The Phoenix Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.
History The event was established in 1902, and it was originally held at Phoenix Park. It used to be called the Phoenix Plate, and was informally known as "the 1500". It was initially contested over 5 furlongs.
The race was renamed the Phoenix Stakes in 1956. It was given Group 2 status in 1971, and promoted to Group 1 level in 1979.
The Phoenix Stakes was staged at Leopardstown in 1982. It returned to Phoenix Park with a new distance of 6 furlongs in 1983.
Phoenix Park Racecourse closed in 1990, and the event switched to Leopardstown in 1991. It moved to the Curragh in 2002.
Records Leading jockey since 1950 (5 wins): Michael Kinane – King Persian (1983), Fasliyev (1999), Minardi (2000), Johannesburg (2001), One Cool Cat (2003)
Leading trainer since 1950 (17 wins): Aidan O'Brien – Lavery (1998), Fasliyev (1999), Minardi (2000), Johannesburg (2001), Spartacus (2002), One Cool Cat (2003), George Washington (2005), Holy Roman Emperor (2006), Mastercraftsman (2008), Alfred Nobel (2009), Zoffany (2010), Pedro the Great (2012), Dick Whittington (2014), Air Force Blue (2015), Caravaggio (2016), Sioux Nation (2017), Little Big Bear (2022)
Leading owner since 1981 (19 wins): (includes part ownership) Sue Magnier – Lavery (1998), Fasliyev (1999), Minardi (2000), Johannesburg (2001), Spartacus (2002), One Cool Cat (2003), Damson (2004), George Washington (2005), Holy Roman Emperor (2006), Mastercraftsman (2008), Alfred Nobel (2009), Zoffany (2010), Pedro the Great (2012), Sudirman (2013), Dick Whittington (2014), Air Force Blue (2015), Caravaggio (2016), Sioux Nation (2017), Little Big Bear (2022)
Winners since 1979 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1979 Smokey Lady Wally Swinburn Dermot Weld 1980 Swan Princess Taffy Thomas Brian Swift 1981 Achieved Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien Robert Sangster 0:57.70 1982 Sweet Emma Gabriel Curran Kevin Prendergast Jackie Ward Ramos 1:00.20 1983 King Persian Michael Kinane Liam Browne Seamus McAleer 1:11.70 1984 Aviance Declan Gillespie David O'Brien Robert Sangster 1:08.60 1985 Roaring Riva Ray Cochrane Ray Laing Billy Gaff 1:14.40 1986 Minstrella John Reid Charlie Nelson Ned Evans 1:13.20 1987 Digamist Pat Eddery Jeremy Tree Khalid Abdullah 1:11.40 1988 Superpower Walter Swinburn Bill O'Gorman Mrs Poh-Lian Yong 1:11.95 1989 Pharaoh's Delight Ray Cochrane Peter Hudson Al-Deera Bloodstock Ltd 1:11.60 1990 Mac's Imp Alan Munro Bill O'Gorman Tamdown Ltd 1:09.90 1991 Bradawn Breever Rodney Griffiths Kevin Prendergast M. A. Murray 1:13.30 1992 Pips Pride Frankie Dettori Richard Hannon Sr. Mrs V. S. Grant 1:13.00 1993 Turtle Island John Reid Peter Chapple-Hyam Robert Sangster 1:14.40 1994 Eva Luna Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Catherine Shubotham 1:14.00 1995 Danehill Dancer Pat Eddery Neville Callaghan Michael Tabor 1:14.60 1996 Mantovani Conor Everard Jim Bolger Jackie Bolger 1:13.60 1997 Princely Heir Jason Weaver Mark Johnston Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:11.80 1998 Lavery Walter Swinburn Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Magnier 1:11.10 1999 Fasliyev Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Magnier 1:17.10 2000 Minardi Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Magnier 1:12.20 2001 Johannesburg Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Magnier 1:13.20 2002 Spartacus Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien Sue Magnier 1:15.10 2003 One Cool Cat Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor 1:11.40 2004 Damson Kieren Fallon David Wachman Magnier / Tabor 1:13.20 2005 George