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

Group 2 The term Group 2 may refer to: * Alkaline earth metal The alkaline earth metals are six chemical elements in group (periodic table), group 2 of the periodic table. They are beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (B ...

flat

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

in Ireland open to two-year-old

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

fillies A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, th ...

. It is run at the

Curragh The Curragh ( ; ) is a flat open plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This area is well known for horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is on the edge of Kildare town, beside the Japanese Gardens. Pollardstown Fen, the larges ...

over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July. The event's registered title honours

Balanchine George Balanchine (; Various sources: * * * * born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze;, : April 30, 1983) was a Georgian-American ballet choreographer, recognized as one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th-century. Sty ...

, a successful filly whose victories included the

Irish Derby The Irish Derby ( Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a dista ...

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. 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 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (motorsport), a regulation set of the FIA for series-production touring cars used in motorsport. * Group One Thoroughbred horse races, the leading e ...

Pretty Polly Stakes.

Records

Leading

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

(8 wins): * Ryan Moore - ''Most Beautiful (2015), Roly Poly (2016), Clemmie (2017), So Perfect (2018), Statuette (2022), Matrika (2023),Truly Enchanting (2024), Beautify (2025)'' Leading trainer (10 wins): *

Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien (born 16 October 1969 in County Wexford, Ireland) Aidan O'Brien bio NTRA. ...

- ''Listen (2007), Bye Bye Birdie (2013), I Am Beautiful (2014), Roly Poly (2016), Clemmie (2017), So Perfect (2018), Statuette (2022), Matrika (2023), Truly Enchanting (2024), Beautify (2025)''

Winners

References

Racing Post ''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing, and sports betting publisher published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 60,629 ...

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horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Grangecon Stud Stakes (2018).'' {{Race Meeting, Irish Derby Festival, Turf Flat races in Ireland Curragh Racecourse Flat horse races for two-year-old fillies Horse races established in 2005 2005 establishments in Ireland

Records

Winners

See also

References