Sapphire Stakes (Ireland)

Group 3 race
Sapphire Stakes

Location	Curragh Racecourse Co. Kildare, Ireland
Inaugurated	2001
Race type	Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor	Woodie's DIY
Website	Curragh
Race information
Distance	5f (1,006 metres)
Track	Turf, straight
Qualification	Three-years-old and up
Weight	9 st 1 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	€62,500 (2011) 1st: €37,500

The Sapphire Stakes is a Group 3 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 late June or early 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.

The Sapphire Stakes is part of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting, and it is currently held on the third day, the same day as the Irish Derby.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Benbaun – 2005, 2009

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Leading jockey (2 wins):

• Pat Shanahan – Tiger Royal (2002), Dandy Man (2006)
• Johnny Murtagh – Deportivo (2003), Snaefell (2007)
• Kieren Fallon – Benbaun (2005), Glamorous Spirit (2010)

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Leading trainer (2 wins):

• Michael Halford – Snaefell (2007), Invincible Ash (2011)

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

See also

• List of Irish flat horse races

References

• Racing Post:
  • 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
  • 2011

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• galopp-sieger.de – Sapphire Stakes.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Sapphire Stakes (2011).