Championship Stakes prize money
The Championship Stakes is worth £52,908 for the 2026 running . That makes it the 877th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 32nd richest in New Zealand.
The race announces its purse as NZ$120,000, and every figure here is that money converted. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
What the Championship Stakes is
Group III · 2100m (10.5 furlongs) · Turf · Ellerslie Racecourse
- Racecourse
- Ellerslie Racecourse
- Country
- New Zealand
- Grade
- Group III
- Distance
- 2100m (10.5 furlongs)
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Thoroughbred - Flat racing
- Open to
- Three-year-olds
- Direction
- Right-handed
- As published
- NZ$120,000
We hold the total fund for the Championship Stakes and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.
Run in 2:14.03 in 2026, the Championship Stakes pays £395 for every second of the race, which is 552nd of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 31st in New Zealand.
Every Championship Stakes winner
29 runnings, 1997 to 2026, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Solid Gold 552:14.03 (soft) | George Rooke | Roger James & Robert Wellwood |
| 2025 | Kiwi Skyhawk 572:12.88 (soft) | Matt Cartwright | Stephen Marsh |
| 2024 | Moonlight Magic 552:13.16 (soft) | Craig Grylls | Andrew Forsman |
| 2023 | Chevel D'Or 552:22.36 (heavy) | Michael McNab | Tony Pike |
| 2022 | Pinarello 572:10.10 (good) | Leith Innes | Roger James & Robert Wellwood |
| 2021 | Hezashocka 56.52:18.45 (slow) | Masa Hashizume (a) | Shaun & Emma Clotworthy |
| 2019 | Lord Arthur 56.52:07.89 | Jake Baylis | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 2018 | Azaboy 56.52:22.04 (heavy) | Samantha Collett | Richard Collett |
| 2017 | Tavidream 56.52:13.91 (soft) | Alysha Collett | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs |
| 2016 | The Hassler 56.52:12.26 (good) | Vincent Colgan | Roger James |
| 2015 | Werther 56.52:18.31 (soft) | Leith Innes | Andrew Campbell |
| 2014 | Show The World 56.52:12.58 (dead) | Opie Bosson | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 2013 | Habibi 54.52:09.01 (good) | Vincent Colgan | Donna & Dean Logan |
| 2012 | Silent Achiever 54.52:18.14 (slow) | Vincent Colgan | Roger James |
| 2011 | Hidden Asset 562:10.39 (good) | James McDonald | Shaune Ritchie |
| 2010 | Zarzuela 54.52:08.35 (good) | James McDonald | Mark Walker |
| 2009 | Down The Road 562:15.52 (soft) | Michael Coleman | Ken Kelso & Thomas Russell |
| 2008 | Red Ruler 562:10.61 (good) | Vincent Colgan | John Sargent |
| 2007 | Redoute's Dancer 562:11.17 (good) | Vincent Colgan | Tim Martin, Rosehill |
| 2006 | Wahid 562:09.21 (good) | Leith Innes | Alan Sharrock |
| 2005 | Tusker 552:10.41 | Noel Harris | Murray Baker |
| 2004 | Boulevardofdreams 552:18.04 (soft) | Gary Grylls | Vanessa & Wayne Hillis |
| 2003 | Raspberry Ripple (Aus) 552:14.34 Slow | Lance O'Sullivan | Craig & Frank Ritchie |
| 2002 | Sixty Seconds 552:16.26 (easy) | Bruce Herd | Roger James |
| 2001 | Elevenses 552:10.50 | Mark Sweeney | Graeme & Debbie Sanders |
| 2000 | Let's Cruise (NZ) 552:09.08 | Jim Collett | Mark Walker |
| 1999 | Dancing Daze 552:11.30 (easy) | Lance O'Sullivan | |
| 1998 | Crimson 552:09.35 | David Walsh | |
| 1997 | Ellakapella 552:15.94 (dead) | Jim Collett |
29 of the 29 runnings name the rider, 26 name the trainer and 0 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the Championship Stakes more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a jockey
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Championship Stakes in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 867 | Jersey Shore StakesMonmouth Park Racetrack | United States | £56,391 | $75,000 |
| 868 | Rumson StakesGulfstream Park | United States | £56,391 | $75,000 |
| 869 | Oettingen-RennenIffezheim Racecourse | Germany | £55,556 | €65,000 |
| 870 | Premio del PiazzaleSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £55,470 | €64,900 |
| 871 | St. Leger ItalianoSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £55,470 | €64,900 |
| 872 | Feilden StakesRowley Mile | Great Britain | £55,000 | £55,000 |
| 873 | Glasgow StakesHamilton Park | Great Britain | £55,000 | £55,000 |
| 874 | Greenham StakesNewbury Racecourse | Great Britain | £55,000 | £55,000 |
| 875 | Newmarket StakesRowley Mile | Great Britain | £55,000 | £55,000 |
| 876 | Mohawk Gold CupCampbellville, Ontario | Canada | £53,680 | CA$100,000 |
| 878 | Premio AmbrosianoSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £52,650 | €61,600 |
| 879 | Premio Carlo d'AlessioCapannelle Racecourse | Italy | £52,650 | €61,600 |
| 880 | Premio Carlo e Francesco AloisiCapannelle Racecourse | Italy | £52,650 | €61,600 |
| 881 | Premio del GiubileoSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £52,650 | €61,600 |
| 882 | Premio OmenoniSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £52,650 | €61,600 |
| 884 | San Miguel StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | £52,632 | $70,000 |
| 885 | Woodstock StakesWoodbine Racetrack | Canada | £52,332 | CA$97,488 |
| 886 | Duchess StakesWoodbine Racetrack | Canada | £51,728 | CA$96,363 |
| 887 | Deputy Minister StakesWoodbine Racetrack | Canada | £51,533 | CA$96,000 |
| 888 | Prix La FlècheChantilly | France | £51,282 | €60,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Championship Stakes in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in New Zealand
35 races, 32nd of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rowe Cup | Alexandra Park | Group I | £88,180 |
| Hawke's Bay Guineas | Hastings Racecourse | Group II | £77,158 |
| Easter Handicap | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group III | £66,135 |
| Great New Zealand Hurdle | Te Aroha | Prestige jumping | £66,135 |
| Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile | Alexandra Park | Group I | £48,499 |
| Grand National Hurdles | Riccarton Park Racecourse, Christchurch, New Zealand | Prestige jumping | £44,090 |
| New Zealand Messenger Championship | Alexandra Park | Group I | £44,090 |
| New Zealand Derby | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group I | £551,125 |
Every race in New Zealand we hold a purse for is on the New Zealand prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total Championship Stakes prize money?
£52,908, for the 2026 running. The race announces it as NZ$120,000.
Where does the Championship Stakes rank among the richest races in the world?
877th of 997. 876 races pay more, the nearest of them Jersey Shore Stakes. In New Zealand it is 32nd of 35.
Which jockey has won the Championship Stakes most often?
Vincent Colgan, with 5 wins between 2007 and 2016.
When was the Championship Stakes first run?
This page holds 29 runnings, from 1997 to 2026.
How far is the Championship Stakes?
2100m (10.5 furlongs), on turf, at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money