Waikato Sprint

The Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (registered as Waikato Sprint) is a Group 1 weight-for-age sprint held at Te Rapa in February each year.

Held on the same day as the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes, the sprint is one New Zealand’s most sought after prizes with some of the countries elite finding themselves on the honour roll.

Melody Belle (2019), Darci Brahma (2007) and Sunline (2002 & 2001) are just a few of the most well-known names to have won the Waikato Sprint since the turn of the century.

The traditional lead-up event to the BCD Group Sprint is the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap, held at Trentham four weeks prior.

2023 BCD Group Sprint betting odds

Markets for the 2023 BCD Group Sprint are currently unavailable.

Best BCD Group Sprint bookmakers

All of the top online bookmakers listed below offer all-in and fixed odds betting on the major races out of New Zealand.

The BCD Group Sprint is one of New Zealand’s prized races and the Australian betting sites know how important framing a market is for both New Zealand punters and the locals.

The following bookmakers currently have markets available for the BCD Group Sprint.

Sport Table

Latest BCD Group Sprint News

2023 BCD Group Sprint Field

Horsebetting.com.au will update this page when the 2023 BCD Group Sprint field is released.

2022 BCD Group Sprint result

Recent BCD Group Sprint winners

• 2022: Levante salutes for favourite punters
  Despite the limited crowd on course due to COVID protocols, there were still plenty of joyous scenes in the Te Rapa grandstand as the connections of outstanding racemare Levante celebrated her second consecutive Group One win with victory in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint. Touted as a match race between the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained five-year-old and fellow superstar mare Entriviere, the race lived up to its billing as the pair set down to fight out the finish over the final 300m. Despite having to sit three wide with cover aboard Levante, rider Ryan Elliot had taken a tactical advantage over rival jockey Opie Bosson on Entriviere by swooping into contention on the point of the turn as Entriviere was held up in a pocket for several strides. That proved the difference as Levante shot to the front with Entriviere in hot pursuit and despite a valiant chase Entriviere had to settle for a gallant runner-up, finishing half a length in arrears.
• 2021: Avantage continues Te Akau dominance
  In what most pundits deemed a match race between Avantage and Levante, it was marvellous mare Avantage who triumphed as she bought up a seventh Group One win in her illustrious career. The opportunity to see two of the best mares racing in New Zealand at present go head-to-head was thwarted when Levante effectively put paid to her chances when she missed the start by a conservative eight lengths. That didn’t worry the many Avantage supporters who watched jockey Opie Bosson weave some magic as he had the Fastnet Rock five-year-old in the trail after 400m despite starting from the extreme outside barrier in the eleven-horse field. Bosson moved Avantage forward to take the lead at the top of the straight and put the contest beyond doubt as he sent Avantage three lengths clear of her rivals, a margin that she held comfortably to the winning post to defeat Callsign Mav and Mascarpone with Levante putting up a herculean effort to run fifth.
• 2020: Te Akau Shark hunts down rivals
  At his fourth attempt, Te Akau Shark claimed the Group One win that seemed inevitable in the BCD Sprint at Te Rapa. Making his first race appearance since his third behind Lys Gracieux and Castelvecchio in the 2019 Cox Plate, Te Akau Shark looked to be in trouble as the $1.40 favourite. A conservative six lengths adrift of The Mitigator with less than 300m to run, Te Akau Shark responded to Opie Bosson’s urgings to swoop on race leader The Mitigator and beat him by a comfortable two lengths.
• 2019: Melody Belle shines
  It had been more than a decade since Troy Harris rode his last Group One winner and the Cambridge jockey nailed the opportunity when guiding Melody Belle to victory in the 2019 BCD Group Sprint. Harris was lucky to be riding the Jamie Richards-trained runner after receiving a stay of proceedings for a recent suspension. The ride was inch-perfect from Harris with Melody Belle needing to get up inside her rivals and despite giving them three-lengths with 100m to go, the superstar mare powered to the finish line to salute in dramatic fashion.
• 2018: Start Wondering defends crown
  A wet Te Rapa had the connections of Start Wondering in a sombre pre-race mood, but New Zealand’s reigning champion sprinter didn’t let the rain dampen his parade. The Wanganui seven-year-old overcame the Slow 9 going to successfully defend his title in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint. Start Wondering settled in behind the pace before striding to the front 200m from home for regular jockey Johnathan Parkes. The gelding dug deep in the final stages to keep the challenge of Packing Eagle at bay with the longshot Brilliant Shine taking third money ahead of Ronchi.

BCD Group Sprint past winners list

BCD Group Sprint Past Winners Pre 2000