The Blandford Stakes is a Group 2 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 September.

History The event is named after Blandford, a successful sire in the 1930s. It was formerly open to horses of either gender, and used to be contested over 1 mile and 4 furlongs.

The race was held in mid-October during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Its distance was shortened by a furlong in 1994. It was relegated from Group 2 to Group 3 level in 1999, and from this point it took place in mid-September.

The Blandford Stakes was cut to its present length and restricted to fillies and mares in 2001. It regained Group 2 status in 2004. It is currently part of the Irish Champions Weekend meeting.

Records Most successful horse since 1947 (2 wins): Nemain – 1985, 1986 Red Bloom – 2005, 2006 Shamreen - 2016, 2017

Leading jockey since 1950 (5 wins): Liam Ward – Beau Sire (1950), Do Well (1951), Jongleur (1956), Wenona (1968), Riboprince (1970) Michael Kinane – Humbel (1995), Insatiable (1999), Chiang Mai (2000), Four Sins (2007), Katiyra (2008) Pat Smullen - Irrestible Jewel (2002), Chinese White (2009), Tarfasha (2014), Shamreen (2016, 2017)

Leading trainer since 1950 (15 wins): Vincent O'Brien – Little Mo (1959), Silver Moon (1961), Donato (1965), Wenona (1968), Riboprince (1970), Wenceslas (1971), Manitoulin (1972), Richard Grenville (1974), King Pellinore (1975), Gonzales (1980), (1981), Lords (1982), South Atlantic (1983), Kris Kringle (1988), Andros Bay (1992)

Winners since 1980 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time 1980 Gonzales 3 Tommy Murphy Vincent O'Brien 2:40.30 1981 4 Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien 2:34.50 1982 Lords 3 Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien 2:32.00 1983 South Atlantic 3 Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien 2:31.30 1984 Arctic Lord 4 Christy Roche David O'Brien 2:38.40 1985 Nemain 3 Christy Roche David O'Brien 2:42.80 1986 Nemain 4 Christy Roche David O'Brien 2:41.30 1987 Eurobird 3 Cash Asmussen John Oxx 2:46.90 1988 Kris Kringle 3 John Reid Vincent O'Brien 2:45.60 1989 Indian Queen 4 Declan Gillespie William Hastings-Bass 2:40.70 1990 Sesame 5 Gary Hind David Morley 2:37.30 1991 Topanoora 4 Christy Roche Jim Bolger 2:41.40 1992 Andros Bay 3 Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien 2:37.50 1993 Foresee 3 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 2:45.70 1994 Royal Ballerina 4 Warren O'Connor Michael Kauntze 2:25.50 1995 Humbel 3 Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 2:25.60 1996 Predappio 3 Pat Shanahan John Oxx 2:30.30 1997 Quws 3 Stephen Craine Kevin Prendergast 2:32.90 1998 Lisieux Rose 3 Pat Shanahan Dermot Weld 2:31.90 1999 Insatiable 6 Michael Kinane Sir Michael Stoute 2:31.50 2000 Chiang Mai 3 Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien 2:27.20 2001 Dearly 3 Fran Berry John Oxx 2:11.20 2002 Irresistible Jewel 3 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:08.70 2003 Chorist 4 Darryll Holland William Haggas 2:02.60 2004 Monturani 5 Ted Durcan Geoff Wragg 2:05.40 2005 Red Bloom 4 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute 2:05.10 2006 Red Bloom 5 Jamie Spencer Sir Michael Stoute 2:05.70 2007 Four Sins 3 Michael Kinane John Oxx 2:09.34 2008 Katiyra 3 Michael Kinane John Oxx 2:14.30 2009 Chinese White 4 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:17.35 2010 Eleanora Duse 3 Ryan Moore Sir Michael Stoute 2:10.69 2011 Manieree 3 Niall McCullagh John Oxx 2:12.00 2012 Up 3 Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 2:03.00 2013 Belle de Crecy 4 Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh 2:04.75 2014 Tarfasha 3 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:04.67 2015 Ribbons 5 Tom Queally James Fanshawe 2:10.14 2016 Shamreen 3 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:12.52 2017 Shamreen 4 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:12.84 2018 Eziyra 4 Declan McDonogh Dermot Weld 2:07.50 2019 Tarnawa 3 Chris Hayes Dermot Weld 2:09.41 2020 Cayenne Pepper 3 Shane Foley Jessica Harrington 2:09.18 2021 La Petite Coco 3 Billy Lee Paddy Twomey 2:08.39 2022 Above The Curve 3 Ryan Moore Joseph O'Brien 2:12.29 2023 Lumiere Rock 3 Dylan Browne McMonagle Joseph O'Brien 2:07.89 2024 Hanalia 3 Shane Foley Johnny Murtagh 2:05.38 2025 Barnavara 3 Shane Foley Mrs John Harrington 2:05.08 2026 Thundering On 3 Ryan Moore Joseph O'Brien 2:04.29

Earlier winners

1947: Esprit de France 1948: Wild Johnnie 1949: Pink Larkspur 1950: Beau Sire 1951: Do Well 1952: Thirteen of Diamonds 1953: Ardent Lover 1954: Northern Gleam 1955: Nile Bird 1956: Jongleur 1957: Roistar 1958: Royal Highway 1959: Little Mo 1960: Hunch 1961: Silver Moon * 1962: Sicilian Prince 1963: Feemoss 1964: Biscayne 1965: Donato 1966: Royal Display 1967: Dominion Day 1968: Wenona 1969: Barrons Court 1970: Riboprince 1971: Wenceslas 1972: Manitoulin 1973: Miss Therese 1974: Richard Grenville 1975: King Pellinore 1976: Northern Treasure 1977: Panamint 1978: Valley Forge 1979: Bohemian Grove

* The 1961 winner Silver Moon was later renamed Silver Dollar.

See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races

References Paris-Turf: , , , , , Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

galopp-sieger.de – Blandford Stakes. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Blandford Stakes (2018). – Blandford Stakes (Group 2). pedigreequery.com – Blandford Stakes – Curragh.