Minstrel Stakes
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.
Group 2 race | |
Location | Curragh Racecourse County Kildare, Ireland |
---|---|
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Sponsor | Robert Ng (as Romanised[1]) |
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 1 November last year |
Purse | €111,600 (2022) 1st: €70,800 |
2022 | ||
Order Of Australia | Pearls Galore | Dr Zempf |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2021 | ||
Order Of Australia | Njord | Power Under Me |
2020-2011 | ||
---|---|---|
2020 | ||
Romanised | Lancaster House | Surrounding |
2019 | ||
Romanised | Hey Gaman | Safe Voyage |
2018 | ||
Larchmont Lad | So Beloved | Fas |
2017 | ||
Spirit of Valor | So Beloved | Stormy Antarctic |
2016 | ||
Gordon Lord Byron | Sovereign Debt | Toscanini |
2015 | ||
Gordon Lord Byron | Sovereign Debt | Dark Emerald |
2014 | ||
Ansgar | Darwin | Eastern Rules |
2013 | ||
Darwin | Gordon Lord Byron | Leitir Mor |
2012 | ||
Takar | Singing Bird | Among Equals |
2011 | ||
Across The Rhine | Future Generation | Hujaylea |
2010-2001 | ||
---|---|---|
2010 | ||
Air Chief Marshal | Duff | Dandy Boy |
2009 | ||
Three Rocks | Georgebernardshaw | Mad About You |
2008 | ||
Jumbajukiba | Al Qasi | Georgebernardshaw |
2007 | ||
Redstone Dancer | Hard Rock City | Evening Time |
2006 | ||
Jedburgh | Noelani | Tiger Dance |
2005 | ||
Caradak | Arakan | Tropical Lady |
2004 | ||
Trade Fair | One More Round | Millennium Force |
2003 | ||
Avorado | D'Anjou | Millennium Force |
2002 | ||
Gateman | One Won One | D'Anjou |
2001 | ||
King Charlemagne | Mull Of Kintyre | Just Special |
2000-1991 | ||
---|---|---|
2000 | ||
Shibl | Mcdab | Saffron Walden |
1999 | ||
Ramooz | Risque Lady | Lil's Boy |
1998 | ||
Burden Of Proof | Centre Stalls | Kincara Palace |
1997 | ||
Ramooz | Burden Of Proof | Eternal Joy |
1996 | ||
Restructure | Bin Rosie | Rainbow Blues |
1995 | ||
Hushang | Ivory Frontier | Two O'Clock Jump |
1994 | ||
Wandering Thoughts | Terrible Confusion | Unusual Heat |
1993 | ||
Asema | Malvernico | Via Parigi |
1992 | ||
Via Borghese | Nordic Brief | Millie's Choice |
1991 | ||
Rimpa | Bold Russian | Jameelaty |
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.[2]
Records
Most successful horse since 1988 (2 wins):
- Ramooz – 1997, 1999
- Gordon Lord Byron - 2015, 2016
- Romanised - 2019, 2020
- Order of Australia - 2021, 2022
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 (7 wins):
- Aidan O'Brien - Wandering Thoughts (1994), King Charlemagne (2001), Air Chief Marshal (2010), Darwin (2013), Spirit Of Valor (2017), Order of Australia (2021,2022)
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[lower-alpha 1] | 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 |
2018 | Larchmont Lad | 4 | James Doyle | David O'Meara | 1:23.63 |
2019 | Romanised | 4 | Billy Lee | Ken Condon | 1:22.07 |
2020 | Romanised | 5 | Billy Lee | Ken Condon | 1:25.88 |
2021 | Order of Australia | 4 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien | 1:27.28 |
2022 | Order of Australia | 5 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien | 1:25.24 |
2023 | Zarinksk [lower-alpha 2] | 3 | Colin Keane | Ger Lyons | 1:30.45 |
- Home Of The Brave finished first in 2015, but was disqualified after failing a drug test
- The 2023 race was run at Leopardstown after the original Curragh fixture was abandoned due to heavy rainfall
References
- Robert Ng To Sponsor Minstrel S.
- "European Pattern Committee announces changes to the 2016 European Programme / 21 Jan 16". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- galopp-sieger.de – Minstrel Stakes.
- ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Minstrel Stakes (2019).
- irishracinggreats.com – Minstrel Stakes (Group 3).
- pedigreequery.com – Minstrel Stakes – Curragh.