Tarzino Trophy

The Tarzino Trophy also known as the Challenge Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and is New Zealand's first Group One race of the season. It is run over a distance of 1400m on the first Saturday in September.

Tarzino Trophy (Challenge Stakes)

Group I race
Location	Hastings Racecourse Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Inaugurated	1985
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.hawkesbayracing.co.nz
Race information
Distance	1400m (7 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds and up
Weight	Weight for Age
Purse	NZ$200,000 (2019)

It was formerly known as the:

• Mudgway Partsworld Stakes.
• Mudgway Challenge Stakes.
• Makfi Challenge Stakes.
• Enerco Stakes.
• Byerley Thoroughbred Stakes.
• Russell's Akai Television Stakes.

It was renamed the Tarzino Trophy in 2017.[1] named after Tarzino, winner of the 2015 Victoria Derby and 2016 Rosehill Guineas and an active sire at Westbury Stud.

The race is the first of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown events and is followed by:

• the 1600m Windsor Park Plate in late September, and

• the 2040m Spring Classic on the first Saturday in October.

The race's timing, weight-for-age conditions and the reliably dry weather of the region at that time of the year combine to ensure that the race sees one of the strongest fields assembled in any race all season as a number of horses heading towards a campaign in Australia choose it as a starting point.

As a result, the winners list is extraordinarily strong for a New Zealand race. Included among the winners are:

• the champion mares Sunline and Melody Belle.

• the Hall of Famer Rough Habit.

• W S Cox Plate winners Poetic Prince, Surfers Paradise and Ocean Park.

• the Australian visitor and subsequent European Group 1 winner Starcraft.

Seachange, Kawi and Melody Belle were all back-to-back winners of the race.

As hard as it is to believe by looking at the winners list, the race was only given Group 2 status until 2003, when Miss Potential took out the first Group 1 running of the race.

Winners of the Challenge Stakes

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Time	2nd	3rd
2020	Callsign Mav 58.5	Jonathan Riddell	John Bary	1:22.12 Dead	Supera 57	Avantage 57
2019	Melody Belle 57[2]	Michael McNab	Jamie Richards	1:22.12	Wyndspelle 59	Helena Baby 59
2018	Melody Belle 56.5[3]	Sharif Rusof	Jamie Richards	1:24.59	Hiflyer 59	Our Abbadean 57
2017	Close Up 59[4]	Grant Cooksley	Shelley Hale, Cambridge	1:27.89 (slow)	Aide Memoire 57	Underthemoonlight 57
2016	Kawi 59	Leith Innes	Alan Sharrock	1:24.87	El Pescado 59	Farm Boy 59
2015	Kawi 59	Leith Innes	Alan Sharrock	1:22.25	Ryan Mark 59	Ginner Hart 59
2014	I Do 57	Opie Bosson	Alan Sharrock	1:24.08	Pussy O’Reilly 57	Pure Champion 59
2013	Survived 58.5	Opie Bosson	John Bary	1:32.78 (heavy11)	Full Of Spirit 57	Final Touch 57
2012	Ocean Park 58.5	Lisa Allpress	Gary Hennessy	1:23.79	Xanadu 56.5	Justanexcuse 59
2011	Mufhasa 59	Samantha Spratt	Stephen McKee	1:23.12	Jimmy Choux 58.5	Fleur de Lune 56.5
2010	Keep The Peace 56.5	James McDonald	Shaune Ritchie	1:26.69	Wall Street 59	Fritzy Boy 59
2009	Tavistock 58.5	Jason Waddell	Andrew Campbell	1:22.09	Mufhasa 59	Sterling Prince 59
2008	Fritzy Boy 58.5	Noel Harris	Alby MacGregor, Opaki	1:24.16	Bulginbaah 59	Prince Kaapstad 58.5
2007	Seachange 56.5	Gavin McKeon	Ralph Manning, Cambridge	1:23.30	Cog Hill 59	J'Adane 56.5
2006	Seachange 56	Gavin McKeon	Ralph Manning, Cambridge	1:21.13	Darci Brahma 58.5	Kristov 59
2005	Xcellent 57	Michael T Coleman	Michael Moroney & Andrew Scott, Matamata	1:22.51	Miss Potential 56	Shinzig 57
2004	Starcraft 57	Leith Innes	Garry Newham, Queensland	1:22.59	Miss Potential 56	Kalamata (Aus) 54.5
2003 (at Wanganui)	Miss Potential 56	Reese Jones	Bill Borrie	1:18.02 (1340m)	Tit For Taat 56	Rosina Lad 58
2002	Sunline 56	Greg Childs	Stephen McKee	1:22.98	Tit For Taat 56	Cent Home 58
2001	Fritz 58.5	Noel Harris	Neil Coulbeck, Leithfield	1:21.19	Cinder Bella 58	Figurante 56
2000	Cent Home 58.5	David Walker	Jim Wallace, Opaki	1:22.14	Cheiron 58	Buster Brookfield 58
1999	Hero 58.5	M D Hills	Jim Campin & John Gudopp, Cambridge	1:21.47	Rebel 58.5	Surface 58.5
1998	Batavian 58.5	Peter Johnson	G A Rogerson & K W Hawtin, Tuhikaramea	1:28.42	Tycoon Lil 58	Covered n’ Grey 54
1997	Pakaraka Star 58.5	Jim Collett	S W Gulliver, Hawera	1:28.37 (heavy)	Moss Downs 58	Adonia 58
1996	Vialli (Ire) 58.5	Michael T Coleman	Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata	1:24.44	Marconee 58.5	Tripta 58.5
1995	Marconee 58.5	Damon Smith	G E Barlow & Jeff Lynds, Newbury, Palmerston North	1:24.03	Snap 58	Solvit 56
1994	Snap 54.5	Lance O'Sullivan	Dave & Paul O'Sullivan	1:20.32	Solvit 58.5	Veandercross 58.5
1993	Calm Harbour 58.5	Lance O'Sullivan	Noel Eales	1:23.68	Veandercross 58.5	Solvit 58.5
1992	Surfers Paradise 58.5	Lance O'Sullivan	Dave & Paul O’Sullivan	1:24.11	Plume 58	Nassa Rocket 56
1991	Rough Habit 58.5	Michael Boyce	John Wheeler	1:24.72	Surfers Paradise 58	Status 57
1990	Flying Luskin 58	Peter Johnson	Stephen & Trevor McKee, Takanini	1:21.03	Horlicks 56	Catering King 58.5
1989	Catering King 58.5	Lance O'Sullivan	Jim Gibbs	1:25.23	Regal City 58	Silver Mask 58
1988	Poetic Prince 57	Noel Harris	John Wheeler	1:24.63	Plume d’Or Veille 58.5	Kairau Lad 58.5
1987	Field Dancer 58.5	Michael Coleman	Jim Gibbs & Roger James	1:23.4	Tipit 56	Crimesta 58.5
1986	Catering King 57	Brett McDonald	Dave Stenning	1:22.99	Kinmoss 56	Chance For Gold 58.5
1985	Shagolvin 56	E R Harrison		1:23.16	Clear Gold 58.5	Abit Leica 58.5

See also

A list of winners of all 3 Hawkes Bay Triple Crown races and other major NZ races is at Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.

References

1. "New Name for New Zealand Group One".
2. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12263747
3. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12118125
4. https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/close-call-in-tarzino-trophy/