Championship Stakes
Encyclopedia
The Championship Stakes, run at Ellerslie Racecourse
, is a Group 2 three-year-old race run at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand.
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. However, 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.
Both the first two winners of the race went on to win the Derby, and the 2009 and 2010 Derby winners contested the race. However, the 2011 running (in the new date) only provided two outsiders in the Derby.
Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit of approximately 1,900 m.-History:The first race meeting was held at Ellerslie on 25 May 1874...
, is a Group 2 three-year-old race run at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand.
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. However, 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.
Both the first two winners of the race went on to win the Derby, and the 2009 and 2010 Derby winners contested the race. However, the 2011 running (in the new date) only provided two outsiders in the Derby.
Winners of the Championship Stakes
| Year |
Winner |
| 2011 | Hidden Asset Hidden asset In finance, a hidden asset is an asset that is not shown on a balance sheet. An example of such an asset is the US $15 billion that United Airlines' frequent flyer program, Mileage Plus, was estimated to be worth when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.... |
| 2010 | Zarzuela |
| 2009 | Down The Road |
| 2008 | Red Ruler |
| 2007 | Redoute's Dancer Redoute's Dancer Redoute's Dancer is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 2007.Having competed in Sydney throughout the early part of his three year-old season, the connections of the son of Redoute's Choice decided to chase a Group 1 win for the colt and high prize money in New Zealand.He had... |
| 2006 | Wahid Wahid (horse) Wahid is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 2006.The son of Almutawakel grabbed everyone's attention with his stunning debut win at Trentham , and was rarely out of the limelight for the remainder of his two year-old season... |