Sapphire Stakes (Ireland)

This article is about the Irish horse race. For Australian horse race with similar name, see Sapphire Stakes (ATC).
Sapphire Stakes
Group 2 race
Location Curragh Racecourse
Co. Kildare, Ireland
Inaugurated 2001
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor Kilfrush Stud
Website Curragh
Race information
Distance 5f (1,006 metres)
Surface Turf
Track Straight
Qualification Three-years-old and up
Weight 9 st 3 lb (3yo);
9 st 7 lb (4yo+)
Allowances
3 lb for fillies and mares
Penalties
5 lb for G1 / G2 winners *
3 lb for G3 winners *
* since June 1 last year
Purse €120,000 (2016)
1st: €70,800
Sapphire Stakes
2016
Mecca's Angel Brando Gracious John

The Sapphire Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.

The event was established in 2001, and it was originally classed at Listed level. For several years it was registered as the Richard H. Faught Memorial Stakes. It was renamed the Sapphire Stakes and promoted to Group 3 status in 2008. It was raised to Group 2 level in 2015.

The Sapphire Stakes was originally part of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting. In 2015 it was moved to the Irish Oaks meeting and it is currently held on the first day, the same day as the Irish Oaks.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Benbaun – 2005, 2009

Leading jockey (3 wins):

  • Johnny Murtagh – Deportivo (2003), Snaefell (2007), Definightly (2012)

Leading trainer (2 wins):

  • Michael Halford – Snaefell (2007), Invincible Ash (2011)
  • Roger Charlton - Deportivo (2003), Definightly (2012)

Winners

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Time
2001 Repertory 8 Fergus Sweeney Malcolm Saunders 0:59.40
2002 Tiger Royal 6 Pat Shanahan Dermot Weld 0:59.80
2003 Deportivo 3 Johnny Murtagh Roger Charlton 0:59.70
2004 Osterhase 5 Fran Berry John Mulhern 0:57.30
2005 Benbaun 4 Kieren Fallon Mark Wallace 0:57.40
2006 Dandy Man 3 Pat Shanahan Con Collins 0:58.40
2007 Snaefell 3 Johnny Murtagh Michael Halford 1:02.90
2008 Tax Free 6 Adrian Nicholls David Nicholls 0:59.03
2009 Benbaun 8 Pat Smullen Kevin Ryan 1:00.03
2010 Glamorous Spirit 4 Kieren Fallon Ron Harris 0:57.85
2011 Invincible Ash 6 Gary Carroll Michael Halford 1:00.13
2012 Definightly 6 Johnny Murtagh Roger Charlton 1:02.13
2013 Slade Power 4 Wayne Lordan Edward Lynam 0:57.51
2014 Fountain Of Youth 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 0:59.01
2015 Stepper Point 6 Pat Smullen William Muir 0:58.75
2016 Mecca's Angel 5 Paul Mulrennan Michael Dods 0:58.61

See also

References

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