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The Challenge Stakes is a Group 2 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival sprint run on Randwick Guineas Day offering $500,000 in prize money.
The Challenge Stakes is a Group 2 weight-for-age race held at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse in early March as a part of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. A 1000m open sprint the Challenge Stakes has increased notably in prize money in recent years and is now worth a lucrative $500,000.
The Challenge Stakes is one of the key support races on Randwick Guineas Day and accompanies the Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) and $500,000 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
A possible lead-up race into the Challenge Stakes field is the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) held at Randwick in February, but many of the horses race first-up in the half-a-million-dollar showdown.
The likely next-up autumn targets for horses out of the Challenge Stakes include the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) and April’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) held as part of ‘The Championships’.
In 2016 the Challenge Stakes winner English ran third in the TJ Smith Stakes two starts later before success in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) to round-out her autumn. English also returned to take out the 2017 Challenge Stakes results going back-to-back in the race for the first time since Star Of Florida (2003-04). In 2017, Redzel ran second in both the Challenge Stakes and The Galaxy results before returning to win the following year’s Challenge Stakes (2018) ahead of a second in the TJ Smith Stakes. Redzel also ran in the 2019 Challenge Stakes crossing second to Ball Of Muscle and placed second again in 2020 adding to his incredible record when beaten home by Nature Strip.
Nature Strip (2020) is the latest horse to have completed the Challenge Stakes – TJ Smith Stakes double.
In 2021 Nature Strip returned to run second as the beaten odds-on favourite in the Challenge Stakes won by Eduardo in a new record time of 55.2 seconds.
That form was franked with Eduardo (2021) going on to complete the Challenge Stakes – The Galaxy double before a TJ Smith Stakes third behind Nature Strip.
Nature Strip went on to win the $15 million The Everest (1200m) that spring, with Eduardo third in the world’s richest turf race.
The 2022 Challenge Stakes saw great guns Nature Strip and Eduardo clash for the ninth time in their careers. Eduardo managed to go back-to-back and successfully defend his Challenge Stakes title, while Nature Strip was forced to settle for third after a shock late run by $61 roughie Shelby Sixtysix who finished second.
The Challenge Stakes 2022 ran on Saturday March 5, 2022 and saw the Joe Pride-trained Eduardo ($2.30) successfully defend his title holding off a late challenge by outsider Shelby Sixtysix.
2022 Challenge Stakes | |
---|---|
Date: | Saturday March 5, 2022 |
Track: | Royal Randwick |
Distance: | 1000m |
Race Type: | Weight-For-Age |
Status: | Group 2 |
Prize Money: | $500,000 |
Eduardo ($2.30) enjoyed back-to-back wins in the Challenge Stakes 2022 results leading all-the-way on Heavy going to hold off a late challenge by the Danny Williams-trained roughie Shelby Sixtysix ($61) who denied the odds-on favourite Nature Strip ($1.70) a spot in the quinella.
Click here to read more on the impressive 2022 Challenge Stakes win by last year’s champ Eduardo.
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | EDUARDO | Joseph Pride | Nash Rawiller | 1 | 58.5kg | $2.30 | |||
2 | 6 | SHELBY SIXTYSIX | Danny Williams | Tim Clark | 0.2L | 2 | 58.5kg | $61 | ||
3 | 1 | NATURE STRIP | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1.3L | 3 | 58.5kg | $1.70F | ||
4 | 4 | SPLINTEX | Mark Newnham | Tom Sherry (a) | 4.9L | 4 | 58.5kg | $20 | ||
7 | SEPTEMBER RUN | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 0 | ||||||
8 | REMARQUE | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | William Pike | 0 | ||||||
5 | AHEAD START | Danny Williams | Jason Collett | 0 | ||||||
3 | TREKKING | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
This autumn’s top Challenge Stakes 2022 betting odds will be available below complete with pricing from Ladbrokes.com.au as soon as betting on the TJ Smith Stakes lead-up opens.
The Challenge Stakes field attracts a class line-up of short-distance sprinters chasing the lucrative prize money on offer in the Group 2 including runners down in grade off a Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) start over the same metres at Flemington earlier in the autumn.
The 2018 Challenge Stakes winner Redzel was the last to come off the Black Caviar Lightning improving on his second to salute for the punters as the odds-on favourite. In 2020 Nature Strip ran fourth in the Black Caviar Lightning before atoning to win the Challenge Stakes, Redzel placing second in both races.
In 2022 Eduardo improved on a lead-up Black Caviar Lightning third to successfully defend his Challenge Stakes title.
The 2022 Challenge Stakes field will be provided by Racing NSW on the Wednesday of race week.
Chris Waller’s champion sprinter Nature Strip headlines a small but quality Challenge Stakes 2022 final field in Sydney this weekend.
Click here to read more on the key chances in the 2022 Challenge Stakes field and betting markets.
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 121x1211x2 | NATURE STRIP | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 7 | 58.5kg | 121 | ||
2 | 1131x131x3 | EDUARDO | Joseph Pride | Nash Rawiller | 5 | 58.5kg | 118 | ||
3 | x554x3360x | TREKKING | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 58.5kg | 113 | ||
4 | 0168x4147x | SPLINTEX | Mark Newnham | Tom Sherry (a) | 8 | 58.5kg | 107 | ||
5 | 13x119x24x | AHEAD START | Danny Williams | Jason Collett | 3 | 58.5kg | 66 | ||
6 | 2282602521 | SHELBY SIXTYSIX | Danny Williams | Tim Clark | 6 | 58.5kg | 62 | ||
7 | 048x37664x | SEPTEMBER RUN | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 1 | 56.5kg | 107 | ||
8 | 15x330x | REMARQUE | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | William Pike | 4 | 56kg | 90 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Early nominations for the Challenge Stakes in 2022 close the Monday of race week and will be updated below once confirmed.
