WATCH | Vodafone Derby Day 2020 - Highlights from the racing & family entertainment

One of the biggest day’s racing in New Zealand, here are some fun video highlights from the action on Vodafone Derby Day 2020…

In this video recap we take a glimpse into some of the top-class racing action & a selection of the family-friendly off-track entertainment, plus more…

Vodafone Derby Day is one of the highlights of the national racing calendar and is headed up by the Group I $1,000,000 Vodafone New Zealand Derby for three-year-old thoroughbred horses.

Off track, the spoils are just as rich with the national fashions in the field final, The Ned Prix de Fashion, along with the Hawaiian Airlines Fashion Qualifier and Menswear Award taking place on the runway between races.

PLUS, given it was Leap Day, there was a very special, heart-warming moment on course when 30yr old Hollie McIntyre – who has terminal breast cancer – proposed to her unsuspecting partner, Andrew Welsh, in front of the entire crowd. He said yes (of course!) and the racing community proudly donated them nearly everything they need for their wedding in celebration of their love. (You can watch a video of the proposal on this blog!).

With the finest in corporate & social hospitality, free children’s entertainment, the opportunity to ‘pick the winner’ and win flights to Hawaii and an on-site after party with kiwi music icons, The Jordan Luck Band, this was truly one of the best racedays out!

The 2020 Vodafone New Zealand Derby was won by the Tony Pike-trained Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock ex Chasing Mammon) who was ridden by Michael Walker and owned by Goodson & Perron Family Trust, Calder Bloodstock Ltd & Deborah Martin.

The Ned Prix de Fashion was won by Canterbury’s Katie O’Neill (the Hawke’s Bay qualifier) who will now go on to represent the country in MYER Fashions on the Field at Flemington Racecourse in November 2020.

The other black type races on the day were the Group III McKee Family Sunline Vase, Group III Haunui Farm King’s Plate and the Listed Mufhasa FastTrack Stakes.