Matron Stakes (Ireland)

Matron Stakes
Group 1 race
LocationLeopardstown
County Dublin, Ireland
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorCoolmore
WebsiteLeopardstown
Race information
Distance1 mile (1,609 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and up
fillies and mares
Weight9 st 0 lb (3yo);
9 st 5 lb (4yo+)
Purse€376,000 (2022)
1st: €236,000
Matron Stakes
2024
WHITE, pink heart, black sleeves, pink hoop, white cap Peacock blue, old gold sleeves, red cap Light blue, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap
Porta Fortuna Fallen Angel Soprano
Previous years
2023
Green, red epaulettes, green cap Red, white inverted triangle, halved sleeves Black, white sleeves, white cap
Tahiyra Rogue Millennium Just Beautiful
2022
White, brown chevron, orange cap Red, white seams, red sleeves, white cap, red stars Maroon, royal blue hoop, royal blue sleeves, quartered cap
Pearls Galore Saffron Beach Tenebrism
2021
White, dark blue diamond, dark blue sleeves, white armlet, white and dark blue quartered cap White, brown chevron, orange cap Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap
No Speak Alexander Pearls Galore Mother Earth
2020-2011
2020
Dark blue, beige disc, beige stars on sleeves, beige cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves, Royal Blue cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Champers Elysees Peaceful Fancy Blue
2019
Red, yellow panel, yellow chevrons on sleeves, red cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves, Royal Blue cap
Iridessa Hermosa Just Wonderful
2018
White, maroon and purple striped sleeves Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Laurens Alpha Centauri Clemmie
2017
Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap Dark blue Red, white sash, royal blue cap
Hydrangea Winter Persuasive
2016
Dark blue Red, white sash, royal blue cap Silver, gold braid, maroon cap, gold tassel
Alice Springs Persuasive Qemah
2015
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Dark blue, light blue hoop, dark blue sleeves, light blue armlets, light blue cap, dark blue hooped cap Claret, gold braid, claret sleeves and cap
Legatissimo Cladocera Ainippe
2014
Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, diabolo on sleeves, white cap Yellow, dark blue seams, yellow cap White, purple panel, check cap
Fiesolana Rizeena Tobann
2013
Maroon and royal blue chevrons, maroon sleeves and cap Pink, mauve triple diamond, white sleeves, mauve cap Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap
La Collina Lily's Angel Say
2012
White and royal blue stripes, royal blue sleeves, white spots, yellow cap Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap Emerald green, pink sash, white sleeves, pink cap
Chachamaidee Duntle Emulous
2011
Emerald green, pink sash, white sleeves, pink cap Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Emulous Together Misty For Me
2010-2001
2010
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Red, white sash, royal blue cap Royal blue, white striped sleeves, white cap
Lillie Langtry Spacious Music Show
2009
White, Emerald green Hoop, White Sleeves, White Cap Red, white sash, royal blue cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Rainbow View Heaven Sent Again
2008
WHITE, purple panel, check cap DARK GREEN, red cap, dark green diamond ROYAL BLUE, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Lush Lashes Nahoodh Halfway To Heaven
2007
