Championship Stakes

Last updated
Championship Stakes
ClassGroup III
Location Ellerslie Racecourse
Auckland, New Zealand
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.ellerslie.co.nz
Race information
Distance2100m (10.5 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
WeightSet-Weights
Purse$120,000 (2025)

The Championship Stakes, run at Ellerslie Racecourse, is a Group 3 horse race run for three-year-olds at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand.

Contents

History

When the New Zealand Derby was moved from December to March in the 2005–06 season, the race was set up to be run on the second Saturday in February as the main-lead-up race, two weeks before the Derby. Before this the race had been restricted to fillies only.

In 2011, the race was moved New Year's Day, with the Avondale Guineas (previously run in December at Avondale and the main Derby lead-up before 2005) moving to Ellerslie and taking the February date. Since 2015, the Championship Stakes has been held in April. It is currently raced on the same date as the Easter Handicap.

The race has been sponsored by:

Notable winners

The race has been won by a number of New Zealand Derby winners:

The 2005 winner Tusker also won the 2006 Awapuni Gold Cup.

Werther, the 2015 winner, went on to win the 2015 Eagle Farm Cup, Hong Kong Derby, the 2016 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the 2017 Hong Kong Gold Cup, the Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup and Bochk Jockey Club Cup. It was runner up in the South Australian Derby, Queensland Derby, Hong Kong Classic Mile, Hong Kong Classic Cup, the Longines Hong Kong Cup and the 2018 Hong Kong Gold Cup.

Race results

Year
Winner
Sire
Dam
Jockey
Trainer(s)
Time
Second
Third
April 2025 [2] Kiwi Skyhawk 57Contributer (Ire)Pouter (Aus)Matt CartwrightStephen Marsh2:12.88 (soft)Zormella 55Roctave 57
April 2024 [3] Moonlight Magic 55 Almanzor Japonica (Aus)Craig GryllsAndrew Forsman2:13.16 (soft)Solidify 57First Innings 57
April 2023 (Pukekohe) [4] Chevel D'Or 55 Almanzor Keepa ChevalMichael McNabTony Pike2:22.36 (heavy)Sassyness 55Kentucky Rose 55
April 2022 (Pukekohe)Pinarello 57Tavistock (NZ)ZonzaLeith Innes Roger James & Robert Wellwood2:10.10 (good)Titled 57Lingjun Xiongfeng 57
April 2021Hezashocka 56.5 Shocking ShezakiwiMasa Hashizume (a)Shaun & Emma Clotworthy2:18.45 (slow)Joy Alone 54.5Milford Sound 56.5
April 2019Lord Arthur 56.5Camelot (GB)Imposingly (Aus)Jake Baylis Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman2:07.89Intrigue 54.5Bobby Dee 56.5
April 2018Azaboy 56.5 Azamour (Ire)Cataari (NZ)Samantha CollettRichard Collett2:22.04 (heavy)Gundown (Aus) 56.5Time Lord 56.5
April 2017Tavidream 56.5 [5] Tavistock (NZ)Cinnadream (Aus)Alysha CollettDonna Logan & Chris Gibbs2:13.91 (soft)Charles Road (Aus) 56.5Camino Rocoso 56.5
April 2016The Hassler 56.5 [6] Shocking (Aus)Zaquabeel (NZ)Vincent Colgan Roger James 2:12.26 (good)Zambezi Warrior 56.5Sonorous 56.5
April 2015Werther 56.5Tavistock (NZ)Bagolollies (Aus)Leith InnesAndrew Campbell2:18.31 (soft)Exquisite Jewel 54.5Viva La Difference (Aus) 54.5
January 2014Show The World 56.5 High Chaparral (Ire)Bazelle (NZ) Opie Bosson Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman2:12.58 (dead)Blizzard 56.5High Tower 56.5
January 2013 Habibi 54.5 Ekraar (US)Danny Holiday (NZ)Vincent ColganDonna & Dean Logan2:09.01 (good)Addictive Habit 56.5Solar Eclipse 56.5
January 2012 Silent Achiever 54.5 O'Reilly (NZ)Winning Spree (NZ)Vincent Colgan Roger James 2:18.14 (slow)Shuka 56.5Lady Krovanh (Aus)
January 2011Hidden Asset 56 High Chaparral Fragile Asset (NZ) James McDonald Shaune Ritchie2:10.39 (good)Hot Pursuit 54.5Yourein (Aus) 56
Feb 2010Zarzuela 54.5 Zabeel (NZ)Star Satire (NZ) James McDonald Mark Walker2:08.35 (good)Corporal Jones 56King Raedwald 56
Feb 2009Down The Road 56Danroad (Aus)Dixies Girl (NZ)Michael ColemanKen Kelso & Thomas Russell2:15.52 (soft)The Meista 56Coniston Bluebird 56
Feb 2008 Red Ruler 56Viking Ruler (Aus)Ransom Bay (USA)Vincent ColganJohn Sargent2:10.61 (good)Six O'Clock News 56Pierre Joseph 56
Feb 2007 Redoute's Dancer 56 Redoute's Choice (Aus)Condescendance (US)Vincent ColganTim Martin, Rosehill2:11.17 (good)Benedict 56Stolen Thunder 56
Feb 2006 Wahid 56Almutawakel (GB)Rory's Helen (NZ)Leith InnesAlan Sharrock2:09.21 (good)Black Panther 56Twinkling 54.5
Mar 2005Tusker 55 Volksraad (GB)Stella Artois (NZ) Noel Harris Murray Baker 2:10.41El Bulli 55Zaria 55
Feb 2004Boulevardofdreams 55Daggers Drawn (US)Faustina (NZ)Gary GryllsVanessa & Wayne Hillis2:18.04 (soft)Partee 55Haylee Baylee 55
Mar 2003Raspberry Ripple (Aus) 55Quest For Fame (GB)Unbeleevable (NZ) Lance O'Sullivan Craig & Frank Ritchie2:14.34 SlowEtoile Du Nord 55Showgirl 55
Mar 2002Sixty Seconds 55Centaine (Aus)Fifteen Reasons (NZ)Bruce Herd Roger James 2:16.26 (easy)Venus Was Her Name 55Vapour Trail 55
Mar 2001Elevenses 55Star Way (GB)Celtic Joy (NZ)Mark SweeneyGraeme & Debbie Sanders2:10.50Piper Star 55Gordon’s 55
Mar 2000Let's Cruise (NZ) 55 Zabeel (NZ)Lady Bay (NZ)Jim CollettMark Walker2:09.08Giovana 55Sarwatch 55
March 1999Dancing Daze 55Dance Floor (USA)War Cry Lance O'Sullivan 2:11.30 (easy)Scarlet Runner 55Soap Opera 55
Feb 1998Crimson 55 Zabeel (NZ)Bourbon Lassie (NZ) David Walsh 2:09.35Melora 55Limerick 55
March 1997Ellakapella 55 Pompeii Court (US)Santona (NZ)Jim Collett2:15.94 (dead)Ballroom Lady 55Tricia Ann 55

See also

Footnotes

  1. "Industry mourns Kevin Hickman". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  2. "Race 7 TRELAWNEY STUD CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 19 APR 2025 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  3. "Race 6 TRELAWNEY STUD CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 20 APR 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  4. "Race 7 TRELAWNEY STUD CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 22 APR 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  5. Lamb, James. "Sale pending for Queensland Derby favourite Tavidream", Punters (April 26, 2017).
  6. "Disaster averted after Danielle Johnson crashes at Ellerslie", Stuff.co.nz (April 23, 2016).