Challenge Stakes

The 2019 Challenge Stakes are a Group 2 contest raced annually in March at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. The race forms part of the Sydney autumn racing carnival, the feature period for the New South Wales capital.

The Challenge Stakes are a weight for age test making it an event only for the true leaders of the industry. The race itself is a 1000m sprint and worth $500,000 in prize money to the winners. It is usually held on the same card as the Group 1 Randwick Guineas.

Given the equal weights and the short trip the best horses seemingly always win the Challenge Stakes. It can sometimes be used as an early assignment ahead of tilts at the Group 2 Star Kingdom Stakes on Golden Slipper Day and ultimately even the Group 1 Galaxy towards the end of the carnival.

Some horses may even come to this after the Melbourne autumn with the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington providing the winner here on numerous occasions.

Previous winners of the Challenge Stakes include Cangronde with a double in 1997 and 1998 as well as Star Of Florida that did the same in 2003 and 2004.

Since then Snitzel triumphed in 2006 and Hay List won as a short priced favourite in 2011.

2019 Challenge Stakes Field

The Challenge Stakes field is usually released around the same time as the barrier draw on the Wednesday prior to the race.

The 2019 Challenge Stakes field will be published below.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 2124x1515x REDZEL Peter & Paul Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 5 58.5kg 120
2 1x66x1101x BALL OF MUSCLE Joseph Pride Glyn Schofield 1 58.5kg 111
3 4369720122 JUNGLE EDGE Mick Bell Tim Clark 7 58.5kg 108
4 416x2x2x44 KAEPERNICK John O’Shea Tommy Berry 4 58.5kg 106
5 43830x4x0x VIRIDINE James Cummings James McDonald 6 58.5kg 98
6 110x434x JONKER David Atkins Sam Clipperton 2 56kg 82
7 1211×2 ESTIJAAB Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Brenton Avdulla 3 54kg 103

Challenge Stakes Nominations

Challenge Stakes Winners & Results

Winners and placers in the Challenge Stakes since 2000 with winning times.

Year Results Winning Time
2019 1 TBD 2 TBD 3 TBD TBD
2018 1 Redzel 2 Jungle Edge 3 Super Too 0:55.7
2017 1 English 2 Redzel 3 Supido 0:59.9
2016 1 English 2 Kinglike 3 Boss Lane 0:56.5
2015 1 Miracles Of Life 2 Va Pensiero 3 Rubick  0:56.7
2014 1 Villa Verde 2 Snitzerland 3 Famous Seamus  0:57.3
2013 1 Snitzerland 2 Decision Time 3 Howmuchdoyouloveme  0:56.16
2012 1 Rain Affair 2 Satin Shoes 3 Neeson  1:03.7
2011 1 Hay List 2 Keen Commander 3 Solar Charged  0:56.8
2010 1 De Lightning Ridge 2 Dorf Command 3 Stryker  0:55.9
2009 1 Olonana 2 Hoystar 3 Fantene  0:56.9
2008 1 Hurried Choice 2 Keen Commander 3 German Chocolate  0:57.3
2007 1 Spark Of Life 2 Whoever 3 Biscayne Bay  0:56.8
2006 1 Snitzel 2 Spark of Life 3 Media  0:56.8
2005 1 Impaler 2 Snippetson 3 Charge Forward  0:56.2
2004 1 Star Of Florida 2 Mistegic 3 Majestic Fiesta  0:56.3
2003 1 Star Of Florida 2 Snowland 3 Fair Embrace  0:56.5
2002 1 Bomber Bill 2 Mistegic 3 Ateates  0:56.5
2001 1 Pimpala Prince 2 Ateates 3 Notoire  0:59.2
2000 1 Easy Rocking 2 Ab Initio 3 Adam  0:56.9

Horses

Jockeys

Trainers