Just over 30 years ago in 1991 the Northland Breeders’ stakes was run as Listed race for two-year-old and won by Lodore Lady. Lodore Lady then won the listed Wanganui Guineas and later that spring won the group two Lindauer Guineas and beat the older mares in the group two Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes. As an older horse she won the group three Radio Pacific Stakes and the listed Foxbridge Plate.

In 1992 the event was won by Bundy Lad who also went on to win the listed Wanganui Guineas, before running second in the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes. Following that he crossed the Tasman and won the group two Bill Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley. The following spring he won the group two Liston Stakes and the year after that he won the listed Foxbridge Plate before going to Melbourne to claim the group two Memsie Stakes. He won 10 races in all.

Sunline won the race in 1998 before she swept the world before her and three years later Leica Guv scored on his way to winning the New Zealand Derby and group two Avondale and Lindauer Guineas. That was the year Vapour Trail ran third just ahead of the subsequent group one winner Egyptian Raine.

In the early 2000’s the quality of winners and their subsequent performances saw the Listed status questioned and the decision was made to go with a three-year-old race in mid-September.

That decision has been a resounding success with the quality of winners listed on the honour roll below and the subsequent upgrading of the race to Group 3 in 2017. Since the upgrade the two winning fillies in Prom Queen and Melt have been quality winners but Catalyst and Need I Say More have been even better given their number of Group races won in their three-year-old season.

What will be interesting to see this year if any of the promising youngsters by the past winners in Vespa, El Roca or Sacred Falls tackle the race this year.

CAMBRIDGE STUD NORTHLAND BREEDERS’ STAKES

Group 3 – Three-years-old – 1200 metres