Challenge Stakes

This article is about a horse race in England. For the horse race in Australia, see Challenge Stakes (ATC). For the horse race in New Zealand, see Challenge Stakes (New Zealand).
Challenge Stakes
Group 2 race
Location Rowley Mile
Newmarket, England
Inaugurated 1878
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor Dubai
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
4 lb for G1 / G2 winners
since February 28
Purse £100,000 (2014)
1st: £56,710
Challenge Stakes
2014
Here Comes When Cable Bay Breton Rock

The Challenge Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds 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.

History

The event was established in 1878, and the inaugural edition was titled the First Great Challenge Stakes. It was originally contested over 6 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 7 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
  • Phalaris – 1917, 1918
  • Boldboy – 1973, 1977
  • Moorestyle1980, 1981

Leading jockey (7 wins):

  • Lester PiggottPrincely Gift (1954), Forlorn River (1967), Mountain Call (1968), Abergwaun (1972), Moorestyle (1980, 1981), Salieri (1983)

Leading trainer (6 wins):

  • Barry HillsAsteroid Field (1987), Distant Relative (1989), Last Resort (2000), Munir (2001), Miss Lucifer (2007), Red Jazz (2010)

Winners since 1977

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

Earlier winners

  • 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 *
  • 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

References


  • galopp-sieger.deChallenge Stakes.
  • horseracingintfed.comInternational Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Challenge Stakes (2014).
  • pedigreequery.comChallenge Stakes – Newmarket.
  • Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 208–209. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.