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.
| Group 2 race | |
| Location | Rowley Mile Newmarket, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1878 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | Godolphin |
| Website | Newmarket |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 7f (1,408 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Straight |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | 9 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 |
| 2024 | ||
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| Topgear | Royal Scotsman | Quinault |
| Previous years | ||
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| 2023 | ||
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| Matilda Picotte | Lord Massusus | Audience |
| 2022 | ||
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| Pogo | Sacred | Misty Grey |
| 2021 | ||
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| Al Suhail | With Thanks | Chindit |
| 2020-2011 | ||
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| 2020 | ||
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| Happy Power | Pogo | Glorious Journey |
| 2019 | ||
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| Mustashry | Limato | Oh This Is Us |
| 2018 | ||
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| Limato | Zonderland | D'bai |
| 2017 | ||
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| Limato | Massaat | Gordon Lord Byron |
| 2016 | ||
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| Aclaim | Lumiere | Jallota |
| 2015 | ||
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| Cable Bay | Breton Rock | Belardo |
| 2014 | ||
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| Here Comes When | Cable Bay | Breton Rock |
| 2013 | ||
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| Fiesolana | Amarillo | Libranno |
| 2012 | ||
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| Fulbright | Red Jazz | Arnold Lane |
| 2011 | ||
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| Strong Suit | Chachamaidee | Maqaasid |
| 2010-2001 | ||
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| 2010 | ||
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| Red Jazz | Cat Junior | Main Aim |
| 2009 | ||
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| Arabian Gleam | Ouqba | Donativum |
| 2008 | ||
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| Stimulation | Cat Junior | Laa Rayb |
| 2007 | ||
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| Miss Lucifer | Al Qasi | Toylsome |
| 2006 | ||
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| Sleeping Indian | Killybegs | Satchem |
| 2005 | ||
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| Le Vie Dei Colori | Sleeping Indian | Arakan |
| 2004 | ||
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| Firebreak | Keltos | Polar Bear |
| 2003 | ||
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| Just James | Nayyir | Arakan |
| 2002 | ||
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| Nayyir | Firebreak | Frenchmans Bay |
| 2001 | ||
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| Munir | Fath | Warningford |
| 2000-1991 | ||
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| 2000 | ||
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| Last Resort | Maidaan | Cape Town |
| 1999 | ||
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| Susu | Lend A Hand | Josr Algarhoud |
| 1998 | ||
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| Decorated Hero | Lovers Knot | Kahal |
| 1997 | ||
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| Kahal | Rebecca Sharp | Muchea |
| 1996 | ||
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| Charnwood Forest | Bishop Of Cashel | My Branch |
| 1995 | ||
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| Harayir | Soviet Line | Red Carnival |
| 1994 | ||
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| Zieten | Soviet Line | Arjuzah |
| 1993 | ||
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| Catrail | Robin Des Pins | El Duco |
| 1992 | ||
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| Selkirk | Thourios | Second Set |
| 1991 | ||
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| Mystiko | Only Yours | Volksraad |
| 1990-1988 | ||
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| 1990 | ||
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| Sally Rous | Anshan | Rami |
| 1989 | ||
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| Distant Relative | Dancing Tribute | Kerita |
| 1988 | ||
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| Salse | Reprimand | Timely |
History
editThe 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
editMost 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
- Phalaris – 1917, 1918
- Boldboy – 1973, 1977
- Moorestyle – 1980, 1981
- Limato - 2017, 2018
Leading jockey (7 wins):
- Lester Piggott – Princely Gift (1954), Forlorn River (1967), Mountain Call (1968), Abergwaun (1972), Moorestyle (1980, 1981), Salieri (1983)
