Minstrel Stakes

Minstrel Stakes
Group 2 race
Location Curragh Racecourse
Co. Kildare, Ireland
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor Qatar Airways
Website Curragh
Race information
Distance 7f (1,408 metres)
Surface Turf
Track Right-hand elbow
Qualification Three-years-old and up
Weight 9 st 1 lb (3yo);
9 st 8 lb (4yo+)
Allowances
3 lb for fillies and mares
Penalties
3 lb for G1 winners *
* since November 1 last year
Purse €120,000 (2017)
1st: €70,800
Minstrel Stakes
2015
Gordon Lord Byron Sovereign Debt Dark Emerald

The Minstrel 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 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.

The event is named after The Minstrel, a successful Irish-trained racehorse in the 1970s. It was formerly held at Phoenix Park in late April or early May, and it used to be contested by three-year-olds over a mile. For a period it was classed at Listed level.

The race was transferred to the Curragh and switched to July in 1991, and at this point it was opened to older horses. It was promoted to Group 3 status in 1996, and cut to 7 furlongs in 2001. The minimum age of participating horses was raised to four in 2002, and three-year-olds were re-admitted in 2007. It was upgraded to Group 2 level from the 2016 running.[1]

Records

Most successful horse since 1988 (2 wins):

  • Ramooz – 1997, 1999
  • Gordon Lord Byron - 2015, 2016

Leading jockey since 1988 (6 wins):

  • Michael Kinane – Executive Perk (1988), Twilight Agenda (1989), Go and Go (1990), Asema (1993), King Charlemagne (2001), Caradak (2005)

Leading trainer since 1988 (5 wins):

  • Aidan O'Brien - Wandering Thoughts (1994), King Charlemagne (2001), Air Chief Marshal (2010), Darwin (2013), Spirit Of Valor (2017)

Winners since 1988

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time
1988 Executive Perk 3 Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 1:43.20
1989 Twilight Agenda 3 Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 1:49.50
1990 Go and Go 3 Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 1:38.00
1991 Rimpa 3 Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien 1:35.60
1992 Via Borghese 3 Walter Swinburn Vincent O'Brien 1:40.20
1993 Asema 3 Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 1:41.00
1994 Wandering Thoughts 5 Christy Roche Aidan O'Brien 1:43.30
1995 Hushang 5 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 1:39.50
1996 Restructure 4 Paul Eddery Julie Cecil 1:37.60
1997 Ramooz 4 Kieren Fallon Ben Hanbury 1:38.80
1998 Burden of Proof 6 Johnny Murtagh Charles O'Brien 1:42.70
1999 Ramooz 6 Jimmy Fortune Ben Hanbury 1:39.10
2000 Shibl 3 Stephen Craine Kevin Prendergast 1:36.90
2001 King Charlemagne 3 Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien 1:23.80
2002 Gateman 5 Keith Dalgleish Mark Johnston 1:26.40
2003 Avorado 5 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 1:24.80
2004 Trade Fair 4 Richard Hughes Roger Charlton 1:21.50
2005 Caradak 4 Michael Kinane John Oxx 1:21.20
2006 Jedburgh 5 Seb Sanders John Dunlop 1:28.60
2007 Redstone Dancer 5 Pat Shanahan Sheena Collins 1:32.79
2008 Jumbajukiba 5 Fran Berry Jessica Harrington 1:26.26
2009 Three Rocks 4 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 1:28.61
2010 Air Chief Marshal 3 Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien 1:23.92
2011 Across the Rhine 5 Pat Shanahan Tracey Collins 1:27.60
2012 Takar 3 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 1:33.08
2013 Darwin 3 Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:24.08
2014 Ansgar 4 Pat Smullen Sabrina Harty 1:23.11
2015 Gordon Lord Byron[a] 7 Wayne Lordan Tom Hogan 1:25.11
2016 Gordon Lord Byron 8 Billy Lee Tom Hogan 1:23.30
2017 Spirit Of Valor 3 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:24.56

a Home Of The Brave finished first in 2015, but was disqualified after failing a drug test.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "European Pattern Committee announces changes to the 2016 European Programme / 21 Jan 16". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
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