Highlights from Stella Artois Auckland Cup Day 2011

International luxury brand donates $200,000 to Christchurch

Highlights from Stella Artois Auckland Cup Day 2011

Wednesday 9 March

For Immediate Release

Racing for Christchurch

* Gucci, sponsor of the Gucci Sprint and a second time sponsor at Auckland Cup Week, announced a donation of $200,000 to Auckland Racing Club's Racing for Christchurch Appeal fund.

* This fund has been started with the goal of raising $1,000,000 for Christchurch.

* The $200,000 donation was presented to the Governor-General - Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand and has been earmarked to benefit the Red Cross in their efforts supporting the people of Christchurch.

* Auckland Racing Club CEO, Chris Weaver, estimates in excess of $600,000 has been raised by the fund so far.

Group I $1M Stella Artois Auckland Cup

* Six year old gelding Titch bet 16 rivals to win the Group I $1,000,000 Stella Artois Auckland Cup.

* Trained by Wanganui-based Kevin Myers, this versatile champion has been successful on both the flat and over hurdles and has turned around to race just four days after running second in the Cathay Pacific Nathans' Memorial at Ellerslie on Saturday.

* Titch beat home favourite Showcause, which ran home strongly to finish second ahead of Castle Heights.

Auckland Cup Secondary Schools Cross-Country Championship

* More than 200 secondary school students, from the wider Auckland region, competed in the inaugural Auckland Cup Secondary Schools Cross-Country Championship.

* This race saw contestants complete a course including the famous Ellerslie home straight, with front runners finishing to the roar of the Auckland Cup Day crowd.

* This race is set to become an Auckland Cup Day tradition adding to the entertainment on one of New Zealand's most prestigious race days.

* Auckland Grammar School was the most successful school with clean sweeps in the under 14, 16 and under 19 boys divisions.

Individual

Team

Junior Girls

Lily MacDonald - Takapuna Grammar

Glendowie College

Intermediate Girls

Grace Mason - Carmel College

Carmel College

Senior Girls

Molly Swanson - Mt Albert Grammar

Epsom Girls Grammar

Junior Boys

Michael Dawson - Auckland Grammar

Auckland Grammar

Intermediate Boys

Magnus Whyte - Auckland Grammar

Auckland Grammar

Senior Boys

Declan Wilson - Auckland Grammar

Auckland Grammar

Stella Artois Cup Couture 2011

* New Zealand Next Top Model judge, Chris Sisarich, was oncourse to judge this year's Stella Artois Cup Couture fashion competition.

* In a change from tradition, the format saw contestants posing for the acclaimed photographer in one of two beautifully styled sets.

* Chris chose the winning couple from the hundreds of photos he took on the day, awarding the title to husband and wife Simon and Nardine Hunt, who were immaculately styled in navy and gold, as the winners of the best dressed award.

ENDS

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