Many a top stayer has won the Auckland Cup run at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Jezabeel started 1998 winning this race and ended it winning the Melbourne Cup. Are there any of that ilk in the 2019 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday?

2019 AUCKLAND CUP - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Auckland Cup is a Group 1 race run under Set Weights and Penalty conditions for stayers at Ellerslie race course conducted by the Auckland Racing Club.

The Auckland Cup is run over 3200m. It was first run in 1874 and was won by Templeton.

The Auckland Cup is the main New Zealand staying race of the season for all comers.

Run over the two miles, it used to be run on Boxing Day until 1958 then New Year’s Day up to 2006 before moving to later in the season.

Who Shot Thebarman won an Auckland Cup in 2014 then came to Chris Waller and has been a grand stayer winning many feature races like the Sydney Cup and placing in several G1s including a Melbourne Cup.

Jezabeel is the only horse to win both the Auckland and Melbourne Cup, taking them in 1998.

New Zealand is universally recognised as a great area for staying horses, so ironically a couple of Australian stayers have won Auckland Cups of recent times. Zavite scored for Anthony Cummings and Yobro won for Kirk Roberts.

The Auckland Cup is worth NZ$500,000 in 2019.

Notable winners of the Auckland Cup include Who Shot Thebarman (2014), Sangster (2013), Shez Sinsational (2012), Zavite (2010), Prize Lady (2007/2008), Our Unicorn (2001), Jezabeel (1998), Yobro (1997), Senator (1996), Miltak (1994), Castletown (1992), Blue Denim (1980), Apollo Eleven (1973), Il Tempo (1969/1970), Beau Vite (1940), Cheval De Volee (1938/1939), Cuddle (1935/1936), Te Kara (1923/1924), All Red (1908/1909), Blue Jacket (1899/1900), Nelson (1885/1886/1887), Ariel (1876/1878/1879), Kingfisher (1875) and Templeton (1974).

The 2018 Auckland Cup was won by Ladies First from Five To Midnight and The Wildflower.