The Diamond Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Dundalk over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 150 yards (2,149 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September or October.
History The event was formerly classed at Listed level and contested on turf over 1 mile and 2 furlongs. For a period it was held at Phoenix Park, and it switched to the Curragh in 1991. It used to be restricted to fillies and mares, but it was opened to male horses in 2001. It was staged at Fairyhouse in 2006 and 2007.
The Diamond Stakes moved to Dundalk in 2008, and since then it has been run on a Polytrack surface over 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 150 yards. It became Ireland's first non-turf Group race in 2009, when it was promoted to Group 3 status. It was downgraded back to Listed status in 2022.
The Diamond Stakes was added to the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2009, with the winner earning an automatic invitation to compete in the Breeders' Cup Marathon. It was removed from the series in 2011.
Records Most successful horse since 1988: (2 wins) Bear Story - 2021,2022
Leading jockey since 1988 (5 wins): Kevin Manning – Ballykett Nancy (1994), Darina (1998), Dolydille (2000), Napper Tandy (2003), Parish Hall (2013)
Leading trainer since 1988 (8 wins): Aidan O'Brien – Mikado (2004), Mountain (2006), Mastercraftsman (2009), Freedom (2011), Declaration of War (2012), Long Island Sound (2016), War Decree (2017), Blenheim Palace (2019)
Winners since 1988 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time 0000 0001Turf before 2008 1988 Karaferya 3 John Reid Michael Stoute 2:02.40 1989 Bex 3 Willie Carson Robert Armstrong 2:04.60 1990 Santella Bell 3 Warren O'Connor Michael O'Brien 2:07.20 1991 Elfaslah 3 Richard Hills Harry Thomson Jones 2:16.10 1992 Misako-Togo 3 Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 2:11.10 1993 Eurostorm 3 Pat Gilson Con Collins 2:18.30 1994 Ballykett Nancy 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:20.40 1995 Viaticum 3 Joanna Morgan Noel Meade 2:09.60 1996 French Ballerina 3 Michael Kinane Pat Flynn 2:14.20 1997 Red Affair 3 Pat Shanahan John Oxx 2:07.80 1998 Darina 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:18.40 1999 Remuria 3 Niall McCullagh John Oxx 2:23.90 2000 Dolydille 4 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:18.10 2001 Jammaal 4 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:13.90 2002 Miss Honorine 3 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 2:08.10 2003 Napper Tandy 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:04.00 2004 Mikado 3 Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien 2:11.40 2005 The Carbon Unit 3 Wayne Lordan Con Collins 2:13.90 2006 Mountain 3 Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien 2:15.00 2007 Arch Rebel 6 Fran Berry Noel Meade 2:04.86 2007.1 0002Polytrack after 2007 2008 Muhannak 4 Pat Smullen Ralph Beckett 2:11.63 2009 Mastercraftsman 3 Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien 2:12.18 2010 Gitano Hernando 4 Kieren Fallon Marco Botti 2:12.94 2011 Freedom 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 2:10.92 2012 Declaration of War 3 Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 2:11.66 2013 Parish Hall 4 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:10.97 2014 Cat O'Mountain 4 Fran Berry Charlie Appleby 2:09.76 2015 Panama Hat 4 Chris Hayes Andy Oliver 2:17.39 2016 Long Island Sound 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 2:14.50 2017 War Decree 3 Donnacha O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 2:12.66 2018 Mootasadir 3 Pat Cosgrave Hugo Palmer 2:12.52 2019 Blenheim Palace 3 Donnacha O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 2:12.97 2020 Bowerman 6 Colin Keane Adrian McGuinness 2:13.56 2021 Bear Story 3 Ronan Whelan Michael Halford 2:13.60 2022 Bear Story 4 Ronan Whelan Michael Halford 2:15.26 2023 Piz Badile 4 Gavin Ryan Donnacha O'Brien 2:13.44 2024 Bellezza 3 Chris Hayes Ger Lyons 2:15.34 2025 Phantom Flight 6 Seamie Heffernan George Scott 2:11.61
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links galopp-sieger.de – Diamond Stakes. ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Diamond Stakes (2019). pedigreequery.com – Diamond Stakes.