Leopardstown Derby Trial Explained

Class:Group 3
Horse Race:Leopardstown Derby Trial
Location:Leopardstown
County Dublin, Ireland
Inaugurated:1971
Race Type:Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor:Cashel Palace Hotel
Website:Leopardstown.com
Distance:1m 2f (2,012 metres)
Surface:Turf
Track:Left-handed
Qualification:Three-year-olds
Weight:9 st 5 lb
Allowances
3 lb for fillies
Purse:€80,000 (2024)
1st: €47,200

|}The Leopardstown Derby Trial, currently run as the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial, is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres) at Leopardstown in May.

History

Established in 1971, the event was originally called the Nijinsky Stakes. It was named after Nijinsky, the previous year's Irish-trained English Triple Crown winner.

For a period the Nijinsky Stakes held Group 2 status. It was open to older horses for several years from the mid-1970s.

The race was renamed the Derby Trial Stakes in 1984. From this point it was sponsored by Derrinstown Stud. It was downgraded to Group 3 level in the early 1990s, and promoted back to Group 2 in 2003. It was downgraded again to Group 3 status in 2014.[1] Derrinstown Stud's sponsorship ended after the 2021 race and there was no sponsor in 2022 or 2023. Since 2024 the race has been sponsored by Cashel Palace Hotel.

The Derby Trial can serve as a trial for the Epsom Derby. The last horse to win both races was High Chaparral in 2002. The last winner to achieve victory in the Irish Derby was Los Angeles in 2024.

The title "Nijinsky Stakes" was later assigned to a different race at Leopardstown, a Listed event for three-year-olds in June which is now run as the King George V Cup.[2]

Records

Leading jockey (8 wins):

Leading trainer (16 wins):

Winners

border="1" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%"
YearWinnerJockeyTrainerTime
1971width=160px Sea Friendwidth=170px Buster Parnellwidth=180px Paddy Prendergast2:12.90
1972BoucherJohnny RoeVincent O'Brien2:10.00
1973BallymoreChristy RochePaddy Prendergast
1974Hail the PiratesLester PiggottVincent O'Brien
1975NuthatchWally SwinburnJohn Oxx, Sr.2:12.20
1976MenevalLester PiggottVincent O'Brien
1977OrchestraRaymond CarrollJohn Oxx, Sr.2:15.20
1978Slaney IdolWally SwinburnLiam Browne
1979NoelinoChristy RochePaddy Prendergast2:20.50
1980RamianWally SwinburnDermot Weld
1981Young KildareMichael KinaneLiam Browne2:18.90
1982Golden FleecePat EdderyVincent O'Brien2:06.80
1983Salmon LeapPat EdderyVincent O'Brien2:20.70
1984Sadler's WellsGeorge McGrathVincent O'Brien2:11.50
1985TheatricalMichael KinaneDermot Weld2:13.80
1986Toca MaderaChristy RocheLiam Browne
1987Seattle DancerCash AsmussenVincent O'Brien2:07.90
1988Kris KringleJohn ReidVincent O'Brien2:11.20
1989Phantom BreezeMichael KinaneDermot Weld2:09.60
1990AnvariBasil MarcusClive Brittain2:03.40
1991RunyonStephen CraineTommy Stack2:07.80
1992St JoviteChristy RocheJim Bolger2:10.40
1993Perfect ImposterChristy RocheJim Bolger2:07.90
1994ArtemaMichael KinaneDermot Weld2:08.90
1995HumbelMichael KinaneDermot Weld2:06.30
1996Truth or DareChristy RocheCharles O'Brien2:05.00
1997Ashley ParkChristy RocheCharles O'Brien2:15.30
1998Risk MaterialChristy RocheAidan O'Brien2:06.90
1999Port BayouPat ShanahanDermot Weld2:16.00
2000SinndarJohnny MurtaghJohn Oxx2:04.90
2001GalileoSeamie HeffernanAidan O'Brien2:08.50
2002High ChaparralSeamie HeffernanAidan O'Brien2:03.50
2003AlamsharJohnny MurtaghJohn Oxx2:07.40
2004YeatsJamie SpencerAidan O'Brien2:10.30
2005FracasJamie SpencerDavid Wachman2:16.40
2006Dylan ThomasSeamie HeffernanAidan O'Brien2:07.80
2007ArchipenkoMichael KinaneAidan O'Brien2:07.90
2008Casual ConquestPat SmullenDermot Weld2:05.35
2009Fame and GlorySeamie HeffernanAidan O'Brien2:03.62
2010Midas TouchJohnny MurtaghAidan O'Brien2:02.54
2011RecitalKieren FallonAidan O'Brien2:04.09
2012Light HeavyKevin ManningJim Bolger2:11.50
2013Battle of MarengoJoseph O'BrienAidan O'Brien2:07.79
2014Fascinating RockPat SmullenDermot Weld2:14.95
2015Success DaysShane FoleyKen Condon2:19.50
2016Moonlight MagicKevin ManningJim Bolger2:07.74
2017Douglas MacarthurEmmet McNamaraAidan O'Brien2:09.50
2018HazapourDeclan McDonoghDermot Weld2:08.58
2019BroomeDonnacha O'BrienAidan O'Brien2:09.18
2020CormorantPadraig BeggyAidan O'Brien2:08.88
2021Bolshoi BalletRyan MooreAidan O'Brien2:07.37
2022Stone AgeRyan MooreAidan O'Brien2:08.25
2023SprewellShane FoleyJessica Harrington2:15.57
2024Los Angeles Wayne LordanAidan O'Brien2:06.82

See also

References

----

Notes and References

  1. Web site: European Pattern Committee announces changes to the 2014 European Black Type Programme. britishorseracingauthority.com. 27 March 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140407070510/http://www.britishhorseracing.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/European-Pattern-Committee-announces-changes-to-the-2014-European-Black-Type-Programme-479.aspx. 7 April 2014.
  2. Web site: 2012 Nijinsky Stakes . Racing Post . 28 April 2013.