Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes Explained

Class:	Group 3
Horse Race:	Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes
Location:	Leopardstown County Dublin, Ireland
Race Type:	Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor:	Ballylinch Stud
Website:	Leopardstown.com
Distance:	7 furlongs (1,408 metres)
Surface:	Turf
Track:	Left-handed
Qualification:	Three-year-old colts and geldings
Weight:	9 st 5 lb Penalties 3 lb for G1 / G2 winners
Purse:	€42,500 (2021) 1st: €25,075

|}The Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) at Leopardstown in March or April.

History

The event was formerly staged at Phoenix Park under the title 2,000 Guineas Trial. It was originally contested over 7 furlongs, and for a period it held Group 3 status. It was downgraded to Listed level in 1987.

The race was transferred to Leopardstown in 1991. It was extended to a mile in 1994. It regained Group 3 status in 2005, and reverted to Listed class in 2013.^[1] The race was reduced in distance to 7 furlongs again in 2018 and upgraded to Group 3 once more in 2023.^[2]

The event can serve as a trial for various colts' Classics in Europe. The last winner to achieve victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas was Saffron Walden in 1999. The last to win the 2,000 Guineas was Poetic Flare in 2021.

Records

Leading jockey since 1986 (6 wins):

Michael Kinane – Lotus Pool (1990), Two-Twenty-Two (1998), Saffron Walden (1999), Bach (2000), Century City (2002), Alayan (2005)

Leading trainer since 1986 (10 wins):

Aidan O'Brien - Saffron Walden (1999), Bach (2000), Century City (2002), Furmer's Green (2012), Black Sea (2016), Orderofthegarter (2017), Gustav Klimt (2018), Never No More (2019), Hans Andersen (2023), Battle Cry (2024)

Winners since 1986

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Time
border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%"
1986	width=160px	Toca Madera	width=170px	Stephen Craine	width=180px	Liam Browne
1987	Island Reef	Gabriel Curran	Kevin Prendergast	1:27.30
1988	Caerwent	John Reid	Vincent O'Brien	1:31.80
1989	Sagamore	David Parnell	Kevin Prendergast	1:30.80
1990	Lotus Pool	Michael Kinane	Dermot Weld	1:36.50
1991	Bufalino	Willie Supple	Jim Bolger	1:31.30
1992	Portico	Lester Piggott	Vincent O'Brien	1:33.40
1993	Massyar	Richard Hughes	John Oxx	1:31.40
1994	Manntari	Johnny Murtagh	John Oxx	1:44.90
1995	Adjareli	Johnny Murtagh	John Oxx	1:44.60
1996	Deed of Love	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger	1:46.30
1997	Lil's Boy	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger	1:40.60
1998	Two-Twenty-Two	Michael Kinane	Dermot Weld	1:50.60
1999	Saffron Walden	Michael Kinane	Aidan O'Brien	1:39.00
2000	Bach	Michael Kinane	Aidan O'Brien	1:49.50
2001	Dr Brendler	Fran Berry	John Hayden	1:53.60
2002	Century City	Michael Kinane	Aidan O'Brien	1:38.70
2003	Refuse to Bend	Pat Smullen	Dermot Weld	1:39.20
2004	Grey Swallow	Pat Smullen	Dermot Weld	1:51.60
2005	Alayan	Michael Kinane	John Oxx	1:51.70
2006	Yasoodd	Chris Catlin	Mick Channon	1:45.60
2007	Creachadoir	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger	1:40.20
2008	Famous Name	Pat Smullen	Dermot Weld	1:43.95
2009	Recharge	Chris Hayes	Kevin Prendergast	1:40.65
2010	Noll Wallop	Wayne Lordan	Tommy Stack	1:47.15
2011	Dunboyne Express	Declan McDonogh	Kevin Prendergast	1:41.36
2012	Furner's Green	Joseph O'Brien	Aidan O'Brien	1:41.97
2013	Fort Knox	Johnny Murtagh	Tommy Carmody	1:48.51
2014	Go For Goal	Pat Smullen	Dermot Weld	1:44.88
2015	Zawraq	Pat Smullen	Dermot Weld	1:52.25
2016	Black Sea	Ryan Moore	Aidan O'Brien	1:52.35
2017	Orderofthegarter	Seamie Heffernan	Aidan O'Brien	1:41.06
2018	Gustav Klimt	Ryan Moore	Aidan O'Brien	1:38.60
2019	Never No More	Ryan Moore	Aidan O'Brien	1:32.01
2020	Ten Year Ticket	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger	1:28.75
2021	Poetic Flare	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger	1:28.02
2022	Dr Zempf	Colin Keane	Ger Lyons	1:30.06
2023	Hans Andersen	Ryan Moore	Aidan O'Brien	1:38.03
2024	Battle Cry	Ryan Moore	Aidan O'Brien	1:39.31

References

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