Leading trainer (6 wins):
- Barry Hills – Asteroid Field (1987), Distant Relative (1989), Last Resort (2000), Munir (2001), Miss Lucifer (2007), Red Jazz (2010)
Winners since 1977
edit| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Boldboy | 7 | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | |
| 1978 | Spence Bay | 3 | Joe Mercer | Seamus McGrath | |
| 1979 | Kris | 3 | Joe Mercer | Henry Cecil | 1:24.49 |
| 1980 | Moorestyle | 3 | Lester Piggott | Robert Armstrong | |
| 1981 | Moorestyle | 4 | Lester Piggott | Robert Armstrong | |
| 1982 | Noalcoholic | 5 | George Duffield | Gavin Pritchard-Gordon | |
| 1983 | Salieri | 3 | Lester Piggott | Henry Cecil | |
| 1984 | Brocade | 3 | Greville Starkey | Guy Harwood | |
| 1985 | Efisio | 3 | Willie Carson | John Dunlop | |
| 1986 | Lucky Ring | 4 | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | |
| 1987 | Asteroid Field | 4 | 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 |
| 1990 | Sally Rous | 3 | Gary 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 |
| 1993 | Catrail | 3 | 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 |
| 1996 | Charnwood Forest | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | 1:25.12 |
| 1997 | Kahal | 3 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | 1:25.38 |
| 1998 | Decorated Hero | 6 | Olivier Peslier | John Gosden | 1:25.76 |
| 1999 | Susu | 6 | Kieren Fallon | Sir Michael Stoute | 1:24.20 |
| 2000 | Last Resort | 3 | Michael Hills | Barry Hills | 1:26.34 |
| 2001 | Munir | 3 | Darryll Holland | Barry Hills | 1:27.50 |
| 2002 | Nayyir | 4 | Eddie Ahern | Gerard Butler | 1:22.69 |
| 2003 | Just James | 4 | Pat Eddery | Jeremy Noseda | 1:24.68 |
| 2004 | Firebreak | 5 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | 1:27.22 |
| 2005 | Le Vie dei Colori | 5 | Gérald Mossé | Luca Cumani | 1:25.34 |
| 2006 | Sleeping Indian | 5 | Jimmy Fortune | John Gosden | 1:26.16 |
| 2007 | Miss Lucifer | 3 | Michael Hills | Barry Hills | 1:25.56 |
| 2008 | Stimulation | 3 | Darryll Holland | Hughie Morrison | 1:22.48 |
| 2009 | Arabian Gleam | 5 | Johnny Murtagh | Jeremy Noseda | 1:23.81 |
| 2010 | Red Jazz | 3 | Robert Winston | Barry Hills | 1:26.04 |
| 2011 | Strong Suit | 3 | Richard Hughes | Richard Hannon Sr. | 1:22.74 |
| 2012 | Fulbright | 3 | Joe Fanning | Mark Johnston | 1:24.03 |
| 2013 | Fiesolana | 4 | Billy Lee | Willie McCreery | 1:24.24 |
| 2014 | Here Comes When | 4 | Jim Crowley | Andrew Balding | 1:26.53 |
| 2015 | Cable Bay | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Charlie Hills | 1:24.45 |
| 2016 | Aclaim | 3 | Frankie Dettori | Martyn Meade | 1:23.92 |
| 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 |
| 2020 | Happy Power | 4 | Silvestre de Sousa | Andrew Balding | 1:25.11 |
| 2021 | Al Suhail | 4 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | 1:24.29 |
| 2022 | Pogo | 6 | William Buick | Charles Hills | 1:23.83 |
| 2023 | Matilda Picotte | 3 | Oisin Murphy | Kieran Cotter | 1:25.28 |
| 2024 | Topgear | 5 | Stéphane Pasquier | Christopher Head | 1:24.50 |
Earlier winners
edit- 1878: Lollypop
- 1879: Rayon d'Or
- 1880: Thebais
- 1881: Nellie
- 1882: Energy
- 1883: Busybody
- 1884: Energy
- 1885: Modwena
- 1886: Mephisto
- 1887: Kilwarlin
- 1888: Sandal
- 1889: Heaume
- 1890: Mephisto
- 1891: Sir Frederick Roberts
- 1892: St Angelo
- 1893: Dame President
- 1894: Whittier
- 1895: Amandier / Chasseur [a]
- 1896: Kilcock
- 1897: Kilcock
- 1898: Heir Male
- 1899: Fosco
- 1900: Sonatura
- 1901: Sonatura
- 1902: Chacornac
- 1903: Chacornac
- 1904: Delaunay
- 1905: Thrush
- 1906: Rocketter
- 1907: Succour
- 1908: Succour
- 1909: Sir Martin
- 1910: Jack Snipe
- 1911: Iron Mask
- 1912: Hornet's Beauty
- 1913: Borrow
- 1914: Hornet's Beauty
- 1915: Golden Sun
- 1916: King's Joker
- 1917: Phalaris
- 1918: Phalaris
- 1919: Diadem
- 1920: Poltava
- 1921: Sunblaze
- 1922: Two Step
- 1923: Black Gown
- 1924: Drake
- 1925: Twelve Pointer
- 1926: Diomedes
- 1927: Highborn II
- 1928: Nice Prospect
- 1929: Reedsmouth
- 1930: Soloptic
- 1931: Portlaw
- 1932: The Divot
- 1933: Myrobella
- 1934: Mate
- 1935: Bellacose
- 1936: Solerina
- 1937: Ipsden
- 1938: Old Reliance
- 1939–44: no race
- 1945: Royal Charger
- 1946: Daily Double
- 1947: Closeburn
- 1948: The Cobbler
- 1949: Combined Operations
- 1950: Bob Cherry
- 1951: Hard Sauce
- 1952: Agitator
- 1953: Parakeet
- 1954: Princely Gift
- 1955: Royal Palm
- 1956: Coronation Year
- 1957: Welsh Abbot
- 1958: Logarithm
- 1959–66: no race
- 1967: Forlorn River
- 1968: Mountain Call
- 1969: Burglar
- 1970: Realm
- 1971: Joshua
- 1972: Abergwaun
- 1973: Boldboy
- 1974: New Model
- 1975: Be Tuneful
- 1976: Star Bird
- ^ The 1895 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners
See also
editReferences
edit- Paris-Turf:
- Racing Post:
- galopp-sieger.de – Challenge Stakes.
- ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Challenge Stakes (2019).
- pedigreequery.com – Challenge Stakes – Newmarket.
- Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 208–209. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.