| Class | Group I |
|---|---|
| Location | Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland. Formerly Hastings Racecourse Hawke's Bay, New Zealand |
| Inaugurated | 1976 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1400m (7 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed (Ellerslie). Left-handed (Hastings) |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Weight | Weight for Age |
| Purse | NZ$400,000 (2025) |
The Proisir Plate also known as the Challenge Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race historically run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and is New Zealand's first Group One race of the season. It is run over a distance of 1400m in September. Previously named the Tarzino Trophy, the race has been transferred to Ellerslie for at least the next two years due to the Hastings racecourse out of action for the foreseeable future. [1]
The race is the first of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown events and is followed by:
The race's timing, weight-for-age conditions and the reliably dry weather of the region at that time of the year combine to ensure that the race sees one of the strongest fields assembled in any race all season as a number of horses heading towards a campaign in Australia choose it as a starting point.
The Hawkes Bay Challenge Stakes was first run in April 1976 as a new Weight for age sprint to take place during the Hawkes Bay autumn carnival. The inaugural running of the event was won by New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductee Grey Way, ridden by Bob Skelton. [2]
When the group grading system was introduced in New Zealand in the 1978/79 season the Challenge Stakes was given group 3 status. [3] In 1985 the race was moved from autumn to spring and was downgraded to listed status for a time, it would regain its group status in the 1991/92 racing season.
The 2025 edition was held at Ellerslie due to the Hastings track being closed.
Seachange, Kawi, Melody Belle and Callsign Mav are all back-to-back winners of the race.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer(s) | Time | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (at Ellerslie) [5] | Quintessa 57 [6] | Rory Hutchings | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 1:26.00 (soft) | La Crique 57 | Tomodachi 57 |
| 2024 [7] | Grail Seeker 56.5 | Matt Cartwright | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott | 1:21.46 (good) | Faraglioni 57 | Sacred Satono 59 |
| 2023 [8] | Skew Wiff 56.5 [9] | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson [10] | 1:23.15 (soft) | Dragon Leap 59 | Legarto 56.5 |
| 2022 [11] | Dark Destroyer 58.5 | Lisa Allpress | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott | 1:32.49 (heavy) | Spring Tide 59 | La Crique 56.5 |
| 2021 [12] | Callsign Mav 59 | Jonathan Riddell | John Bary, Hastings | 1:25.98 (heavy) | Spring Tide 59 | Masetto 59 |
| 2020 [13] | Callsign Mav 58.5 | Jonathan Riddell | John Bary, Hastings | 1:22.12 (dead) | Supera 57 | Avantage 57 |
| 2019 [14] | Melody Belle 57 [15] | Michael McNab | Jamie Richards, Matamata | 1:22.12 (good) | Wyndspelle 59 | Helena Baby 59 |
| 2018 [16] | Melody Belle 56.5 [17] | Shafiq Rusof | Jamie Richards, Matamata | 1:24.59 (soft) | Hiflyer 59 | Our Abbadean 57 |
| 2017 [18] | Close Up 59 [19] | Grant Cooksley | Shelley Hale, Cambridge | 1:27.89 (heavy) | Aide Memoire 57 | Underthemoonlight 57 |
| 2016 [20] | Kawi 59 | Leith Innes | Alan Sharrock, New Plymouth | 1:24.87 (soft) | El Pescado 59 | Farm Boy 59 |
| 2015 [21] | Kawi 59 | Leith Innes | Alan Sharrock, New Plymouth | 1:22.25 (soft) | Ryan Mark 59 | Ginner Hart 59 |
| 2014 [22] | I Do 57 | Opie Bosson | Alan Sharrock, New Plymouth | 1:24.08 (soft) | Pussy O’Reilly 57 | Pure Champion 59 |
| 2013 [23] | Survived 58.5 | Opie Bosson | John Bary, Hastings | 1:32.78 (heavy) | Full Of Spirit 57 | Final Touch 57 |
| 2012 [24] | Ocean Park 58.5 | Lisa Allpress | Gary Hennessy, Matamata | 1:23.79 (soft) | Xanadu 56.5 | Justanexcuse 59 |
