The top three years do battle once again over 1600 in the Group One Levin Classic.

This is the fifth time the Levin club’s flagship even has been run at Trentham.  The race has quite a history, originally being run at the local Levin course before first shifting to Otaki and now Trentham.

We’ve done the numbers so you don’t have to so let’s see what we’ve found.

Favourites

First up, how have the favourites fared?

Until last year, not well.  Recite paid $6.50 back in 2014 but the next two years both winners paid over $25!

It took until last year for Hall of Fame to win for favourite punters.

Barrier

Plenty of punters worry about barrier draws.  If you’re one of those, then you can sit back and relax.

Runners with the outside marbles have fared extremely well.  In 2014, Recite won from barrier 10 (12 starters).  In 2015 Gaultier drew the outside alley (9) while Dukedom in 2016 had no issues with barrier 11 (12 started).

Again, Hall of Fame was the exception having drawn the ace in a field of 13.

Girls vs Boys

The two blue riband events over 1600 are the Guineas raced at Riccarton in November.  The fillies have their own race so this is one of the first times we see the fillies and colts competing at the top level.

The girls (horses that is) have won just one race since the move to Trentham with Recite’s win back in 2014.

Female jocks have just the sole victory too with Lisa Allpress piloting Dukedom two years ago.  Danielle Johnson has twice come second, both times in very close finishes

Position in running

Once again, there’s no clear pattern.  Two winners (Recite and Hall of Fame) were on the pace while the two long shots both won from the back.

Because it’s such a large roomy track, Wellington has a reputation for giving runners a fair crack so look out for any pattern that may emerge on the day.