The Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge is a pure test of speed over 955 metres. The fastest horses in Australia will go head-to-head to see which horse can break the 55 second mark across the 2024/25 Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights Season.

On each of the night meetings in season 2024/25, The Valley will stage a 55 Second Challenge heat, with each heat carrying minimum prize money of $55,000.

The trainer of the fastest heat winner will receive a cheque valued at $55,000 thanks to our partners at Ladbrokes.

CONGRATULATIONS TO TRAINER PHILLIP STOKES FOR TAKING OUT THE 2024/25 LADBROKES 55 SECOND CHALLENGE WITH SHIRSHOV.

Shirshov ran the fastest time of the season in Heat 14, clocking a track record equalling time of 54.45 seconds with Daniel Stackhouse on board.

Shirshov becomes the first horse in Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge history to win the series twice, going back-to-back in Seasons 2023/24 and 2024/25.

Ladbrokes 55 Second Winner Shirshov g3_01801

Shirshov

2024/25 HEATS

Date
 		Race
 		Winner
 		Trainer
 		Time
27 Sep 2024  Heat 1 - BM84 Handicap  Holy Racket   Allan & Jason Williams   55.26 
 4 Oct 2024  Heat 2 - BM64 Handicap      
 25 Oct 2024  Heat 3 - BM74 Handicap  Port Albert  Nick Ryan  55.23
 1 Nov 2024  Heat 4 - BM70 Handicap  Charmed Run   Luke Oliver  55.13
 15 Nov 2024  Heat 5 - BM70 Handicap  Projeto  Peter Maher  55.17
 22 Nov 2024  Heat 6 - BM64 Handicap  Grand Larceny   Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes   55.35
 29 Nov 2024  Heat 7 - BM64 Handicap  Bold Print  Rachel Cunningham  55.97
 6 Dec 2024  Heat 8 - BM64 Handicap   Octrain  Monica Croston & Gerrad Gilmour   55.64
 13 Dec 2024  Heat 9 - BM70 Handicap  Major Share  Adam Chambers  54.86
 24 Jan 2025  Heat 10 - BM70 Handicap   Oak Hill  Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson   56.46
 31 Jan 2025  Heat 11 - BM70 Fillies & Mares Handicap   Lazy Susan  Gavin Bedggood  55.36
 7 Feb 2025  Heat 12 - BM78 Handicap   Unflinching  Shaun Mathrick  56.18
 14 Feb 2025  Heat 13 - BM70 Fillies & Mares Handicap  Loving Mandy  Dwayne Reid  56.08
 21 Feb 2025  Heat 14 - BM78 Handicap   Shirshov  Phillip Stokes  54.45
 28 Feb 2025   Heat 15 - BM70 Handicap  Moon And Back   Andrew Noblet  55.84
 7 Mar 2025  Final - BM84 Handicap  Oak Hill  Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson  
55.37 
Season Winners  |  Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge
 Season Horse
  Trainer Time
 2024/25  Shirshov  Phillip Stokes  54.45
 2023/24   Shirshov Julien Welsh  54.64 
 2022/23 Mutinous  Enver Jusufovic 54.93 
 2021/22  Curran Lyn Tolson & Leonie Proctor   54.61
 2020/21 Sisstar
 Tony & Calvin McEvoy 54.45
 2019/20 Bella Vella
  Will Clarken 54.84
 2018/19 Written Choice
Logan McGill  54.77 
2017/18  Sunday Escape
 Andrew Murray 54.75 
2016/17 Sirbible
Russell Bell  54.84
 2015/16
 Tuscan Sling
 Darren Weir   54.90
 2014/15
  Beach Front
  Brent Stanley  55.08
 2013/14
  Minaj
  Anthony Freedman  55.36
 2012/13
  Vatican
 Byron Cozamanis   54.69*
 2011/12
  General Truce
 Ricky Maund   55.26
 2010/11
  La Bella Roo
  Peter Boynton  55.48

* 955 metre rack record.

Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge T&Cs

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