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Proisir Plate

New Zealand | FEATURE RACE GUIDE

History

GRAIL SEEKER winning the Proisir Plate.
GRAIL SEEKER winning the Proisir Plate. Picture: Race Images Photo

The Hawke's Bay Challenge Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for sprinters usually at Hastings race course conducted by the Hawke's Bay Racing.

The Hawke's Bay Challenge Stakes is run over 1400m.

The Hawke's Bay Challenge Stakes has had several names but is currently run as the Proisir Plate.

This race is the opening G1 of the Spring trilogy of races at Hastings. The Windsor Park Plate and the Spring Classic follow. It was run at Ellerslie in 2025.

It is also the first major race of the season in New Zealand. The race was delayed until mid-September in 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus and again in 2021 by a week.

Ocean Park won the race first up before embarking on his Cox Plate campaign in Australia.

Sunline and Starcraft ran well in Cox Plates following victories at Hastings while other top kiwi WFA performers Surfers Paradise, Rough Habit and Poetic Prince saluted.

Melody Belle made it back to back wins in the race in 2019 and took her record to seven G1 wins at the time. She would double that by the end of her career.

Hawke's Bay Challenge Stakes was worth NZ$400,000 in 2025.

Notable winners of Hawke's Bay Challenge Stakes include Callsign Mav (2020/2021), Melody Belle (2018/2019), Kawi (2015/2016), Ocean Park (2012), Mufhasa (2011), Tavistock (2009), Seachange (2006/2007), Xcellent (2005), Starcraft (2004), Miss Potential (2003), Sunline (2002), Fritz (2001), Cent Home (2000), Vialli (1996), Snap (1994), Surfers Paradise (1992), Rough Habit (1991) and Poetic Prince (1988).

The 2024 Hawke's Bay Challenge Stakes was won by Grail Seeker from Faraglioni and Sacred Satono.


Racing and Sports

Previous Proisir Plate Winners

Date Horse Jockey WT Trainer BP
GRAIL SEEKER (NZ) 4M
IFFRAAJ (GB) - STARWISH (AUS) REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS)
MATT CARTWRIGHT 56.5 LANCE O'SULLIVAN & ANDREW SCOTT 5
SKEW WIFF (NZ) 4M
SAVABEEL (AUS) - STARVOIA (AUS) STARCRAFT (NZ)
O P BOSSON 57.0 MARK WALKER & SAM BERGERSON 4
DARK DESTROYER (NZ) 4G
PROISIR (AUS) - ALL CAN PARTY (AUS) ALL AMERICAN (AUS)
L J ALLPRESS 58.5 LANCE O'SULLIVAN & ANDREW SCOTT 8
CALLSIGN MAV (NZ) 5G
ATLANTE (AUS) - RAADISI (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB)
J K RIDDELL 59.0 JOHN BARY 10
CALLSIGN MAV (NZ) 4G
ATLANTE (AUS) - RAADISI (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB)
J K RIDDELL 58.5 JOHN BARY 8
MELODY BELLE (NZ) 5M
COMMANDS (AUS) - MELEKA BELLE (NZ) IFFRAAJ (GB)
M MCNAB 57.0 JAMIE RICHARDS 15
MELODY BELLE (NZ) 4M
COMMANDS (AUS) - MELEKA BELLE (NZ) IFFRAAJ (GB)
SHARIF RUSOF 56.5 JAMIE RICHARDS 7
CLOSE UP (NZ) 8G
SHINKO KING (IRE) - REGELLE (NZ) EXPLODING PROSPECT (USA)
G COOKSLEY 59.0 S HALE 2
KAWI (NZ) 6G
SAVABEEL (AUS) - MAGIC TIME (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB)
L G INNES 59.0 A SHARROCK 14
KAWI (NZ) 5G
SAVABEEL (AUS) - MAGIC TIME (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB)
L G INNES 59.0 A SHARROCK 12
I DO (NZ) 7M
NO EXCUSE NEEDED (GB) - FREEQUENCE (NZ) O'REILLY (NZ)
O P BOSSON 57.0 A SHARROCK 6
SURVIVED (NZ) 4G
ZED (NZ) - LIBERAL (NZ) GENEROUS (IRE)
O P BOSSON 58.5 JOHN BARY 7
OCEAN PARK (NZ) 4H
THORN PARK (AUS) - SAYYIDA (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ)
L J ALLPRESS 58.5 G HENNESSY 4
MUFHASA (NZ) 7G
PENTIRE (GB) - SHEILA CHEVAL (NZ) MI PREFERIDO (USA)
S C SPRATT 59.0 STEPHEN MCKEE 8
KEEP THE PEACE (NZ) 4M
KEEPER (AUS) - PEACE OF MIND (NZ) WILD RAMPAGE (AUS)
JAMES MCDONALD 56.5 SHAUNE RITCHIE 1
LORD TAVISTOCK (NZ) 4H
MONTJEU (IRE) - UPSTAGE (GB) QUEST FOR FAME (GB)
J L WADDELL 58.5 ANDREW R CAMPBELL 13
FRITZY BOY (NZ) 4G
BRILLIANCE (USA) - FRITZY GIRL (NZ) CACHE OF GOLD (USA)
N G HARRIS 58.5 A MACGREGOR 1
SEACHANGE (NZ) 5M
CAPE CROSS (IRE) - JUST CRUISING (AUS) BROAD REACH (NZ)
G MCKEON 56.5 R R MANNING 9
SEACHANGE (NZ) 4M
CAPE CROSS (IRE) - JUST CRUISING (AUS) BROAD REACH (NZ)
G MCKEON 56.0 R R MANNING 4
XCELLENT (NZ) 4G
PENTIRE (GB) - EXCELO (NZ) CENTRO (NZ)
M T COLEMAN 57.0 M MORONEY & A SCOTT 13
STARCRAFT (NZ) 4H
SOVIET STAR (USA) - FLYING FLOOZIE (NZ) POMPEII COURT (USA)
L G INNES 57.0 GARRY NEWHAM 12
MISS POTENTIAL (AUS) 5M
DOLPHIN STREET (FR) - RICHFIELD ROSE (NZ) CRESTED WAVE (USA)
B R JONES 56.0 BILL BORRIE 4
SUNLINE (NZ) 7M
DESERT SUN (GB) - SONGLINE (NZ) WESTERN SYMPHONY (USA)
G CHILDS 56.0 STEPHEN & TREVOR MCK 2
FRITZ (NZ) 7G
KREISLER (IRE) - BRIGHTEN UP (GB) SHARPO (NZ)
N G HARRIS 58.5 N COULBECK 2
CENT HOME (NZ) 5G
LORD BALLINA (AUS) - CENTURIA (NZ) CENTAINE (AUS)
DAVID WALKER 58.5 J V WALLACE 9

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