The Challenge Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.
The race was first run in 1991 and was restricted to fillies and mares from 2016. Since 2016 the race has been run as the Stanerra Stakes. In 2018 it was upgraded from Listed to Group 3 status as part of changes to enhance the European programme of stayer's races.
Records Most successful horse (3 wins): Profound Beauty – 2008, 2009, 2010
Leading jockey (8 wins): Pat Smullen – Vinnie Roe (2001), Orpington (2005), Profound Beauty (2008, 2009, 2010), Sense Of Purpose (2011), Galileo's Choice (2012), Pale Mimosa (2014)
Leading trainer (9 wins): Dermot Weld – Vinnie Roe (2001), Orpington (2005), Profound Beauty (2008, 2009, 2010), Sense Of Purpose (2011), Galileo's Choice (2012), Pale Mimosa (2014), Shamida (2023)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time 2000 Pairumani Star 5 Pat Shanahan John Dunlop 3:0.60 2001 Vinnie Roe 3 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 3:2.20 2002 Queens Wharf 4 Jerry O'Dwyer Michael Halford 3:43.90 2003 Blue Corrig 3 Declan McDonogh Joseph Crowley 3:00.70 2004 Barolo 5 Johnny Murtagh Peter Harris 3:03.70 2005 Orpington 4 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:56.20 2006 Foreign Affairs 8 Declan McDonogh Sir Mark Prescott 2:57.60 2007 Galistic 4 Danny Grant Patrick J. Flynn 3:09.01 2008 Profound Beauty 4 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:55.00 2009 Profound Beauty 5 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:59.30 2010 Profound Beauty 6 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 3:04.82 2011 Sense Of Purpose 4 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 3:01.82 2012 Galileo's Choice 6 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 3:09.13 2013 Royal Diamond 7 Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh 2:59.65 2014 Pale Mimosa 5 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:59.63 2015 Fields Of Athenry 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 3:09.77 2016 Arya Tara 3 Anastasia O'Brien Joseph O'Brien 3:09.35 2017 Wild Irish Rose 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 3:03.65 2018 Cimeara 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 3:08.44 2019 Peach Tree 3 Wayne Lordan Aidan O'Brien 3:02.08 2020 Passion 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 3:18.85 2021 Believe In Love 4 Ronan Whelan Roger Varian 3:03.52 2022 Rosscarbery 4 Billy Lee Paddy Twomey 3:01.94 2023 Shamida 3 Chris Hayes Dermot Weld 3:00.98 2024 Grateful 3 Ronan Whelan Aidan O'Brien 3:01.29 2025 Goodie Two Shoes 6 Dylan Browne McMonagle Joseph O'Brien 2:59.74 2026 Floresta 4 Ben Coen Johnny Murtagh 2:56.38
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Stannera Stakes (2019).