Sapphire Stakes (Ireland)

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.

This article is about the Irish horse race. For Australian horse race with similar name, see Sapphire Stakes (ATC).

Sapphire Stakes
Group 2 race
LocationCurragh Racecourse
County Kildare, Ireland
Inaugurated2001
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
WebsiteCurragh
Race information
Distance5f (1,006 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackStraight
QualificationThree-years-old and up
Weight9 st 3 lb (3yo);
9 st 7 lb (4yo+)
Allowances
3 lb for fillies and mares
Penalties
3 lb for G1 *
* since 1 November last year
Purse€75,200 (2020)
1st: €47,200
Sapphire Stakes
2023
Royal blue, white hoop, striped sleeves, white cap, royal blue star Emerald green, red chevron, red cap, emerald green diamond Red and light blue halved, quartered cap
Art Power Go Athletico Moss Tucker
Previous years
2022
Dark green, white spots on sleeves, dark green cap DARK GREEN, white triple diamond and diamonds on sleeves, dark green cap, white diamonds Pink, emerald green chevron, halved sleeves, quartered cap
Ladies Church Mooneista Equilateral
2021
Dark green, white triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves and cap Red, white sash, royal blue sleeves, white stars, red cap, royal blue star Grey, grey and black check cap
Mooneista Gustavus Weston Romantic Proposal
2020-2011
2020
Beige, brown striped sleeves White, royal blue stars, royal blue armlet, royal blue star on cap Emerald green, red hoop, red sleeves, striped cap
A'ali Make A Challenge Rapid Reaction
2019
Black and white hoops, royal blue cap, white star Maroon, mauve epaulettes Mauve
Soffia El Astronaute Garrus
2018
Grey and purple diamonds, grey sleeves and cap Light blue, brown epaulettes, brown sleeves, light blue armlet, striped cap Red, red cap, white spots
Havana Grey Caspian Prince Mabs Cross
2017
Light blue, brown epaulettes, brown sleeves, light blue armlet, light blue and brown striped cap White, large black spots, black cap Mauve, black seams, dark blue sleeves, mauve cap
Caspian Prince Marsha Ardhoomey
2016
Red and white hoops, pink cap Yellow, purple halved sleeves, quartered cap Royal blue, yellow panel, yellow chevrons on sleeves, yellow cap
Mecca's Angel Brando Gracious John
2015
Dark blue, yellow epaulettes, yellow spots on sleeves, dark blue cap Red and white hoops, pink cap Dark blue, royal blue seams, white sleeves, red and white striped cap
Stepper Point Mecca's Angel Moviesta
2014
Dark blue Grey, purple seams, purple sleeves and cap White, dark blue striped sleeves, dark blue and yellow hooped cap
Fountain Of Youth Extortionist Monsieur Joe
2013
White, red striped sleeves, check cap Dark blue, pink triple diamond, pink sleeves, dark blue cap, pink diamond Yellow, black epaulettes, yellow cap
Slade Power Russian Soul Morawij
2012
Emerald green and canary quartered Red, black star, white sleeves and cap Emerald green, red hoop, red sleeves, striped cap
Definightly Judge 'n Jury Katla
2011
Yellow and royal blue chevrons, diabolo on sleeves, quartered cap Yellow, red disc, red stars on sleeves, red cap Black, pink star, halved sleeves, pink stars on cap
Invincible Ash Hamish McGonagall Move In Time
2010-2001
2010
red, black star, white sleeves and cap Grey, royal blue seams, sleeves and cap Emerald Green, Red Halved Sleeves, Quartered Cap
Glamorous Spirit Reverence Elnawin
2009
ROYAL BLUE, Yellow stripes, Royal Blue sleeves and Yellow diabolo, Royal Blue cap Maroon, white spots, white cap, maroon spots Black, yellow cross of lorraine, black sleeves, black cap
Benbaun Snaefell Inxile
2008
BLACK, Yellow cross of lorraine, Black sleeves, Black cap ROYALBLUE, Yellow stripes, RoyalBlue sleeves and Yellow diabolo, RoyalBlue cap PURPLE, Wine star, Purple sleeves, Purple cap and White star
Tax Free Benbaun Desert Lord
2007
Maroon, White spots, White cap, Maroon spots Black, yellow cross of lorraine Scarlet, white sleeves
Snaefell Tax Free Grecian Dancer
2006
Black, mauve sleeves, black cap, red spots ROYAL BLUE, Yellow stripes, Royal Blue sleeves and Yellow diabolo, Royal Blue cap Dark Blue, pink seams, check cap
Dandy Man Benbaun Osterhase
2005
ROYAL BLUE, Yellow stripes, Royal Blue sleeves and Yellow diabolo, Royal Blue cap Dark Blue, pink seams, check cap Red, Yellow inverted triangle, halved sleeves, Yellow cap
Benbaun Osterhase Majestic Missile
2004
Dark Blue, pink seams, check cap Dark green,white triple diamond and diamonds on sleeves, dark Green cap, white diamonds Maroon, Yellow spots, Yellow cap, Maroon spots
Osterhase Moon Unit Orientor
2003
Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves Dark Blue, pink seams, check cap White, black stars, yellow sleeves, white cap, black stars
Deportivo Osterhase Sun Slash
2002
Royal blue, white spots, red cap, white spots Blue, pink slvs, blue and gold quartered cap Light blue, white hoop and armlets
Tiger Royal Agnetha Bishops Court
2001
Red and yellow (halved), sleeves reversed, yellow cap, red spots Dark blue MAROON, light blue slvs, light blue cap, maroon diamond
Repertory Ishiguru Proud Native
 

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 second day, the day after 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
2017 Caspian Prince 8 Declan McDonogh Tony Coyle 0:57.15
2018 Havana Grey 3 P. J. McDonald Karl Burke 0:58.21
2019 Soffia 4 Declan McDonogh Edward Lynam 0:58.51
2020 A’Ali 3 Colin Keane Simon & Ed Crisford 0:59.85
2021 Mooneista 3 Colin Keane Jack W Davison 0:58.75
2022 Ladies Church 3 Ben Coen Johnny Murtagh 1:00.86
2023 Art Power 6 David Allan Tim Easterby 1:00.92

See also

References
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