The 2019 Challenge Stakes are a Group 2 contest raced annually in March at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. The race forms part of the Sydney autumn racing carnival, the feature period for the New South Wales capital.
The Challenge Stakes are a weight for age test making it an event only for the true leaders of the industry. The race itself is a 1000m sprint and worth $500,000 in prize money to the winners. It is usually held on the same card as the Group 1 Randwick Guineas.
Given the equal weights and the short trip the best horses seemingly always win the Challenge Stakes. It can sometimes be used as an early assignment ahead of tilts at the Group 2 Star Kingdom Stakes on Golden Slipper Day and ultimately even the Group 1 Galaxy towards the end of the carnival.
Some horses may even come to this after the Melbourne autumn with the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington providing the winner here on numerous occasions.
Previous winners of the Challenge Stakes include Cangronde with a double in 1997 and 1998 as well as Star Of Florida that did the same in 2003 and 2004.
Since then Snitzel triumphed in 2006 and Hay List won as a short priced favourite in 2011.
2019 Challenge Stakes Field
The Challenge Stakes field is usually released around the same time as the barrier draw on the Wednesday prior to the race.
The 2019 Challenge Stakes field will be published below.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2124x1515x | REDZEL | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 58.5kg | 120 |
| 2 | 1x66x1101x | BALL OF MUSCLE | Joseph Pride | Glyn Schofield | 1 | 58.5kg | 111 |
| 3 | 4369720122 | JUNGLE EDGE | Mick Bell | Tim Clark | 7 | 58.5kg | 108 |
| 4 | 416x2x2x44 | KAEPERNICK | John O’Shea | Tommy Berry | 4 | 58.5kg | 106 |
| 5 | 43830x4x0x | VIRIDINE | James Cummings | James McDonald | 6 | 58.5kg | 98 |
| 6 | 110x434x | JONKER | David Atkins | Sam Clipperton | 2 | 56kg | 82 |
| 7 | 1211×2 | ESTIJAAB | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Brenton Avdulla | 3 | 54kg | 103 |
Challenge Stakes Nominations
Challenge Stakes Winners & Results
Winners and placers in the Challenge Stakes since 2000 with winning times.
| Year | Results | Winning Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 TBD | 2 TBD | 3 TBD | TBD |
| 2018 | 1 Redzel | 2 Jungle Edge | 3 Super Too | 0:55.7 |
| 2017 | 1 English | 2 Redzel | 3 Supido | 0:59.9 |
| 2016 | 1 English | 2 Kinglike | 3 Boss Lane | 0:56.5 |
| 2015 | 1 Miracles Of Life | 2 Va Pensiero | 3 Rubick | 0:56.7 |
| 2014 | 1 Villa Verde | 2 Snitzerland | 3 Famous Seamus | 0:57.3 |
| 2013 | 1 Snitzerland | 2 Decision Time | 3 Howmuchdoyouloveme | 0:56.16 |
| 2012 | 1 Rain Affair | 2 Satin Shoes | 3 Neeson | 1:03.7 |
| 2011 | 1 Hay List | 2 Keen Commander | 3 Solar Charged | 0:56.8 |
| 2010 | 1 De Lightning Ridge | 2 Dorf Command | 3 Stryker | 0:55.9 |
| 2009 | 1 Olonana | 2 Hoystar | 3 Fantene | 0:56.9 |
| 2008 | 1 Hurried Choice | 2 Keen Commander | 3 German Chocolate | 0:57.3 |
| 2007 | 1 Spark Of Life | 2 Whoever | 3 Biscayne Bay | 0:56.8 |
| 2006 | 1 Snitzel | 2 Spark of Life | 3 Media | 0:56.8 |
| 2005 | 1 Impaler | 2 Snippetson | 3 Charge Forward | 0:56.2 |
| 2004 | 1 Star Of Florida | 2 Mistegic | 3 Majestic Fiesta | 0:56.3 |
| 2003 | 1 Star Of Florida | 2 Snowland | 3 Fair Embrace | 0:56.5 |
| 2002 | 1 Bomber Bill | 2 Mistegic | 3 Ateates | 0:56.5 |
| 2001 | 1 Pimpala Prince | 2 Ateates | 3 Notoire | 0:59.2 |
| 2000 | 1 Easy Rocking | 2 Ab Initio | 3 Adam | 0:56.9 |
