- Championship Stakes
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Group II race Championship Stakes Location Ellerslie Racecourse
Auckland, New ZealandInaugurated 2006 Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing Website Ellerslie Race information Distance 2100m (10.5 furlongs) Track Turf, right-handed Qualification Three-year-olds Weight Set-Weights Purse $100,000 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.
Winners of the Championship Stakes
Year Winner 2011 Hidden Asset 2010 Zarzuela 2009 Down The Road 2008 Red Ruler 2007 Redoute's Dancer 2006 Wahid Categories:- Horse races in New Zealand
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