Challenge Stakes (Great Britain)

Last updated

Challenge Stakes
ClassGroup 2
Location Rowley Mile
Newmarket, England
Inaugurated1878
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor Godolphin
Website Newmarket
Race information
Distance7f (1,408 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackStraight
QualificationThree-years-old and up
Weight9 st 1 lb (3yo);
9 st 3 lb (4yo+)
Allowances
3 lb for fillies and mares
Penalties
5 lb for G1 winners
3 lb for G2 winners
since 31 March
Purse£120,000(2021)
1st: £68,052
Challenge Stakes
2024
Owner Hisaaki Saito plain cap.svg Owner Mrs Fitri Hay.svg Owner Mr T W Morley.svg
TopgearRoyal ScotsmanQuinault
Previous years
2023
Owner Matilda and Kilmichael Racing Partnership.svg Owner John N Bourke.svg Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg
Matilda PicotteLord MassususAudience
2022
Owner Mr Gary Woodward.svg Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg Owner Mrs Barbara Richmond.svg
PogoSacredMisty Grey
2021
Owner Godolphin.svg Owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum.svg Owner Mr Michael Pescod.svg
Al SuhailWith ThanksChindit
2020-2011
2020
Owner Abudiencia Co Ltd.svg Owner Mr Gary Woodward.svg Owner Sheikh Mohammed.svg
Happy PowerPogoGlorious Journey
2019
Owner Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum.svg Owner Mr Paul G Jacobs.svg Owner Team Wallop.svg
MustashryLimatoOh This Is Us
2018
Owner Mr Paul G Jacobs.svg Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg Owner Godolphin.svg
LimatoZonderlandD'bai
2017
Owner Mr Paul G Jacobs.svg Owner Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum.svg Owner Poonawalla Racing Partnership.svg
LimatoMassaatGordon Lord Byron
2016
Owner Canning Downs.svg Owner Paul and Jenny Green.svg Owner Mrs Fitri Hay.svg
AclaimLumiereJallota
2015
Owner Mrs Julie Martin.svg Owner Mr John Cook.svg Owner Godolphin.svg
Cable BayBreton RockBelardo
2014
Owner Mrs Fitri Hay.svg Owner Mrs Julie Martin.svg Owner Mr John Cook.svg
Here Comes WhenCable BayBreton Rock
2013
Owner Kieran Leavy.svg Owner Stall Nizza.svg Owner Timothy Sheahan.svg
FiesolanaAmarilloLibranno
2012
Owner Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.svg Owner Mr R J Arculli.svg Owner Doctor Nick Dhandsa.svg
FulbrightRed JazzArnold Lane
2011
Owner Qatar Bloodstock Ltd.svg Owner Mr R A H Evans.svg Owner Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum.svg
Strong SuitChachamaideeMaqaasid
2010-2001
2010
Owner Mr R J Arculli.svg Owner Roldvale Limited.svg Owner Mr K Abdulla.svg
Red JazzCat JuniorMain Aim
2009
Owner Mr Saeed Suhail.svg Owner Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum.svg Owner Godolphin.svg
Arabian GleamOuqbaDonativum
2008
Owner Mr Michael Kerr-Dineen.svg Owner Roldvale Limited.svg Owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.svg
StimulationCat JuniorLaa Rayb
2007
Owner Maktoum Al Maktoum.svg Owner Mr Ziad A Galadari.svg Owner Baron G von Ullmann.svg
Miss LuciferAl QasiToylsome
2006
Owner Mr George Strawbridge.svg Owner Mr John C Grant.svg Owner Godolphin.svg
Sleeping IndianKillybegsSatchem
2005
Owner Scuderia Archi Romani.svg Owner Mr George Strawbridge.svg Owner Niarchos Family.svg
Le Vie Dei ColoriSleeping IndianArakan
2004
Owner Godolphin.svg Owner Mr L Marinopoulos.svg Owner Mr B Haggas.svg
FirebreakKeltosPolar Bear
2003
Owner Lucayan Stud.svg Owner Mr Abdulla Al Khalifa.svg Owner Niarchos Family.svg
Just JamesNayyirArakan
2002
Owner Mr Abdulla Al Khalifa.svg Owner Godolphin.svg Owner Mr Michael Pescod.svg
NayyirFirebreakFrenchmans Bay
2001
Owner Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum pink cap.svg Owner Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum.svg Owner Barford Bloodstock.svg
MunirFathWarningford
2000-1991
2000
Owner HRH Prince Fahd Salman.svg Owner Godolphin.svg Owner S A Six.svg
Last ResortMaidaanCape Town
1999
Owner HE Sheikh R Al Maktoum.svg Owner Godolphin.svg Owner Godolphin white cap.svg
SusuLend A HandJosr Algarhoud
1998
Owner Herbert Allen.svg Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg Owner Godolphin.svg
Decorated HeroLovers KnotKahal
1997
Owner Godolphin.svg Owner Mr A E Oppenheimer.svg Owner Albion Investments.svg
KahalRebecca SharpMuchea
1996
Owner Godolphin.svg Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg Owner Mr Wafic Said.svg
Charnwood ForestBishop Of CashelMy Branch
1995
Owner Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum.svg Owner Maktoum Al Maktoum.svg Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg
HarayirSoviet LineRed Carnival
1994
Owner Godolphin.svg Owner Maktoum Al Maktoum.svg Owner Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum.svg
ZietenSoviet LineArjuzah
1993
Owner Sheikh Mohammed.svg Owner Niarchos Family.svg Owner Mr K Abdulla.svg
CatrailRobin Des PinsEl Duco
1992
Owner Mr George Strawbridge.svg Owner Mr Athos Christodoulou.svg Owner Richard L Duchossois.svg
SelkirkThouriosSecond Set
1991
Owner The Dowager Lady Beaverbrook.svg Owner Mrs M Butcher.svg Owner Sheikh Mohammed.svg
MystikoOnly YoursVolksraad
1990-1988
1990
Owner Mr A E Oppenheimer.svg Owner Sheikh Mohammed.svg Owner Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum.svg
Sally RousAnshanRami
1989
Owner Mr Wafic Said.svg Owner John C Mabee.svg Owner H H Aga Khan.svg
Distant RelativeDancing TributeKerita
1988
Owner Sheikh Mohammed.svg Owner Sheikh Mohammed white cap star.svg Owner Mr B V Sangster.svg
SalseReprimandTimely
 

The Challenge Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.

