Challenge Stakes (ATC)

This article is about a horse race in Australia. For other races of the same name, see Challenge Stakes (disambiguation).

Challenge Stakes

High Caste, 1940 & 1942 winner
Class	Group 2
Location	Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia
Inaugurated	1906
Race type	Thoroughbred - flat
Sponsor	Schweppes (2025)
Race information
Distance	1,000 metres
Surface	Turf
Track	Right-handed
Qualification	Horses three years old and older
Weight	Weight for age
Purse	A$500,000 (2025)
Bonuses	Automatic qualification – The Galaxy and TJ Smith Stakes

The Challenge Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race at weight for age for horses three years old and older, over a distance of 1000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in March. ^[1]

Yaralla, 1944 winner

History

The race was first run in 1906. Before 2003 the race was run in January or early February.

The track and race record was set by Redzel in the 2018 edition in a time of 55.73 seconds. In the 2021 race Eduardo lowered the track record to 55.20 seconds.

Recent multiple winners of the race include:

• Passive Aggressive winning in 2023 and 2024 trained by Grahame Begg and Jordan Childs.
• Eduardo winning in 2021 and 2022, trained by Joseph Pride ridden by Nash Rawiller.
• Star Of Florida winning in 2003 and 2004, trained by Pat Duff and ridden by Patrick Payne.
• Joseph Pride has trained the winner in 2010, 2012, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
• Glyn Schofield rode the winner in 2010, 20111 and 2019.

In 1982 to 1984 Razor Sharp won the race three times, immediately followed by At Sea repeating the feat from 1985 to 1987.

Grade

• 1906–1978 - Principal Race
• 1987 onwards - Group 2

Venue

• 1906–2001 - Randwick
• 2002–2006 - Warwick Farm
• 2007–2010 - Randwick
• 2011 - Warwick Farm
• 2012 - Rosehill
• 2013 - Warwick Farm
• 2014 onwards - Randwick

Distance

• 1906–1972 - 5 furlongs (~1000 metres)
• 1973–2011 – 1000 metres
• 2012 – 1100 metres
• 2013 onwards – 1000 metres

Winners

The following are past winners of the race. ^[2]

• 2025 - Jedibeel
• 2024 - Passive Aggressive
• 2023 - Passive Aggressive ^[3]
• 2022 - Eduardo ^[4]
• 2021 - Eduardo ^[5]
• 2020 - Nature Strip ^[6]
• 2019 - Ball Of Muscle ^[7]
• 2018 - Redzel ^[8]
• 2017 - English ^[9]
• 2016 - English ^[10]
• 2015 - Miracles Of Life ^[11]
• 2014 - Villa Verde ^[12]
• 2013 - Snitzerland ^[13]
• 2012 - Rain Affair ^[14]
• 2011 - Hay List ^[15]
• 2010 - De Lightning Ridge ^[16]
• 2009 - Olonana ^[17]
• 2008 - Hurried Choice ^[18]
• 2007 - Spark Of Life ^[19]
• 2006 - Snitzel ^[20]
• 2005 - Impaler ^[21]
• 2004 - Star Of Florida ^[22]
• 2003 - Star Of Florida ^[23]
• 2002 - Bomber Bill ^[24]
• 2001 - Pimpala Prince ^[25]
• 2000 - Easy Rocking ^[26]
• 1999 - Ab Initio ^[27]
• 1998 - Cangronde ^[28]
• 1997 - Cangronde ^[29]
• 1996 - Light Up The World ^[30]
• 1995 - Moss Rocket ^[31]
• 1994 - Classic Magic ^[32]
• 1993 - Spanish Mix ^[33]
• 1992 - All Archie ^[34]
• 1991 - Lightning Bend ^[35]
• 1990 - Show County ^[36]
• 1989 - Groucho ^[37]
• 1988 - Snippets ^[38]
• 1987 - At Sea ^[39]
• 1986 - At Sea ^[40]
• 1985 - At Sea ^[41]
• 1984 - Razor Sharp ^[42]
• 1983 - Razor Sharp ^[43]
• 1982 - Razor Sharp
• 1981 - Steel Blade
• 1980 - Acamer
• 1979 - Christole
• 1978 - Monreale
• 1977 - Crimson Cloud
• 1976 - River Ridge
• 1975 - Zephyr Bay
• 1974 - War Island
• 1973 - Bounty
• 1972 - Playbill
• 1971 - Farlara
• 1970 - †Constant Rhythm / Biarritz Star ^[44]
• 1969 - Gay Gauntlet
• 1968 - Dawn Boy
• 1967 - Gay Gauntlet
• 1966 - Tar Girl
• 1965 - Time And Tide
• 1964 - The Tempest
• 1963 - Wenona Girl
• 1962 - Rush Bye
• 1961 - Gili
• 1960 - Olympiad
• 1959 - Huntly
• 1958 - Dubbo
• 1957 - My Kingdom
• 1956 - Apple Bay
• 1955 - Gay Vista
• 1954 - Tarien
• 1953 - Apex
• 1952 - True Leader
• 1951 - Donegal
• 1950 - San Domenico
• 1949 - San Domenico
• 1948 - Gay Monarch
• 1947 - Brazier
• 1946 - Felbeam
• 1945 - Felbeam
• 1944 - Yaralla
• 1943 - Gold Salute
• 1942 - High Caste
• 1941 - Caesar
• 1940 - High Caste
• 1939 - Bradford
• 1938 - Hammer Head
• 1937 - Silver Rose
• 1936 - Heritor
• 1935 - The Marne
• 1934 - Air Queen
• 1933 - Captivation
• 1932 - Golden Gate
• 1931 - Casque D'Or
• 1930 - Venetian Lady
• 1929 - Whitta
• 1928 - Greenline
• 1927 - Don Moon
• 1926 - Quixotic
• 1925 - The Hawk
• 1924 - Laneffe
• 1923 - Duke Isinglass
• 1922 - Sir Maitland
• 1921 - Maltgilla
• 1920 - Aries
• 1919 - Sydney Damsel
• 1918 - Bonnie Plume
• 1917 - Wedding Day
• 1916 - Quinn's Post
• 1915 - Ninfia
• 1914 - Golden Hop
• 1913 - Golden Hop
• 1912 - Pride Of Murillo
• 1911 - Poi Dance
• 1910 - Fille Fogi
• 1909 - Neith
• 1908 - Lord Merv
• 1907 - Queen's Court
• 1906 - The Pet

