The International Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...

 run at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton in early February every year. The 2010 running was sponsored by the connections of stallion Darci Brahma

Darci Brahma

Darci Brahma is a New Zealand thoroughbred colt foaled in 2002 at Pencarrow Stud near Cambridge in New Zealand. He was auctioned at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd Yearling Sales in January 2004 and acquired by a syndicate of ten investors for the sum of NZ$1.1 million.-2004–2005 season:Sent...

, after being sponsored for many years by Whakanui Stud.

In the early years the Waikato Racing Club invited jockeys from overseas to ride in the race, that being the reason for the name, and in 1972 Lester Piggott

Lester Piggott

Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....

 rode Sailing Home to victory in the race. At that time it was run every two years; it became an annual event from 1978.

The race is one of two Group 1 weight-for-age events run on the same day, the other being the 1400 m Waikato Sprint

Waikato Sprint

The Waikato Sprint is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton in early February every year. Currently sponsored by Waikato Draught, the race has become one of the highlights of the New Zealand summer racing season....

.

Winners of the International Stakes

Year	Winner
2011	Red Ruler
2010	Veloce Bella
2009	MacO'Reilly
2008	Mission Critical
2007	Sir Slick
2006	Snazzy
2005	The Jewel
2004	Lashed
2003	Greene Street
2002	Emerald Dream
2001	Giovana
2000	Bluebird The Word
1999	Aerosmith
1998	Fayreform
1997	Great Command Great Command Great Command is a Thoroughbred racehorse who never finished further back than fifth in his career and won the New Zealand Derby in 2000, giving trainer Mike Moroney the first of his three New Zealand Derby victories to date and owner Rob McAnulty the first of his two.After being fifth on debut on...
1996	Lord Majestic
1995	All In Fun
1994	The Phantom
1993	The Phantom Chance The Phantom Chance The Phantom Chance is a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 1992 and Cox Plate in 1993, earning over $2 million in his 44-race career....
1992	Captain Cook
1991	Fun On The Run
1990	Not Held
1989	Regal City
1988	Sounds Like Fun
1987	Abit Leica
1986	Bonecrusher Bonecrusher (horse) Bonecrusher Is a retired champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who was widely admired in both Australia and New Zealand. Bred by Bill Punch, his dam's sire was a son of a French champion, Tantieme. Bonecrusher was purchased by Peter Mitchell for just $3,250 at the Waikato Yearling Sales,...
1985	Commissionaire
1984	Commissionaire
1983	Commissionaire
1982	Bound To Honour
1981	Speculation
1980	Solo's Dream
1979	Shivaree
1978	La Mer La Mer (horse) La Mer was a thoroughbred racehorse, who raced from 1976 to 1979. She raced and won 24 times from 1200m to 2400m, and won $223,604 in stake money....
1976	Oopik
1974	Battle Heights
1972	Sailing Home
1970	Far Time