Contents

History

The event was established in 1878, and the inaugural edition was titled the First Great Challenge Stakes. It was originally contested over six furlongs and open to horses aged two or older.

The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Challenge Stakes held Group 3 status. It was extended to seven furlongs in 1977, and closed to two-year-olds in 1985. It was promoted to Group 2 level in 1987.

The race was formerly staged during Newmarket's Champions' Day meeting in mid-October. It became part of a new fixture called Future Champions Day in 2011.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Energy – 1882, 1884
  • Mephisto – 1886, 1890
  • Kilcock – 1896, 1897
  • Sonatura – 1900, 1901
  • Chacornac – 1902, 1903
  • Succour – 1907, 1908
  • Hornet's Beauty – 1912, 1914
  • Phalaris1917, 1918
  • Boldboy1973, 1977
  • Moorestyle1980, 1981
  • Limato - 2017, 2018

Leading jockey (7 wins):

Leading trainer (6 wins):

Winners since 1973

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerTime
1973 Boldboy 3 Joe Mercer Dick Hern 1:16.02
1974New Model3 Pat Eddery Henry Cecil 1:18.68
1975Be Tuneful3Tony Kimberley Jeremy Hindley 1:12.70
1976Star Bird3J P LefevreP LallieNot taken
1977 Boldboy 7 Willie Carson Dick Hern 1:27.62
1978Spence Bay3 Joe Mercer Seamus McGrath1:25.50
1979 Kris 3 Joe Mercer Henry Cecil 1:24.49
1980 Moorestyle 3 Lester Piggott Robert Armstrong 1:26.93
1981 Moorestyle 4 Lester Piggott Robert Armstrong 1:26.39
1982 Noalcoholic 5 George Duffield Gavin Pritchard-Gordon1:26.11
1983Salieri3 Lester Piggott Henry Cecil 1:24.34
1984 Brocade 3 Greville Starkey Guy Harwood 1:26.18
1985Efisio3 Willie Carson John Dunlop 1:26.19
1986Lucky Ring4 Willie Carson Dick Hern 1:26.31
1987Asteroid Field4 Michael Hills Barry Hills 1:33.94
1988 Salse 3 Michael Roberts Henry Cecil 1:27.04
1989 Distant Relative 3 Michael Hills Barry Hills 1:25.13
1990Sally Rous3Gary Carter Geoff Wragg 1:25.42
1991 Mystiko 3 Michael Roberts Clive Brittain 1:22.77
1992 Selkirk 4 Ray Cochrane Ian Balding 1:22.27
1993Catrail3 Michael Roberts John Gosden 1:27.92
1994 Zieten 4 Frankie Dettori John Gosden 1:25.89
1995 Harayir 3 Willie Carson Dick Hern 1:23.79
1996Charnwood Forest4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:25.12
1997Kahal3 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:25.38
1998Decorated Hero6 Olivier Peslier John Gosden 1:25.76
1999Susu6 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute 1:24.20
2000Last Resort3 Michael Hills Barry Hills 1:26.34
2001Munir3 Darryll Holland Barry Hills 1:27.50
2002Nayyir4 Eddie Ahern Gerard Butler1:22.69
2003Just James4 Pat Eddery Jeremy Noseda 1:24.68
2004Firebreak5 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:27.22
2005Le Vie dei Colori5 Gérald Mossé Luca Cumani 1:25.34
2006Sleeping Indian5 Jimmy Fortune John Gosden 1:26.16
2007Miss Lucifer3 Michael Hills Barry Hills 1:25.56
2008Stimulation3 Darryll Holland Hughie Morrison 1:22.48
2009Arabian Gleam5 Johnny Murtagh Jeremy Noseda 1:23.81
2010Red Jazz3 Robert Winston Barry Hills 1:26.04
2011 Strong Suit 3 Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. 1:22.74
2012Fulbright3 Joe Fanning Mark Johnston 1:24.03
2013Fiesolana4 Billy Lee Willie McCreery1:24.24
2014Here Comes When4 Jim Crowley Andrew Balding 1:26.53
2015Cable Bay4 Frankie Dettori Charlie Hills1:24.45
2016Aclaim3 Frankie Dettori Martyn Meade1:23.92
2017 Limato 5 Harry Bentley Henry Candy 1:22.24
2018 Limato 6 Harry Bentley Henry Candy 1:24.87
2019 Mustashry 6 Jim Crowley Sir Michael Stoute 1:24.91
2020Happy Power4 Silvestre de Sousa Andrew Balding 1:25.11
2021Al Suhail4 William Buick Charlie Appleby 1:24.29
2022Pogo6 William Buick Charles Hills1:23.83
2023Matilda Picotte3 Oisin Murphy Kieran Cotter1:25.28
2024Topgear5 Stéphane Pasquier Christopher Head1:24.50

Earlier winners

  1. The 1895 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners

See also

References