† Dead heat

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races

External links

• Challenge Stakes (ATC)

References

1. "Challenge Stakes | Past Winners | Results | Australia | Racing and Sports".
2. "Racing Australia". www.racingaustralia.horse.
3. "2023 Result – Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (held 4 March 2023)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
4. "2022 Result – Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (held 5 March 2022)". breednet.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
5. "2021 Result – Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (held 6 March 2021)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
6. "2020 Result – Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (held 7 March 2020)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
7. "2019 Result – Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (held 9 March 2019)". breednet.com. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
8. "2018 Result – Hyland Race Colours Challenge (held 10 March 2018)". breednet.com. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
9. "2017 Result – Hyland Race Colours Challenge (held 4 March 2017)". breednet.com. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
10. "2016 Result – Hyland Race Colours Challenge (held 5 March 2016)". breednet.com. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
11. "2015 Result – Hyland Colours Challenge Stks (held 7 March 2015)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
12. "2014 Result – Challenge Stakes (held 15 March 2014)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
13. "2013 Result – Challenge Stakes (held 16 March 2013)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
14. "2012 Result – Parramatta L.C. Challenge Stks (held 31 March 2012)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
15. "2011 Result – STEVCO SEALS & PUMPS Challenge Stks (held 27 March 2011)". Racing Vic. (Aus). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
16. "2010 Result – Ascend Sales Challenge Stakes (held 13 March 2010)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
17. "2009 Result – Ascend Sales Challenge Stakes (held 14 March 2009)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
18. "2008 Result – Challenge Stks (held 1 March 2008)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
19. "2007 Result – Challenge Stakes (held 10 March 2007)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
20. "2006 Result – Challenge Stks (held 2 April 2006)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
21. "2005 Result – Challenge Stks (held 13 March 2005)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
22. "2004 Result – Challenge Stks (held 28 March 2004)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
23. "2003 Result – Challenge Stks (held 6 April 2003)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
24. "2002 Result – Challenge Stks (held 19 January 2002)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
25. "2001 Result – Challenge Stks (held 3 February 2001)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
26. "2000 Result – Challenge Stks (held 12 February 2000)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
27. "1999 Result – Challenge Stks (held 23 January 1999)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
28. "1998 Result – Challenge Stks (held 31 January 1998)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
29. "1997 Result – Challenge Stks (held 18 January 1997)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
30. "1996 Result – Challenge Stks (held 26 January 1996)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
31. "1995 Result – Challenge Stks (held 28 January 1995)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
32. "1994 Result – Challenge Stks (held 22 January 1994)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
33. "1993 Result – Challenge Stks (held 23 January 1993)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
34. "1992 Result – Challenge Stks (held 25 January 1992)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
35. "1991 Result – Challenge Stks (held 19 January 1991)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
36. "1990 Result – Challenge Stks (held 20 January 1990)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
37. "1989 Result – Challenge Stks (held 21 January 1989)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
38. "1988 Result – Challenge Stks (held 23 January 1988)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
39. "1987 Result – Challenge Stks (held 24 January 1987)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
40. "1986 Result – Challenge Stks (held 25 January 1986)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
41. "1985 Result – Challenge Stks (held 26 January 1985)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
42. "1984 Result – Challenge Stks (held 28 January 1984)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
43. "1983 Result – Challenge Stks (held 29 January 1983)". breednet.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
44. "Randwick Details Race 5 Challenge Stakes (Official result)". The Age, Melbourne . 25 January 1970. p. 19 (column 2). Retrieved 12 March 2013.