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Pretty Polly Stakes (Ireland)

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Race type
  
Flat / Thoroughbred

Distance
  
1m 2f (2,012 metres)

Track
  
Right-handed

Website
  
Curragh

Surface
  
Turf

Sponsor
  
Location
  
Curragh Racecourse Co. Kildare, Ireland

The Pretty Polly Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.

Contents

History

The event is named after Pretty Polly, a successful filly foaled in Ireland in 1901. It was originally restricted to fillies aged three, but it was later opened to older horses. For a period it was classed at Group 2 level, and it was promoted to Group 1 status in 2004.

The Pretty Polly Stakes became part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2009. The winner now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Since 2015 the race has been sponsored by the Tsui family and carries the name of their horse Sea the Stars

The race is currently held on the final day of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby meeting.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Dance Design – 1996, 1997
  • Alexander Goldrun – 2005, 2006

    • Leading jockey since 1950 (3 wins):

  • Liam Ward – Atlantida (1956), Iskereen (1967), Rimark (1968)
  • Bill Williamson – Icy Look (1961), Hibernia (1963), Pidget (1972)
  • Johnny Roe – Place d'Etoile (1970), Hurry Harriet (1973), Miss Toshiba (1975)
  • Lester Piggott – Mariel (1971), Godetia (1979), Calandra (1980)
  • Christy Roche – Alydar's Best (1985), Fleur Royale (1986), Noora Abu (1989)
  • Michael Kinane – Market Booster (1992), Dance Design (1996, 1997)

    • Leading trainer since 1950 (7 wins):

  • Vincent O'Brien – Little Mo (1959), Ancasta (1964), Iskereen (1967), Rimark (1968), Godetia (1979), Calandra (1980), Dark Lomond (1988)

    • Leading owner since 1978 (4 wins) includes joint wins:

  • Susan Magnier - Peeping Fawn (2007), Misty For Me (2011), Diamondsandrubies (2015), Minding (2016)

    • References

    Pretty Polly Stakes (Ireland) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA