The Vincent O'Brien National 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 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History The event was established in 1849, and it was originally called the National Produce Stakes and then the National Stakes. The inaugural running was won by Chatterbox.

For a period the National Stakes was classed at Group 2 level, and it was promoted to Group 1 in 1985. It was extended from 7 furlongs to a mile in 1997, but its former distance was restored in 2000.

The race became known as the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes in 2009, in memory of the successful trainer Vincent O'Brien (1917–2009). It reverted to its previous title in 2011 but was renamed the Vincent O'Brien Stakes in 2012. In 2014 the title reverted to the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and it became part of the Irish Champions Weekend fixture.

The National Stakes was formerly part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, with the winner earning an automatic invitation to compete in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. It was removed from the series in 2012.

Records

Leading jockey since 1947 (4 wins): Lester Piggott – Cellini (1973), Sir Wimborne (1975), El Prado (1991), Fatherland (1992) Michael Kinane – Definite Article (1994), Mus-If (1998), Hawk Wing (2001), One Cool Cat (2003)

Leading trainer since 1947 (15 wins): Vincent O'Brien – Sir Ivor (1967), Roberto (1971), Chamozzle (1972), Cellini (1973), Sir Wimborne (1975), Monteverdi (1979), Storm Bird (1980), Glenstal (1982), El Gran Senor (1983), Law Society (1984), Tate Gallery (1985), Caerwent (1987), Classic Fame (1988), El Prado (1991), Fatherland (1992)

Leading owner since 1976 (12 wins): (includes part ownership) Michael Tabor – Danehill Dancer (1995), Desert King (1996), King of Kings (1997), Beckett (2000), One Cool Cat (2003), George Washington (2005), Mastercraftsman (2008), Power (2011), Gleneagles (2014), Air Force Blue (2015), Churchill (2016), Henry Longfellow (2023)

