Weld Park Stakes Explained

Class:Group 3
Horse Race:Weld Park Stakes
Location:Curragh Racecourse
County Kildare, Ireland
Race Type:Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor:Dermot Weld
Website:Curragh
Distance:7f (1,408 metres)
Surface:Turf
Track:Right-hand elbow
Qualification:Two-year-old fillies
Weight:9 st 0 lb
Penalties
7 lb for Group 1 winners
5 lb for Group 2 winners
5 lb if two Group 3 wins
3 lb if one Group 3 win
Purse:€51,700 (2022)
1st: €32,450

|}The Weld Park Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. 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 September or October.

History

The event was originally held at Phoenix Park, and it used to be contested over a mile. For a period it was called the Wexford Stakes, and it was later renamed the Park Stakes. It was shortened to 7 furlongs in 1971.

The trainer Dermot Weld started to sponsor the race in the 1980s, and it was subsequently run in memory of his father Charlie Weld (also a trainer). The C. L. Weld Park Stakes was transferred to the Curragh in 1991. In 2014 the name of Dermot Weld's mother, Marguerite, was added to the race title and it became the C. L. & M. F. Weld Park Stakes. Since 2018 it has been run as the Weld Park Stakes.

Notable winners of the race have included Ridgewood Pearl, Alborada, Imagine and Qualify.

Records

Leading jockey since 1965 (7 wins):

Leading trainer since 1965 (7 wins):

Winners since 1980

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YearWinnerJockeyTrainerTime
1980width=160px Lone Bidderwidth=170px Michael Kinanewidth=180px Michael Kauntze
1981More HeatherPeadar MatthewsLiam Browne1:30.10
1982Countess CandyMichael KinaneLiam Browne1:29.30
1983Ballet de FranceChristy RocheDavid O'Brien
1984Jolly SaintGeorge McGrathPaul Doyle
1985Gaily GailyMichael KinaneDermot Weld1:23.40
1986Sea DaraJohn MatthiasIan Balding1:23.60
1987Trusted PartnerMichael KinaneDermot Weld1:31.60
1988Tantum ErgoRichard QuinnEdward Lynam1:22.60
1989Wedding BouquetJohn ReidVincent O'Brien1:20.10
1990Isle of GlassRon QuintonJohn Oxx1:21.00
1991TarwiyaJohnny MurtaghJohn Oxx1:31.90
1992AsemaMichael KinaneDermot Weld1:32.60
1993MorcoteDermot HoganJohn Oxx1:31.00
1994Ridgewood PearlJohnny MurtaghJohn Oxx1:32.90
1995Last SecondGeorge DuffieldSir Mark Prescott1:28.20
1996Token GesturePat SmullenDermot Weld1:26.20
1997AlboradaSeb SandersSir Mark Prescott1:26.10
1998RafaydaJohnny MurtaghJohn Oxx1:36.30
1999TheoreticallyPat SmullenDermot Weld1:33.90
2000ImaginePaul ScallanAidan O'Brien1:32.90
2001Red RiojaFran BerryEoghan O'Neill1:32.20
2002Rag TopDane O'NeillRichard Hannon Sr.1:25.10
2003VenturiRichard HughesDavid Wachman1:25.50
2004Jazz PrincessNiall McCullaghJessica Harrington1:26.70
2005Ugo FireDeclan McDonoghKevin Prendergast1:29.20
2006Arch SwingMichael KinaneJohn Oxx1:27.10
2007Eva's RequestMichael KinaneMick Channon1:30.25
2008ChintzSeamie HeffernanDavid Wachman1:25.89
2009Lady SpringbankWillie SupplePaul Deegan1:24.02
2010ChrysanthemumWayne LordanDavid Wachman1:28.96
2011Coral WaveDeclan McDonoghPatrick Prendergast1:32.90
2012Magical DreamJoseph O'BrienAidan O'Brien1:33.66
2013My TitaniaDeclan McDonoghJohn Oxx1:24.20
2014QualifyJoseph O'BrienAidan O'Brien1:22.65
2015CoolmoreJoseph O'BrienAidan O'Brien1:27.12
2016EziyraPat SmullenDermot Weld1:30.36
2017ElltheaColm O'DonoghueKarl Burke1:30.23
2018HermosaRyan MooreAidan O'Brien1:26.52
2019New York GirlShane CrosseJoseph O'Brien1:30.14
2020ElysiumBilly LeeNoel Meade1:28.17
2021Concert HallSeamie HeffernanAidan O'Brien1:26.70
2022Basil Martini Declan McDonoghJoseph O'Brien1:27.20
2023Caught U LookingBen CoenNoel Meade1:30.33

Earlier winners

See also

References