Pretty Polly Stakes (Ireland) Explained
| Class: | Group 1 |
| Horse Race: | Pretty Polly Stakes |
| Location: | Curragh Racecourse
County Kildare, Ireland |
| Race Type: | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor: | Al Wasmiyah Stud |
| Website: | Curragh |
| Distance: | 1m 2f (2,012 metres) |
| Surface: | Turf |
| Track: | Right-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-years-old and up
fillies & mares |
| Weight: | 8 st 12 lb (3yo);
9 st 8lb (4yo+) |
| Purse: | €300,000 (2022)
1st: €180,000 |
|}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.
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 was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series from 2009 to 2012. The winner earned an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.[1]
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
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)
- Seamie Heffernan - Misty For Me (2011), Diamondsandrubies (2015), Magical (2020)
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 (5 wins) includes joint wins:
- Susan Magnier - Peeping Fawn (2007), Misty For Me (2011), Diamondsandrubies (2015), Minding (2016), Magical (2020)
Winners since 1978
Earlier winners
- 1948: Cobaltic
- 1949: Circus Lady
- 1950: Lonely Maid
- 1951: Ash Plant
- 1952: Nashua
- 1953: Northern Gleam
- 1954: Belle Collette
- 1955: Free Model
- 1956: Atlantida
- 1957: After the Show
- 1958: Owenello
- 1959: Little Mo
- 1960: Young Empress
- 1961: Icy Look
- 1962: Tropic Star
- 1963: Hibernia
- 1964: Ancasta
- 1965: Messene
- 1966: Black Gold
- 1967: Iskereen
- 1968: Rimark
- 1969: Borana
- 1970: Place d'Etoile
- 1971: Mariel
- 1972: Pidget
- 1973: Hurry Harriet
- 1974: Northern Gem
- 1975: Miss Toshiba
- 1976: Lady Singer
- 1977: Claire's Slipper
See also
References
- Paris-Turf:
- Racing Post:
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Notes and References
- Web site: 2011 Breeders' Cup Challenge Schedule . breederscup.com . 2 January 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120606144342/https://members.breederscup.com/doc%20repository/other/2011ChallengeSchedule.pdf . 6 June 2012 . dead .
