when having a break from racing.
Kiwi entered the 1984 Melbourne Cup but was controversially scratched due to a veterinary check. His trainer, Snowy Lupton, always maintained Kiwi was fit for the race and could have won. Some historians consider the scratching had elements of bad sportsmanship
Underarm bowling incident of 1981
The underarm bowling incident of 1981 took place on 1 February 1981, when Australia was playing New Zealand in a One Day International cricket match, the third of five such matches in the final of the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground...
due to the rivalry between New Zealand and Australia. Kiwi ran in the 1985 Melbourne Cup, running fifth and in 1986 looked to repeat his 1983 'come-from-behind' victory but pulled up lame close to the finish line. Later that year, he represented New Zealand in the Japan Cup
Japan Cup
The is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
, running a creditable fifth. After this race, he was retired to the Luptons' farm.
Kiwi died in 1995 and is buried on the Lupton farm. The headstone simply states: "Kiwi, 1983 Melbourne Cup". A plaque commemorating Kiwi is also located at the Waverly Racecourse, Taranaki, New Zealand.