Kiwi was a New ZealandThoroughbred racehorse who in 1983 won both the Wellington Cup in New Zealand and the Melbourne Cup in Australia. He is especially renowned for his last-to-first victory in the latter event, and remains the only horse to have ever won both cups. Kiwi raced from 1980 to 1987, and died in 1995 at the age of 18.
Background
Kiwi was bred by Brian Fischer in Parore, New Zealand. He was bought by Waverleysheep farmer Snow Lupton and his wife Ann, for NZ$1000. They had previously owned a Blarney Kiss horse and therefore wanted another, with Ann's personal preference for it to have a chestnut hair coat.
Racing career
Though Kiwi showed promise as a racehorse, Lupton believed the horse would show strength as a distance runner. He proved this when Kiwi won the Wellington Cup from the rear of the field in a close finish. The Wellington Cup is held in late January each year, and the Melbourne Cup in November. Even to this day, Kiwi is the only horse to have won both the Wellington Cup and Melbourne Cup consecutively. This historical feat is highly regarded, especially as the Melbourne Cup is esteemed as the premier staying race in Australia and New Zealand. When entered for the Melbourne Cup, despite having won over a 3200-metre distance, Kiwi was considered very much an outsider and started with odds of 10/1. As usual, Kiwi settled at the very back of the 24-horse field. At the turn of the Flemington track, with 500 metres remaining, Kiwi was second to last. With a storming run through the field, Kiwi won the race by just over a length. The speed of his race caused many race commentators to only mention Kiwi as he neared the finish line..."and here comes Kiwi out of the blue". Kiwi's victory has become one of the most memorable performances in the history of the Melbourne Cup, especially as it illustrated a classic stayer's victory. On winning the race, Kiwi became a household sporting hero in New Zealand, forming a key example of the underdog winning against the odds. It showed that a simple trainer, when equipped with a good horse, could win the greatest prize. As incredible as it may seem for a champion horse, Lupton openly admitted that Kiwi was used to "round up the sheep" as part of his conditioning routine. Kiwi entered the 1984 Melbourne Cup, but was controversially scratched due to a veterinary check. Lupton always maintained that Kiwi was fit for the race and could have won. The event sparked criticism of the scratching as a potential act of bad sportsmanship, due to the rivalry between New Zealand and Australia. Kiwi also ran in the 1985 Melbourne Cup, running fifth. In 1986, he once again looked to repeat his 1983 "come-from-behind" victory, but pulled up lame close to the finish line. Later that year, he represented New Zealand in the Japan Cup, running a creditable fifth.
Retirement
After his run in Japan, Kiwi was retired to the Luptons' farm, where he died and was buried in 1995. The headstone simply states: "Kiwi, 1983 Melbourne Cup". A plaque commemorating Kiwi is also located at the Waverley Racecourse.
Honorific eponym
In 2012, Australian rail operator CFCL Australia named locomotive CF4406 "Kiwi" after the horse.
