The Championship Stakes, run at Ellerslie Racecourse, is a Group 3 horse race run for three-year-olds at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand.

History

When the New Zealand Derby was moved from December to March in the 2005–06 season, the race was set up to be run on the second Saturday in February as the main-lead-up race, two weeks before the Derby. Before this the race had been restricted to fillies only.

In 2011, the race was moved New Year's Day, with the Avondale Guineas (previously run in December at Avondale and the main Derby lead-up before 2005) moving to Ellerslie and taking the February date. Since 2015, the Championship Stakes has been held in mid/late April. It is raced on the same date as the Easter Handicap.

The race has been sponsored by:

Trelawney Stud Valachi Downs

Notable winners

The race has been won by a number of New Zealand Derby winners:

2013 Habibi 2012 Silent Achiever 2007 Redoute's Dancer 2006 Wahid

The 2005 winner Tusker also won the 2006 Awapuni Gold Cup.

Werther, the 2015 winner, went on to win the 2015 Eagle Farm Cup, Hong Kong Derby, the 2016 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the 2017 Hong Kong Gold Cup, the Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup and Bochk Jockey Club Cup. It was runner up in the South Australian Derby, Queensland Derby, Hong Kong Classic Mile, Hong Kong Classic Cup, the Longines Hong Kong Cup and the 2018 Hong Kong Gold Cup.

Race results Year Winner Sire Dam Jockey Trainer(s) Time Second ThirdApril 2026Solid Gold 55SavabeelGramGeorge RookeRoger James & Robert Wellwood2:14.03 (soft)La Diem 55Glance 55April 2025 Kiwi Skyhawk 57 Contributer (Ire)Pouter (Aus) Matt Cartwright Stephen Marsh 2:12.88 (soft) Zormella 55Roctave 57April 2024Moonlight Magic 55 Almanzor Japonica (Aus) Craig GryllsAndrew Forsman 2:13.16 (soft) Solidify 57First Innings 57April 2023 (Pukekohe) Chevel D'Or 55Almanzor Keepa ChevalMichael McNab Tony Pike 2:22.36 (heavy)Sassyness 55Kentucky Rose 55April 2022 (Pukekohe) Pinarello 57 Tavistock (NZ) ZonzaLeith Innes Roger James & Robert Wellwood2:10.10 (good) Titled 57Lingjun Xiongfeng 57April 2021Hezashocka 56.5Shocking Shezakiwi Masa Hashizume (a)Shaun & Emma Clotworthy2:18.45 (slow)Joy Alone 54.5 Milford Sound 56.5April 2019 Lord Arthur 56.5 Camelot (GB)Imposingly (Aus)Jake Baylis Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman 2:07.89Intrigue 54.5Bobby Dee 56.5April 2018 Azaboy 56.5 Azamour (Ire) Cataari (NZ) Samantha Collett Richard Collett2:22.04 (heavy) Gundown (Aus) 56.5Time Lord 56.5 April 2017Tavidream 56.5 Lamb, James. "Sale pending for Queensland Derby favourite Tavidream", Punters (April 26, 2017). Tavistock (NZ) Cinnadream (Aus)Alysha Collett Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs 2:13.91 (soft) Charles Road (Aus) 56.5 Camino Rocoso 56.5April 2016The Hassler 56.5 "Disaster averted after Danielle Johnson crashes at Ellerslie", Stuff.co.nz (April 23, 2016). Shocking (Aus) Zaquabeel (NZ)Vincent Colgan Roger James2:12.26 (good) Zambezi Warrior 56.5 Sonorous 56.5April 2015Werther 56.5 Tavistock (NZ) Bagolollies (Aus)Leith Innes Andrew Campbell 2:18.31 (soft) Exquisite Jewel 54.5 Viva La Difference (Aus) 54.5 January 2014Show The World 56.5High Chaparral (Ire) Bazelle (NZ) Opie Bosson Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman 2:12.58 (dead)Blizzard 56.5High Tower 56.5 January 2013Habibi 54.5Ekraar (US) Danny Holiday (NZ) Vincent Colgan Donna & Dean Logan 2:09.01 (good) Addictive Habit 56.5 Solar Eclipse 56.5 January 2012Silent Achiever 54.5 O'Reilly (NZ) Winning Spree (NZ)Vincent Colgan Roger James 2:18.14 (slow) Shuka 56.5 Lady Krovanh (Aus)January 2011Hidden Asset 56 High Chaparral Fragile Asset (NZ)James McDonald Shaune Ritchie 2:10.39 (good) Hot Pursuit 54.5Yourein (Aus) 56 Feb 2010Zarzuela 54.5 Zabeel (NZ) Star Satire (NZ) James McDonaldMark Walker 2:08.35 (good) Corporal Jones 56 King Raedwald 56Feb 2009Down The Road 56Danroad (Aus) Dixies Girl (NZ) Michael Coleman Ken Kelso & Thomas Russell 2:15.52 (soft) The Meista 56 Coniston Bluebird 56Feb 2008Red Ruler 56Viking Ruler (Aus) Ransom Bay (USA) Vincent Colgan John Sargent 2:10.61 (good)Six O'Clock News 56 Pierre Joseph 56Feb 2007Redoute's Dancer 56 Redoute's Choice (Aus) Condescendance (US) Vincent Colgan Tim Martin, Rosehill 2:11.17 (good)Benedict 56 Stolen Thunder 56Feb 2006Wahid 56 Almutawakel (GB) Rory's Helen (NZ)Leith Innes Alan Sharrock 2:09.21 (good)Black Panther 56 Twinkling 54.5Mar 2005Tusker 55 Volksraad (GB) Stella Artois (NZ)Noel Harris Murray Baker 2:10.41 El Bulli 55Zaria 55Feb 2004Boulevardofdreams 55Daggers Drawn (US) Faustina (NZ) Gary Grylls Vanessa & Wayne Hillis 2:18.04 (soft) Partee 55Haylee Baylee 55Mar 2003Raspberry Ripple (Aus) 55Quest For Fame (GB) Unbeleevable (NZ) Lance O'Sullivan Craig & Frank Ritchie 2:14.34 SlowEtoile Du Nord 55Showgirl 55Mar 2002Sixty Seconds 55 Centaine (Aus) Fifteen Reasons (NZ)Bruce Herd Roger James 2:16.26 (easy) Venus Was Her Name 55 Vapour Trail 55Mar 2001Elevenses 55Star Way (GB) Celtic Joy (NZ) Mark Sweeney Graeme & Debbie Sanders 2:10.50Piper Star 55Gordon’s 55Mar 2000Let's Cruise (NZ) 55Zabeel (NZ) Lady Bay (NZ)Jim Collett Mark Walker 2:09.08Giovana 55Sarwatch 55March 1999Dancing Daze 55Dance Floor (USA) War CryLance O'Sullivan 2:11.30 (easy) Scarlet Runner 55Soap Opera 55Feb 1998Crimson 55Zabeel (NZ) Bourbon Lassie (NZ)David Walsh 2:09.35 Melora 55Limerick 55March 1997Ellakapella 55 Pompeii Court (US) Santona (NZ) Jim Collett 2:15.94 (dead)Ballroom Lady 55 Tricia Ann 55

Ref: https://www.racingandsports.com.au/thoroughbred/feature-race/new-zealand/championship-stakes/257

See also

Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand

Footnotes