The 2022 Challenge Stakes nominations drew 10 early entries dominated by Chris Waller’s The Everest hero Nature Strip looking to atone for his first-up loss in the Black Caviar Lightning in Melbourne when blowing the start.
Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 121x1211x2 | NATURE STRIP | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 1 | 58.5kg | 121 | ||
2 | 1131x131x3 | EDUARDO | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | 2 | 58.5kg | 118 | ||
3 | x554x3360x | TREKKING | G | 7 | James Cummings | 3 | 58.5kg | 113 | ||
4 | 0168x4147x | SPLINTEX | H | 5 | Mark Newnham | 4 | 58.5kg | 107 | ||
5 | x297x11111 | RULE OF LAW | G | 4 | Bjorn Baker | 5 | 58.5kg | 95 | ||
6 | 15x330x | REMARQUE | C | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 6 | 56kg | 90 | ||
7 | 1127x621x6 | PROFITEER | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 7 | 56kg | 88 | ||
8 | 13x119x24x | AHEAD START | G | 4 | Danny Williams | 8 | 58.5kg | 66 | ||
9 | 2282602521 | SHELBY SIXTYSIX | G | 5 | Danny Williams | 9 | 58.5kg | 62 | ||
10 | 048x37664x | SEPTEMBER RUN | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 10 | 56.5kg | 107 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The first recorded winning of the AJC Challenge Stakes took place in 1966 when Tar Girl won with a finishing time of 58.5 seconds. Since then, the race has recorded a number of triple and double winners including English (2016-17), Star Of Florida in 2003-04, Cangronde in 1997-98, At Sea from 1985 to 1987 and Razor Sharp from 1982 to 1984.
See below for the full Challenge Stakes results dating back to 2000.
In 2018 Redzel set a Challenge Stakes winning record saluting in a time of 55.73 seconds. Redzel also ran third in the Challenge Stakes three times (2017, 2019, 2020).
Ball Of Muscle won the 2019 Challenge Stakes at his third attempt in the race.
The 2021 Challenge Stakes winner Eduardo set a new record time saluting in a slick 55.2 seconds when defeating the previous year’s champion and subsequent 2021 The Everest hero Nature Strip.
The Challenge Stakes result in 2022 nearly saw one of the biggest upsets in Australian sprinting history with Shelby Sixtysix ($61) running into second behind the back-to-back winner Eduardo and forcing the beaten odds-on favourite Nature Strip to finish third.
Year | Place | Horse | Time |
---|---|---|---|
2022 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Eduardo | 59.06 seconds |
2nd | Shelby Sixtysix | ||
3rd | Nature Strip | ||
2021 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Eduardo | 55.2 seconds (R) |
2nd | Nature Strip | ||
3rd | Bella Vella | ||
2020 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Nature Strip | 56.87 seconds |
2nd | Redzel | ||
3rd | Jungle Edge | ||
2019 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Ball Of Muscle | 55.78 seconds |
2nd | Redzel | ||
3rd | Viridine | ||
2018 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Redzel | 55.73 seconds |
2nd | Jungle Edge | ||
3rd | Super Too | ||
2017 Challenge Stakes |
1st | English | 59.99 seconds |
2nd | Redzel | ||
3rd | Supido | ||
2016 Challenge Stakes |
1st | English | 56.5 seconds |
2nd | Kinglike | ||
3rd | Boss Lane | ||
2015 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Miracles Of Life | 56.7 seconds |
2nd | Va Pensiero | ||
3rd | Rubick | ||
2014 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Villa Verde | 57.30 seconds |
2nd | Snitzerland | ||
3rd | Famous Seamus | ||
2013 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Snitzerland | 56.16 seconds |
2nd | Decision Time | ||
3rd | Howmuchdoyouloveme | ||
2012 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Rain Affair | 1:03.7 seconds |
2nd | Satin Shoes | ||
3rd | Neeson | ||
2011 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Hay List | 56.8 seconds |
2nd | Keen Commander | ||
3rd | Solar Charged | ||
2010 Challenge Stakes |
1st | De Lightning Ridge | 55.92 seconds |
2nd | Dorf Command | ||
3rd | Stryker | ||
2009 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Olonana | 56.92 seconds |
2nd | Hoystar | ||
3rd | Fantene | ||
2008 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Hurried Choice | 57.35 seconds |
2nd | Keen Commander | ||
3rd | German Chocolate | ||
2007 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Spark Of Life | 56.89 seconds |
2nd | Whoever | ||
3rd | Biscayne Bay | ||
2006 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Snitzel | 56.8 seconds |
2nd | Spark Of Life | ||
3rd | Media | ||
2005 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Impaler | 56.25 seconds |
2nd | Snippetson | ||
3rd | Charge Forward | ||
2004 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Star Of Florida | 56.39 seconds |
2nd | Mistegic | ||
3rd | Majestic Fiesta | ||
2003 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Star Of Florida | 56.58 seconds |
2nd | Snowland | ||
3rd | Fair Embrace | ||
2002 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Bomber Bill | 56.54 seconds |
2nd | Mistegic | ||
3rd | Ateates | ||
2001 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Pimpala Prince | 59.24 seconds |
2nd | Ateates | ||
3rd | Notoire | ||
2000 Challenge Stakes |
1st | Easy Rocking | 56.90 seconds |
2nd | Ab Initio | ||
3rd | Adam |