Washington Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor / Smith 1:12.70 2006 Holy Roman Emperor Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien Sue Magnier 1:11.00 2007 Saoirse Abu Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Ennistown Stud / Bolger 1:18.89 2008 Mastercraftsman Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien Smith / Magnier / Tabor 1:13.30 2009 Alfred Nobel Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien Smith / Magnier / Tabor 1:20.32 2010 Zoffany Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:11.29 2011 La Collina Declan McDonogh Kevin Prendergast Joerg Vasicek 1:13.30 2012 Pedro the Great Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien Smith / Magnier / Tabor 1:19.05 2013 Sudirman Wayne Lordan David Wachman Mrs Fitri Hay & Sue Magnier 1:09.35 2014 Dick Whittington Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:14.55 2015 Air Force Blue Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:11.88 2016 Caravaggio Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:11.79 2017 Sioux Nation Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:11.72 2018 Advertise Frankie Dettori Martyn Meade Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd 1 1:12.29 2019 Siskin Colin Keane Ger Lyons Khalid Abdullah 1:17.14 2020 Lucky Vega Shane Foley Jessica Harrington Zhang Yuesheng 1:13.35 2021 Ebro River Shane Foley Hugo Palmer Al Shaqab Racing 1:12.16 2022 Little Big Bear Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier / Westerberg 1:11.27 2023 Bucanero Fuerte Kevin Stott Adrian Murray AMO Racing Limited & Giselle De Aguiar 1:12.53 2024 Babouche Colin Keane Ger Lyons Juddmonte 1:09.33 2025 Power Blue David Egan Adrian Murray AMO Racing Limited 1:09.28 2026 Sun Goddess Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Smith / Magnier / Tabor / Westerberg 1:09.67
Earlier winners
1902: Bushey Belle 1903: Cape Solitaire 1904: Abelard 1905: Athleague 1906: Lalla Rookh 1907: Americus Girl 1908: Glenesky 1909: Lady Edgar 1910: Clonbern 1911: Far and Wide 1912: Happy Fanny 1913: Courier Belle 1914: St Cuimin 1915: Vera Cruz 1916: The Banshee 1917: Bonnie Dance 1918: Gilded Vanity 1919: Blue Dun 1920: Double Tip 1921: Bridgemount 1922: Rabona 1923: Dawson City 1924: Pons Asinorum 1925: Allets 1926: Archway 1927: Athford 1928: Trigo 1929: Confetti 1930: Galapas 1931: The Greek 1932: Cedarhurst 1933: His Reverence 1934: Smokeless 1935: Dancing Comet 1936: Phideas 1937: Knight's Caprice 1938: New Comet 1939: Eyrefield 1940: Enchantress 1941: Fair Crystal 1942: The Phoenix 1943: Arctic Sun 1944: Lady's View 1945: Momentum 1946: Lady Kells 1947: The Web 1948: Ballywillwill 1949: Abadan 1950: Gold Cup 1951: Windy City 1952: Royal Duchy 1953: Sixpence 1954: My Beau 1955: Sarissa 1956: Refined 1957: Vestogan 1958: Getaway 1959: Gigi 1960: Kathy Too 1961: Prince Poppa 1962: Irish Chorus 1963: Right Strath 1964: Adriatic Star 1965: Current Coin * 1966: Jadeite 1967: Fatima's Gift 1968: Lord John 1969: Pianissimo 1970: Areola 1971: Celtic Twilight 1972: Marble Arch 1973: Noble Mark 1974: Lady Seymour 1975: National Wish 1976: Cloonlara 1977: Perla 1978: Kilijaro
* Red Taffy finished first in 1965, but he was disqualified.
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races Recurring sporting events established in 1902 – this race is included under its original title, Phoenix Plate.
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
galopp-sieger.de – Phoenix Stakes. ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Phoenix Stakes (2019). irishracinggreats.com – Phoenix Stakes (Group 1). pedigreequery.com – Phoenix Stakes. tbheritage.com – Phoenix Stakes.