Winners since 1976 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1976 Pampapaul John Corr Stuart Murless Hans Paul 1:26.00 1977 Diamonds Are Trump Wally Swinburn Dermot Weld Bertram Firestone 1:26.30 1978 Tap On Wood Ernie Johnson Barry Hills Tony Shead 1:28.00 1979 Monteverdi Raymond Carroll Vincent O'Brien Robert Sangster 1:30.50 1980 Storm Bird Tommy Murphy Vincent O'Brien Robert Sangster 1:28.10 1981 Day Is Done Wally Swinburn Dermot Weld Bertram Firestone 1:28.20 1982 Glenstal Vincent Rossiter Vincent O'Brien Robert Sangster 1:29.00 1983 El Gran Senor Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien Robert Sangster 1:28.10 1984 Law Society Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien Stavros Niarchos 1:26.30 1985 Tate Gallery Cash Asmussen Vincent O'Brien Stavros Niarchos 1:28.80 1986 Lockton Michael Hills Jeremy Hindley Alan Gibson 1:25.70 1987 Caerwent Cash Asmussen Vincent O'Brien Sir Edmund Loder 1:32.20 1988 Classic Fame John Reid Vincent O'Brien Classic Thoroughbred plc 1:28.00 1989 Dashing Blade John Matthias Ian Balding Jeff Smith 1:25.20 1990 Heart of Darkness Pat Shanahan Ian Balding Paul Mellon 1:23.10 1991 El Prado Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien Robert Sangster 1:24.40 1992 Fatherland Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien Jacqueline O'Brien 1:33.70 1993 Manntari Johnny Murtagh John Oxx HH Aga Khan IV 1:29.70 1994 Definite Article Michael Kinane Dermot Weld Moyglare Stud Farm 1:31.10 1995 Danehill Dancer Pat Eddery Neville Callaghan Michael Tabor 1:24.10 1996 Desert King Walter Swinburn Aidan O'Brien Michael Tabor 1:25.70 1997 King of Kings Christy Roche Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor 1:43.30 1998 Mus-If Michael Kinane Dermot Weld Hamdan Al Maktoum 1:41.50 1999 Sinndar Johnny Murtagh John Oxx HH Aga Khan IV 1:46.20 2000 Beckett Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor 1:29.80 2001 Hawk Wing Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Sue Magnier 1:20.90 2002 Refuse to Bend Pat Smullen Dermot Weld Moyglare Stud Farm 1:26.00 2003 One Cool Cat Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor 1:23.10 2004 Dubawi Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:24.80 2005 George Washington Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor / Smith 1:23.70 2006 Teofilo Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Jackie Bolger 1:26.40 2007 New Approach Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Bolger / Sheikh Moh'd 1:23.51 2008 Mastercraftsman Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien Smith / Magnier / Tabor 1:37.59 2009 Kingsfort Declan McDonogh Kevin Prendergast Norman Ormiston 1:33.63 2010 Pathfork Fran Berry Jessica Harrington Silverton Hill Partnership 1:27.95 2011 Power Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:27.74 2012 Dawn Approach Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Godolphin 1:25.50 2013 Toormore Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. Middleham Park Racing IX & James Pak 1:22.67 2014 Gleneagles Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:25.29 2015 Air Force Blue Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:29.89 2016 Churchill Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:28.28 2017 Verbal Dexterity Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Jackie Bolger 1:27.32 2018 Quorto William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin 1:24.81 2019 Pinatubo William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin 1:21.82 2020 Thunder Moon Declan McDonogh Joseph Patrick O'Brien Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez 1:28.53 2021 Native Trail William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin 1:26.27 2022 Al Riffa Dylan Browne McMonagle Joseph O'Brien Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah 1:29.31 2023 Henry Longfellow Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:27.54 2024 Scorthy Champ Dylan Browne McMonagle Joseph O'Brien Rectory Road Holdings & B Fowler & Mrs A M O'Brien 1:25.08 2025 Zavateri Charles Bishop Eve Johnson Houghton Mick & Janice Mariscotti 1:26.73 2026 Folsom Blues Joey Sheridan Joseph O'Brien Al Shira'aa Racing Limited 1:27.80

Earlier winners

1849: Chatterbox 1850: Third of May 1851: Barbarian 1852: The Deformed 1853: Knight of St George 1855: Citron 1857: Barbary 1858: Mount Zion 1859: Good Boy 1869: The Tyrconnell 1870: Maid of Athens 1871: Prodigal 1872: Queen of the Bees 1877: Inamorata 1880: Barcaldine 1886: Gallinule 1891: Red Prince 1895: Chit Chat 1897: Sirenia 1900: St Helena 1901: Bachelor's Button 1906: Silver Fowl 1907: Americus Girl 1909: Kilbroney 1912: Royal Weaver 1914: Offaly 1915: Ayn Hali 1918: Grand Parade 1920: Soldennis 1923: Vesington Star 1927: Athford 1928: Soloptic 1929: Ballyferis 1933: Cariff 1944: Solid Pact 1947: Morning Wings 1948: Tribal Song 1949: First View 1950: Star Wire 1951: Blue Butterfly 1952: Sea Charger 1953: Calvero 1954: Panaslipper 1955: Black Patch 1956: El Minzah 1957: Talmud 1958: Babu 1959: His Story 1960: Paris Princess 1961: Mystery 1962: Partholon 1963: Santa Claus 1964: Prominer 1965: Reubens 1966: House Proud 1967: Sir Ivor 1968: Thataboy 1969: Decies 1970: King's Company 1971: Roberto 1972: Chamozzle 1973: Cellini 1974: Reap the Wind 1975: Sir Wimborne

See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races Recurring sporting events established in 1849 – this race is included under its original title, National Produce Stakes.

References

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galopp-sieger.de – Irish National Stakes. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – National Stakes (2018). irishracinggreats.com – National Stakes (Group 1). pedigreequery.com – National Stakes – Curragh.