The Mercury Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at Dundalk over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
The race was first run in 2008. It was previously run a Listed race before being upgraded to Group 3 status in 2018. The 2020 race was run in memory of Pat Smullen, an Irish champion jockey who rode his first and last winners at Dundalk, who died in September 2020.
Records Most successful horse (2 wins): Take Cover – 2015, 2017
, Leading jockey (2 wins): Stevie Donohoe – Sir Maximilian (2014), Manaccan (2022)
Leading trainer (2 wins): David Griffiths – Take Cover (2015,2017) Daniel Murphy - Dun Na Sead (2023), Ostraka (2024)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time 2008 Borderlescott 6 Pat Cosgrave Robin Bastiman0:59.10 2009 Arganil 4 Keagan Latham Kevin Ryan 0:58.03 2010 Invincible Ash 5 Gary Carroll Michael Halford0:58.10 2011 Nocturnal Affair 6 Colm O'Donoghue David Marnane 0:57.70 2012 Balmont Mast 4 Johnny Murtagh Edward Lynam 0:57.35 2013 Timeless Call 5 Pat Smullen Reginald Roberts0:58.85 2014 Sir Maximilian 5 Stevie Donohoe Ian Williams0:58.20 2015 Take Cover 8 Fran Berry David Griffiths 0:58.00 2016 Caspian Prince 7 Declan McDonogh Roger Fell 0:57.10 2017 Take Cover 10 David Allan David Griffiths 0:58.55 2018 Hit The Bid 4 Chris Hayes Darren Bunyan 0:57.83 2019 Dr Simpson 2 Rory Cleary Tom Dascombe 0:58.36 2020 Urban Beat 5 Ben Coen Johnny Murtagh 0:57.58 2021 The Highway Rat 3 Ronan Whelan Andy Oliver 0:58.28 2022 Manaccan 3 Stevie Donohoe John Ryan 0:58.05 2023 Dun Na Sead 4 Oisin McSweeney Daniel Murphy 0:58.25 2024 Ostraka 4 James Ryan Daniel Murphy 0:58.60 2025 Spartan Arrow 5 Hollie Doyle Archie Watson 0:58.57
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Mercury Stakes (2018).