Balanchine Stakes

Balanchine Stakes
(Grangecon Stud Stakes)
Group 3 race
Location Curragh Racecourse
Co. Kildare, Ireland
Inaugurated 2005
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor Grangecon Stud
Website Curragh
Race information
Distance 6f (1,207 metres)
Surface Turf
Track Straight
Qualification Two-year-old fillies
Weight 9 st 0 lb
Penalties
3 lb for Group winners
Purse 65,000 (2014)
1st: €42,250
Grangecon Stud Stakes
2014
I Am Beautiful Jeanne Girl Quinta Verde

The Balanchine Stakes, also known as the Grangecon Stud Stakes, is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.

The event's registered title honours Balanchine, a successful filly whose victories included the Irish Derby in 1994. The race was established in 2005, and it was originally classed at Listed level. The first two runnings were contested over 7 furlongs.[1]

The race's distance was cut to 6 furlongs in 2007, and for a period it was known as the Saoire Stakes. It reverted to its former name in 2009, and from this point its sponsored title was the Ballygallon Stud Stakes.

The Balanchine Stakes was promoted to Group 3 status in 2011. It is now sponsored by Grangecon Stud, and it is held on the final day of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting.

Records

Leading jockey (2 wins):

  • Declan McDonogh – Shimah (2008), Seeharn (2010)

Leading trainer (3 wins):

  • Aidan O'Brien - Listen (2007), Bye Bye Birdie (2013), I Am Beautiful (2014)

Winners

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time
2005 Sahara Princess Johnny Murtagh Jessica Harrington 1:25.60
2006 Gaudeamus Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 1:27.70
2007 Listen Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien 1:15.40
2008 Shimah Declan McDonogh Kevin Prendergast 1:12.97
2009 Long Lashes Fran Berry Jessica Harrington 1:15.24
2010 Seeharn Declan McDonogh Kevin Prendergast 1:12.66
2011 Experience Wayne Lordan David Wachman 1:12.36
2012 Sendmylovetorose Colm O'Donoghue Andrew Oliver 1:16.92
2013 Bye Bye Birdie Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:10.94
2014 I Am Beautiful Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 1:12.56

See also

References

  1. "New sponsor for Derby Friday". RTÉ Sport. 28 February 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2011.