| 2011 [25] | Mufhasa 59 | Samantha Spratt | Stephen McKee | 1:23.12 (soft) | Jimmy Choux 58.5 | Fleur de Lune 56.5 |
| 2010 [26] | Keep The Peace 56.5 | James McDonald | Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge | 1:26.69 (heavy) | Wall Street 59 | Fritzy Boy 59 |
| 2009 [27] | Tavistock 58.5 | Jason Waddell | Andrew Campbell, Opaki | 1:22.09 (good) | Mufhasa 59 | Sterling Prince 59 |
| 2008 [28] | Fritzy Boy 58.5 | Noel Harris | Alby MacGregor, Opaki | 1:24.16 (soft) | Bulginbaah 59 | Prince Kaapstad 58.5 |
| 2007 [29] | Seachange 56.5 | Gavin McKeon | Ralph Manning, Cambridge | 1:23.30 (soft) | Cog Hill 59 | J'Adane 56.5 |
| 2006 [30] | Seachange 56 | Gavin McKeon | Ralph Manning, Cambridge | 1:21.13 (soft) | Darci Brahma 58.5 | Kristov 59 |
| 2005 | Xcellent 57 [31] | Michael Coleman | Michael Moroney & Andrew Scott, Matamata | 1:22.51 (good) | Miss Potential 56 | Shinzig 57 |
| 2004 | Starcraft 57 [32] | Leith Innes | Garry Newham, Queensland | 1:22.59 (soft) | Miss Potential 56 | Kalamata (Aus) 54.5 |
| 2003 (at Wanganui) | Miss Potential 56 | Reese Jones | Bill Borrie | 1:18.02 (1340m) | Tit For Taat 56 | Rosina Lad 58 |
| 2002 | Sunline 56 | Greg Childs | Stephen McKee | 1:22.98 | Tit For Taat 56 | Cent Home 58 |
| 2001 | Fritz 58.5 | Noel Harris | Neil Coulbeck, Leithfield | 1:21.19 | Cinder Bella 58 | Figurante 56 |
| 2000 | Cent Home 58.5 | David Walker | Jim Wallace, Opaki | 1:22.14 | Cheiron 58 | Buster Brookfield 58 |
| 1999 | Hero 58.5 | Mark Hills | Jim Campin & John Gudopp, Cambridge | 1:21.47 | Rebel 58.5 | Surface 58.5 |
| 1998 | Batavian 58.5 | Peter Johnson | Graeme Rogerson & Keith Hawtin, Tuhikaramea | 1:28.42 | Tycoon Lil 58 | Covered n’ Grey 54 |
| 1997 | Pakaraka Star 58.5 | Jim Collett | S W Gulliver, Hawera | 1:28.37 (heavy) | Moss Downs 58 | Adonia 58 |
| 1996 | Vialli (Ire) 58.5 | Michael Coleman | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:24.44 | Marconee 58.5 | Tripta 58.5 |
| 1995 | Marconee 58.5 | Damon Smith | Gary Barlow & Jeff Lynds, Newbury, Palmerston North | 1:24.03 | Snap 58 | Solvit 56 |
| 1994 | Snap 54.5 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:20.32 | Solvit 58.5 | Veandercross 58.5 |
| 1993 | Calm Harbour 58.5 | Lance O'Sullivan | Noel Eales, Awapuni | 1:23.68 | Veandercross 58.5 | Solvit 58.5 |
| 1992 | Surfers Paradise 58.5 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 1:24.11 | Plume 58 | Nassa Rocket 56 |
| 1991 | Rough Habit 58.5 | Michael Boyce | John Wheeler, New Plymouth | 1:24.72 | Surfers Paradise 58 | Status 57 |
| 1990 | Flying Luskin 58 | Peter Johnson | Stephen & Trevor McKee, Takanini | 1:21.03 | Horlicks 56 | Catering King 58.5 |
| 1989 | Catering King 58.5 | Lance O'Sullivan | Jim Gibbs | 1:25.23 | Regal City 58 | Silver Mask 58 |
| 1988 | Poetic Prince 57 | Noel Harris | John Wheeler, New Plymouth | 1:24.63 | Plume d’Or Veille 58.5 | Kairau Lad 58.5 |
| 1987 | Field Dancer 58.5 | Michael Coleman | Jim Gibbs & Roger James | 1:23.4 | Tipit 56 | Crimesta 58.5 |
| 1986 | Catering King 57 | Brett McDonald | Dave Stenning | 1:22.99 | Kinmoss 56 | Chance For Gold 58.5 |
| 1985 | Shagolvin 56 | E R Harrison | 1:23.16 | Clear Gold 58.5 | Abit Leica 58.5 | |
| 1984 (September) | Fothers 50 | Debbie Taylor | 1:24.85 | Pinson 58.5 | Glenside 58.5 | |
| 1983 | Burletta 44 | Maree Lyndon | Felix Patrick Campbell, Hastings | 1:25.76 | Olene 56 | Gee Jay 54.5 |
| 1982 | Volare 54.5 | Noel Harris | Malcolm Smith, Awapuni | 1:26.4 | Anderil 57.5 | Diploma 57.5 |
| 1981 | Gold Hope 53.5 | Bruce Compton | Ray Verner, Takanini | 1:20.9 | Anderil 57.5 | Hai Tai 57 |
| 1980 | Coobers Queen 53.5 | K Robinson | P Melville, Kaponga | 1:27.13 | Disraeli 57.5 | Orchidra 56.5 |
| 1979 | Vice Regal 57.5 | Bill Skelton | Jim Campin, Cambridge | 1:24.5 | La Mer 56.5 | Fraxy 57.5 |
| 1978 | Silver Liner 56 | Chris McNab | Eric Ropiha, Woodville | 1:23.4 | Milo 56.5 | Nurioopta 57.5 |
| 1977 | Copper Belt 57.5 | Gary Phillips | Brian Deacon, Hawera | 1:30.8 | Battle Eve 56.5 | Blue Blood 57.5 |
| 1976 (April) | Grey Way 57.5 | Bob Skelton | E P Corby, Washdyke | 1:23.4 | Chrisarda 57 | Syndrome 57.5 |