The Gallinule Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. 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 May.
History The event is named after Gallinule, the Irish-based sire of Pretty Polly. It was originally restricted to three-year-olds, and for a period it held Group 2 status. It was extended to 1 mile and 4 furlongs in 1976, and reverted to its previous length in 1983.
The race was opened to older horses in 1994. It was downgraded to Group 3 level in 1998. It was staged at Leopardstown in 2001 and 2002, and its former age restriction was restored in 2004.
Records Leading jockey since 1950 (8 wins): Lester Piggott – Hail the Pirates (1973), Meneval (1976), Alleged (1977), Inkerman (1978), Gonzales (1980), Lord Duke (1985), Sportsworld (1991), Right Win (1994)
Leading trainer since 1950 (20 wins): Aidan O'Brien - Johan Cruyff (1997), Urban Ocean (1999), Glyndebourne (2000), Della Francesca (2002), Meath (2004), Puerto Rico (2006), Alexander of Hales (2007), Hebridean (2008), Grand Ducal (2009), Jan Vermeer (2010), Alexander Pope (2011), Leading Light (2013), Adelaide (2014), Beacon Rock (2016), Homesman (2017), Constantinople (2019), Drumroll (2023), Chief Little Rock (2024), Thrice (2025), Causeway (2026)
Winners since 1977 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time 1977 Alleged 3 Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien 2:30.90 1978 Inkerman 3 Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien 2:32.20 1979 Ardross 3 Stan Moore Paddy Prendergast 2:52.60 1980 Gonzales 3 Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien 2:33.10 1981 Erins Isle 3 Declan Gillespie Jim Bolger 2:51.20 1982 Assert 3 Christy Roche David O'Brien 2:34.70 1983 Carlingford Castle 3 Michael Kinane Liam Browne 2:57.50 1984 Montelimar 3 Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien 2:09.20 1985 Lord Duke 3 Lester Piggott Frank Dunne 1986 Welsh Fantasy 3 Pat Shanahan Con Collins 2:16.20 1987 Seattle Dancer 3 Cash Asmussen Vincent O'Brien 2:09.20 1988 Project Manager 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:07.10 1989 Porter Rhodes 3 Paul Eddery Henry Cecil 2:07.50 1990 Missionary Ridge 3 Michael Hills Barry Hills 2:04.20 1991 Sportsworld 3 Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien 2:06.60 1992 Brief Truce 3 Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 2:09.00 1993 Massyar 3 Michael Kinane John Oxx 2:11.10 1994 Right Win 4 Lester Piggott Richard Hannon Sr. 2:19.90 1995 Shemaran 3 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 2:12.80 1996 Needle Gun 6 Michael Roberts Clive Brittain 2:06.00 1997 Johan Cruyff 3 Kevin Manning Aidan O'Brien 2:11.90 1998 Quws 4 Stephen Craine Kevin Prendergast 2:07.70 1999 Urban Ocean 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 2:14.40 2000 Glyndebourne 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 2:12.20 2001 Exaltation 3 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 2:11.00 2002 Della Francesca 3 Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien 2:12.50 2003 Nysaean 4 Jimmy Fortune Richard Hannon Sr. 2:10.30 2004 Meath 3 Jamie Spencer Aidan O'Brien 2:10.90 2005 Im Spartacus 3 Jamie Spencer David Flood 2:12.70 2006 Puerto Rico 3 Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien 2:20.20 2007 Alexander of Hales 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 2:09.60 2008 Hebridean 3 Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien 2:12.05 2009 Grand Ducal 3 Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien 2:19.71 2010 Jan Vermeer 3 Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien 2:11.38 2011 Alexander Pope 3 Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien 2:08.46 2012 Speaking of Which 3 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:09.80 2013 Leading Light 3 Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 2:07.83 2014 Adelaide 3 Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 2:16.79 2015 Curvy 3 Wayne Lordan David Wachman 2:08.93 2016 Beacon Rock 3 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 2:17.12 2017 Homesman 3 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 2:12.63 2018 Platinum Warrior 3 Shane Foley Michael Halford 2:09.84 2019 Constantinople 3 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 2:10.23 2020 Crossfirehurricane 3 Shane Crosse Joseph O'Brien 2:08.41 2021 Earlswood 3 Ben Coen Johnny Murtagh 2:16.38 2022 Hannibal Barca 3 Shane Crosse Joseph O'Brien 2:09.94 2023 Drumroll 3 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 2:09.07 2024 Chief Little Rock 3 Wayne Lordan Aidan O'Brien 2:08.23 2025 Thrice 3 Wayne Lordan Aidan O'Brien 2:04.46 2026 Causeway 3 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 2:02.22
Earlier winners
1950: Dark Warrior 1951: Chadwick Manor 1952: Windy Torrent 1953: Chamier 1954: Hidalgo 1955: Arctic Time 1956: No Comment 1957: After the Show 1958: Tharp 1959: Anthony 1960: Chamour 1961: Royal Avenue 1962: Saint Denys 1963: Vic Mo Chroi 1964: Master Buck 1965: Baljour 1966: Busted 1967: Atherstone Wood 1968: Giolla Mear 1969: Onondaga 1970: Saracen Sword 1971: Grenfall 1972: Bog Road 1973: Hail the Pirates 1974: Sir Penfro 1975: King Pellinore 1976: Meneval
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races
References Paris-Turf: , , , , , Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
galopp-sieger.de – Gallinule Stakes. ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Gallinule Stakes (2019). irishracinggreats.com – Gallinule Stakes (Group 3). pedigreequery.com – Gallinule Stakes – Curragh.