Her feats were unmatched during 1975 where Leilani dominated in Sydney and Melbourne

Leilani was a champion thoroughbred racemare that was bred in New Zealand and raced in Australia. She won six Group One races and a total of 12 black type equivalent races during racing career, considered short for the era at 28 starts. At the time of her retirement she held the Australasian earnings record for a mare. Leilani was one of trainer Bart Cummings most successful horses, albeit over a limited racing period. Leilani was a champion foaled in New Zealand, however, the mare dominated the racetracks in Australia, commanding some of the best stayers of the era. The outstanding racehorse was by the sire Oncidium, out of Lei.

As a three year old among the principal races won by the mare were the 1974 AJC Oaks (2400m), adding to the trainer's total of 264 Group One winners. She also won the AJC Princess Handicap (2000m) the same year and the VATC Toorak Handicap (1600m). There was no stopping Leilani that year with another victory in the VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes (2000m). Although a favourite in the 1974 Melbourne Cup, Leilani lost out to stable mate, Think Big.

The other major races won in 1974 were the VATC Caulfield Cup over 2400 metres with Roy Higgins aboard, the VRC Queen's Cup over 2500 metres, and the VRC Turnbull Stakes over 2000 metres. As a four year old in 1975, Leilani won the VATC CF ORR Stakes and the VRC Australian Cup over 2000 metres with a weight of 58.5 kilograms. The 1975 VATC St. George Stakes and 2000 metre VRC Queens Plate were also in the bag by the end of the season. Leilani's career was cut short as a five-year-old, winning the weight-for-age 1976 VATC St. George Stakes over 1800 metres. Her feats were unmatched during the 1975 season where she became the Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year.

During her career, Leilani she won six Group 1 races out of 12 black type races and retired with an Australasian earnings record for a mare. Leilani's progeny continued with three foals namely, Skylarking, Paulownia, and Silver Lei. Leilani was among nine 'Champion Racehorse of the Year' award winners to be trained by Bart Cummings, which also included Dayana, Maybe Mahal, Hyperno, and Saintly. Leilani died on 2 May 1990. So highly did Bart Cummings rate the champion that he named his Randwick stables ‘Leilani Lodge’. Bart’s son Anthony trains out of Leilani Lodge to this day. 

RACE RECORD - 28: 14-6-6

EARNINGS - $270,870

AJC Oaks (1974)

Caulfield Cup (1974)

Toorak Handicap (1974)

LKS Mackinnon Stakes (1974)

Turnbull Stakes (1974)

VRC Queens Cup (1974)

C F Orr Stakes (1975)

Australian Cup (1975)

St George Stakes (1975, 1976)