Red, white sash, royal blue cap White, large red spots and armlets, red and white quartered cap Red and grey stripes, grey sleeves, red cap
Echelon Red Evie Arch Swing
2006
White, large red spots and armlets, red and white quartered cap Red, white sash, royal blue cap Royal blue, white striped sleeves, white cap
Red Evie Peeress Flashy Wings
2005
Silver, dark green sleeves Red, white sash, royal blue cap Dark blue
Attraction Chic Virginia Waters
2004
White, large black spots, black cap Silver, dark green sleeves Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves
Soviet Song Attraction Phantom Wind
2003
Royal blue, white chevron, light blue cap BLUE, pink sleeves., blue and gold quartered cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Favourable Terms Perfect Touch Dossier
2002
Black, white sleeves, red cap, black star White, Purple stripe, White sleeves, Check cap White, black spots, white sleeves, red cap
Dress To Thrill Marionnaud Fallen Star
2001
Yellow, black spots, yellow sleeves and cap MADONNA BLUE, brown cross belts, blue cap Purple and White stripes, Black velvet cap, Gold tassel
Independence Toroca Danceabout
2000-1991
2000
Royal blue, white stripe, diabolo on sleeves, diamond on cap Purple and White stripes, Black velvet cap, Gold tassel Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves
Iftiraas Danceabout Out Of Reach
1999
White, Red stars, Red cap, Emerald Green star Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Light blue, orange diamonds on body, star on cap
Dazzling Park Carambola Putuna
1998
Black, white disc, black sleeves, white spots BROWN and YELLOW QUARTERED, yellow sleeves, check cap Blue, grey stars on body, grey cap
Tadwiga Darina Heed My Warning
1997
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Dark Blue, White cross belts, checked sleeves and cap Light green, red sash, yellow sleeves, red cap
Clerio Supercal Dangerous Diva
1996
Dark blue, white stars and sleeves, red cap Orange Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Donna Viola Hagwah Charlock
1995
emerald Green, Red epaulettes White, yellow epaulets and cap Red, white epaulets, halved sleeves
Timarida Lap Of Luxury Warning Shadows
1994
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Orange, grey cross of lorraine, hooped sleeves, orange cap Royal blue, yellow stripe, yellow sleeves, royal blue armlets and star on yellow cap
Eternal Reve Andromaque Girl From Ipanema
1993
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star White, red epaulets, blue sleeves, white stars, red cuffs, red and blue quartered cap Yellow, purple chevron, hooped sleeves, purple cap
Chanzi Asema Cloud Of Dust
1992
Yellow, purple chevron, hooped sleeves, purple cap Light blue and red hoops, striped sleeves, red cap emerald Green, Red epaulettes
Cloud Of Dust Soiree Tarwiya
1991
Red, white triple diamond, light blue sleeves, white cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Scarlet, white sleeves, scarlet cap, white hoop
Kooyonga Blue Daisy Rua D'Oro
1990-1988
1990
owned by Golden Vale Racing Syndicate Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap Yellow, light green seams, quartered cap
Spring Daffodil Sajjaya Tafila
1989
Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap White, black hoop and armlets, red cap, gold tassel
Upward Trend Awayed Llyn Gwynant
1988
White, black hoop and armlets, red cap, gold tassel Black, white sleeves, red cap, black star Red and white check, red sleeves
Llyn Gwynant Trusted Partner Bell Tower
 

