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
County Kildare, Ireland
Inaugurated2005
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorAirlie 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€112,800 (2022)
1st: €70,800
Balanchine Stakes
2023
Dark blue Light blue, orange hoop, orange armlet, quartered cap Black and white halved, black sleeves and cap
Matrika Gunzburg Ashwiyaa
Previous years
2022
Dark blue Orange, royal blue hoop, royal blue armlet, orange cap Royal blue and white check, royal blue sleeves, yellow cap
Statuette Badb Matilda Picotte
2021
Orange, royal blue hoop, royal blue armlet, orange cap Dark blue Royal blue, pink sash, pink cap, royal blue star
Velocidad Yet Cheerupsleepyjean
2020-2011
2020
Grey, pink star and sleeves, pink star on cap Emerald green, gold braids, white collar and cuffs, Emerald green cap, Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap
Aloha Star Frenetic Mother Earth
2019
Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Emerald green, pink sash, white sleeves, pink cap
Albigna Precious Moments Peace Charter
2018
Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap Red, purple cap Light blue and scarlet halved, sleeves reversed, white cap
So Perfect Skitter Scatter Cava
2017
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves, Royal Blue cap Red, white epaulettes, diabolo on sleeves, striped cap
Clemmie Butterscotch Mamba Noire
2016
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap White, red sash, striped cap Purple, pink spots, pink sleeves, pink spots on cap
Roly Poly Seafront Elusive Beauty
2015
Red, white chevron, red cap Pink and grey diamonds, pink sleeves and cap Purple, large red spots, red seams on sleeves, purple cap
Most Beautiful Only Mine Miss Elizabeth
2014
Dark blue Pink, dark blue hoop, hooped sleeves, pink cap, dark blue stars Royal blue, yellow chevron and sleeves, yellow and white quartered cap
I Am Beautiful Jeanne Girl Quinta Verde
2013
Dark blue White, purple panel, check cap Yellow, royal blue panel and armlet, white cap, yellow star
Bye Bye Birdie Heart Focus Clenor
2012
Purple, light green diamond and sleeves, light green cap Red, white seams, red sleeves, white cap, red stars Mauve, grey sash, mauve cap
Sendmylovetorose True Verdict Slope
2011
Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap White, purple panel, check cap Dark blue, dark blue and white striped sleeves, white cap, dark blue star
Experience Somasach Naseem Sea
2010-2005
2010
Yellow, emerald green sleeves, white cap, yellow star Grey, red star, grey cap Purple, yellow cross of lorraine, yellow cap
Seeharn Gatamalata Moonlit Garden
2009
Pink, dark blue hoop, hooped sleeves, dark blue star on cap Beige, royal blue triple diamond and diamonds on sleeves, striped cap Emerald green, royal blue cross sashes, royal blue sleeves, quartered cap
Long Lashes Elusive Galaxy Gold Bubbles
2008
Royal Blue, White epaulets, striped cap WHITE, emerald green and grey quartered cap ROYAL BLUE, pink sash, pink cap, royal blue star
Shimah Chintz What's Up Pussycat
2007
Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap PINK and WHITE DIAMONDS, white sleeves, white diamond on cap Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, white cap
Listen Tuscan Evening Charlotte Bronte
2006
White, purple stripe, check cap Black, red epauletes, yellow sleeves, yellow cap, red star Yellow, purple stripe, check cap
Gaudeamus The Real Thing Simonetta
2005
Purple, white chevrons on body BROWN and YELLOW QUARTERED, yellow sleeves, check cap YELLOW, emerald green sleeves, white cap, yellow star
Sahara Princess Sandie Ugo Fire
 

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 (6 wins):

  • Ryan Moore - Most Beautiful (2015), Roly Poly (2016), Clemmie (2017), So Perfect (2018), Statuette (2022), Matrika (2023)

Leading trainer (8 wins):

  • Aidan O'Brien - Listen (2007), Bye Bye Birdie (2013), I Am Beautiful (2014), Roly Poly (2016), Clemmie (2017), So Perfect (2018), Statuette (2022), Matrika (2023)

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
2021 Velocidad Declan McDonogh Joseph O'Brien 1:15.29
2022 Statuette Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:13.64
2023 Matrika Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:10.43

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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