The New Zealand Messenger Championship had traditionally been restricted to 4 year-old horses and was the most prestigious race for that age group in New Zealand, and a key guide to feature races in the following season like the
New Zealand Trotting Cup and
Auckland Cup. This is evidenced by many New Zealand Messenger Championship winners or placegetters subsequently becoming Cup victors, such as: •
Auckland Reactor •
Changeover •
Chokin •
Christopher Vance •
Elsu •
Just An Excuse •
Lazarus • Mainland Banner •
Monkey King • Royden Glen •
Stanley Rio •
Yulestar For the 2013, 2014 and 2015 years five year olds were also eligible to compete in the race. Then from 2016 it reverted to four year olds only. However, in 2022 the New Zealand Messenger and its traditional lead up race, the
Noel J Taylor Mile, were both opened up to older horses. The New Zealand Messenger was previously raced on the same race-night as the
Rowe Cup and Northern Trotting Derby for trotters and the New Zealand Sires Stakes Championship. In recent years the race has been held in late April or early May. == Race results ==