The Matron Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History

The event was formerly known as the Gilltown Stud Stakes, and it used to be held at the Curragh. For a period it was classed at Group 3 level. It was renamed the Matron Stakes in the mid 1980s.

The race was transferred to Leopardstown in 2002. It was promoted to Group 2 status in 2003, and to Group 1 in 2004. It is now sponsored by Coolmore Stud, and its full title includes the name of Justify, a Coolmore stallion. In 2014 it was moved back a week in September to become part of a new Irish Champions Weekend fixture.

Records

Most successful horse since 1980:

  • no horse has won this race more than once since 1980

Leading jockey since 1980 (3 wins):

  • Johnny Murtagh – Timarida (1995), Soviet Song (2004), Lillie Langtry (2010)

Leading trainer since 1980 (4 wins):

  • John Dunlop – Mary Mitsu (1982), Llyn Gwynant (1988), Cloud of Dust (1992), Iftiraas (2000)

Leading owner since 1986 (4 wins):

  • Tabor / Derrick Smith / Magnier - Lillie Langtry (2010), Legatissimo (2015), Alice Springs (2016), Hydrangea (2017)

Winners since 1986

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1986 Grey Goddess 3 Stephen Craine Edward O'Grady Mrs K. Watts
1987 Pixie Erin 3 Michael Hills Barry Hills Robert Sangster 1:43.50
1988 Llyn Gwynant 3 Willie Carson John Dunlop J. Macdonald-Buchanan 1:44.50
1989 Upward Trend 3 Christy Roche Jim Bolger Paul Green 1:39.10
1990 Spring Daffodil 3 Declan Gillespie Augustine Leahy Golden Vale Syndicate 1:38.90
1991 Kooyonga 3 Warren O'Connor Michael Kauntze Mitsuo Haga 1:41.30
1992 Cloud of Dust 3 Michael Roberts John Dunlop Peggy Kwoh 1:44.50
1993 Chanzi 3 Michael Roberts John Oxx Sheikh Mohammed 1:42.00
1994 Eternal Reve 3 Michael Kinane François Boutin Sheikh Mohammed 1:41.60
1995 Timarida 3 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx HH Aga Khan IV 1:38.10
1996 Donna Viola 4 John Reid Chris Wall Kieran Scott 1:39.90
1997 Clerio 3 Michael Kinane Henri-Alex Pantall Sheikh Mohammed 1:42.10
1998 Tadwiga 3 Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. Stonethorn Stud Farms 1:41.30
1999 Dazzling Park 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Mrs Seamus Burns 1:39.00
2000 Iftiraas 3 George Duffield John Dunlop Kuwait Racing Syndicate 1:39.60
2001 Independence 3 Frankie Dettori Ed Dunlop Cliveden Stud 1:39.20
2002 Dress to Thrill 3 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld Moyglare Stud Farm 1:40.10
2003 Favourable Terms 3 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:39.90
2004 Soviet Song 4 Johnny Murtagh James Fanshawe Elite Racing Club 1:36.80
2005 Attraction 4 Kevin Darley Mark Johnston 10th Duke of Roxburghe 1:38.90
2006 Red Evie 3 Jamie Spencer Michael Bell Neill / Bell 1:38.70
2007 Echelon 5 Ryan Moore Sir Michael Stoute Cheveley Park Stud 1:39.52
2008 Lush Lashes 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Jackie Bolger 1:40.73
2009 Rainbow View 3 Jimmy Fortune John Gosden George Strawbridge 1:39.89
2010 Lillie Langtry 3 Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:39.68
2011 Emulous 4 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld Khalid Abdullah 1:38.47
2012 Chachamaidee [a] 5 Tom Queally Henry Cecil R. A. H. Evans 1:37.58
2013 La Collina 4 Chris Hayes Kevin Prendergast Joerg Vasicek 1:39.00
2014 Fiesolana 5 Billy Lee Willie McCreery Flaxman Stables 1:38.16
2015 Legatissimo 3 Wayne Lordan David Wachman Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:39.95
2016 Alice Springs 3 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:42.08
2017 Hydrangea 3 Wayne Lordan Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:41.89
2018 Laurens 3 Daniel Tudhope Karl Burke John Dance 1:39.23
2019 Iridessa 3 Wayne Lordan Joseph Patrick O'Brien Mrs C Regaldo Onzalez 1:38.31
2020 Champers Elysees 3 Colin Keane Johnny Murtagh Fitzwilliam Racing 1:39.77
2021 No Speak Alexander 3 Shane Foley Jessica Harrington Charles O'Callaghan 1:41.98
2022 Pearls Galore 5 Billy Lee Paddy Twomey Haras de Saint Pair du Mont 1:44.36
2023 Tahiyra 3 Chris Hayes Dermot Weld Aga Khan IV 1:37.50
2024 Porta Fortuna 3 Tom Marquand Donnacha O'Brien Medallion/S Weston/B Fowler/Reeves T'Bs 1:40.67

a Duntle finished first in 2012, but she was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry.

Earlier winners

  • 1980: Calandra
  • 1981: Tumblella
  • 1982: Mary Mitsu
  • 1983: Mighty Fly
  • 1984: Clare Bridge
  • 1985: Only

See also

References

  • Paris-Turf:
    • "1980"., "1983"., "1984"., "1985"., "1986"., "1987".
  • Racing Post: