Challenge Stakes

See the 2024 Challenge Stakes Preview and results.

See the 2023 Challenge Stakes Preview and results.

The winner of the Challenge Stakes is exempt from the ballot for both the upcoming Group 1 The Galaxy and the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes later in the autumn.

The race was first run in 1906 as a Principal Race at Randwick as a handicap over 6 furlongs (about 1200m) and was won by a horse called The Pet. From 1973 the distance was over 1000m. In 1987 it attained the current Group 2 status and from 2002 to 2006 it was held at Warwick Farm.

When Eduardo won in 2021 he set a new track record for the Randwick 1000m of 55.20 seconds, beating the previous time of 55.73 held by dual Everest winner Redzel. He won again in 2022 and nearly made it 3 in a row in 2023 when beaten by an eyelash in a photo finish with Passive Aggressive.

Last mare to win: Passive Aggressive (2024)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Snitzel (2006); Filly – English (2016)

Multiple winners: Passive Aggressive (2023 & 2024); Eduardo (2021 & 2022); English (2016 & 2017); Star Of Florida (2003 & 2004); Cangronde (1997 & 1998); At Sea (1985, 1986 & 1987); Razor Sharp (1982, 1983 & 1984); Gay Gauntlet (1967 & 1969); San Domenico (1949 7 1950); Felbeam (1945 & 1946); High Caste (1940 & 1942); Golden Hop (1913 & 1914).

Fastest time (1000m): Eduardo (2021) 0:55:20 (Randwick 1000m track record)

Challenge Stakes & The Galaxy: Snippets (1988); Playbill (1972)

Challenge Stakes & TJ Smith Stakes: Ab Initio (1999)

Interesting trivia: Ron Quinton rode 4 winners as a jockey (At Sea 1985, Acamar 1980, Farala 1971, Dawn Boy 1968) then trained Easy Rocking to win in 2000.

Winners of past Challenge Stakes include horses that come back to try and win again.