Balanchine Stakes

The Balanchine Stakes, also known as the Airlie Stud Stakes, is a Group 2 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.

Balanchine Stakes
(Airlie Stud Stakes)
Group 2 race
LocationCurragh Racecourse
Co. Kildare, Ireland
Inaugurated2005
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorGrangecon Stud
WebsiteCurragh
Race information
Distance6f (1,207 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackStraight
QualificationTwo-year-old fillies
Weight9 st 0 lb
Penalties
3 lb for Group winners
Purse€72,800 (2020)
1st: €47,200
Balanchine Stakes
2020
Aloha Star Frenetic Mother Earth

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. In 2019 the race received a further boost when it was one of 3 Group 3 race's across Europe promoted to Group 2 status following the European Pattern Committee's review for 2019. It is now sponsored by Airlie Stud, and it is held on the second day of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting, as part of the supporting card to the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes.

Records

Leading jockey (4 wins):

  • Ryan Moore - Most Beautiful (2015), Roly Poly (2016), Clemmie (2017), So Perfect (2018)

Leading trainer (6 wins):

  • Aidan O'Brien - Listen (2007), Bye Bye Birdie (2013), I Am Beautiful (2014), Roly Poly (2016), Clemmie (2017), So Perfect (2018)

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
2015 Most Beautiful Ryan Moore David Wachman 1:11.91
2016 Roly Poly Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:15.32
2017 Clemmie Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:11.87
2018 So Perfect Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:12.34
2019 Albigna Shane Foley Jessica Harrington 1:12.90
2020 Aloha Star Chris Hayes Fozzy Stack 1:13.59

See also

References
  1. "New sponsor for Derby Friday". RTÉ Sport. 28 February 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  • horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Grangecon Stud Stakes (2018).
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