Curragh Cup
The Curragh Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.
| Group 2 race | |
| Location | Curragh Racecourse Co. Kildare, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1987 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | Comer Group |
| Website | Curragh |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1m 6f (2,816 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | 8 st 11 lb (3yo); 9 st 11 lb (4yo+) Allowances 3 lb for fillies and mares Penalties 3 lb for Group 1 winners * * at 11 furlongs or over since 1 November last year |
| Purse | €75,200 (2020) 1st: €47,200 |
| 2021 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Amhran Na Bhfiann | Pondus | Passion |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Twilight Payment | Master Of Reality | Camphor |
| 2019 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Twilight Payment | Latrobe | Raa Atoll |
| 2018 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Flag Of Honour | Giuseppe Garibaldi | Twilight Payment |
| 2017 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Rekindling | Wicklow Brave | Elidor |
| 2016 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Sword Fighter | Landofhopeandglory | Alveena |
| 2015 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Bondi Beach | Order Of St George | Drifting Mist |
| 2014 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Ernest Hemingway | Certerach | Tarana |
| 2013 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Ernest Hemingway | Royal Diamond | Voleuse De Coeurs |
| 2012 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Hartani | Midnight Soprano | Offer |
| 2011 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Red Cadeaux | Zerashan | Admiral of The Red |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Tactic | Profound Beauty | Roses For The Lady |
| 2009 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Profound Beauty | Alandi | Yankee Doodle |
| 2008 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Septimus | Mores Wells | Peppertree Lane |
| 2007 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Peppertree Lane | Nick's Nikita | Alfie Flits |
| 2006 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Kastoria | Collier Hill | Mkuzi |
| 2005 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Mkuzi | Orpington | Akarem |
| 2004 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Mkuzi | Dubai Success | Cruzspiel |
| 2003 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Maharib | Arundel | Rayshan |
| 2002 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Daliapour | Boreas | Quality Team |
| 2001 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Chimes At Midnight | Mediterranean | Pillars Of Society |
| 2000-1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Quality Team | Royal Rebel | Churlish Charm |
| 1999 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Maridpour | Yeoman's Point | Gordi |
| 1998 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Memorise | Stage Affair | Theatreworld |
| 1997 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Orchestra Stall | Zafarabad | Damancher |
| 1996 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Blushing Flame | Fill The Bill | Damancher |
| 1995 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Vintage Crop | Capias | Mohaajir |
| 1994 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Witness Box | Vintage Crop | Portrait Gallery |
| 1993 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Vintage Crop | Ballykett Lady | Garabagh |
| 1992 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Arrikala | Parting Moment | Sleet Skier |
| 1991 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Hateel | Sleet Skier | Thetford Forest |
| 1990-1988 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Thetford Forest | Cheering News | Smaoineamh |
| 1989 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Tyrone Bridge | Sergeyevich | Smaoineamh |
| 1988 | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Heavenly Manna | Shimshek | Skating |
The event was established in 1987, and for a period it was classed at Listed level. It was promoted to Group 3 status in 1994 and upgraded again to Group 2 status in 2016.[1]
The race is part of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting, and it is currently held on the final day. The Curragh Cup has been won by several top-class horses including Almaarad, Vintage Crop, Daliapour, Kastoria, Septimus, Red Cadeaux and Rekindling.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Vintage Crop – 1993, 1995
- Mkuzi – 2004, 2005
- Ernest Hemingway - 2013, 2014
- Twilight Payment - 2019, 2020
Leading jockey (5 wins):
- Michael Kinane – Vintage Crop (1993, 1995), Daliapour (2002), Mkuzi (2004), Kastoria (2006)
Leading trainer (7 wins):
- Aidan O'Brien - Septimus (2008), Ernest Hemingway (2013, 2014), Bondi Beach (2015), Sword Fighter (2016), Flag Of Honour (2018), Amhran Na Bhfiann (2021)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Almaarad | 4 | Pat Eddery | John Dunlop | 3:11.00 |
| 1988 | Heavenly Manna | 3 | Christy Roche | Paddy Mullins | 3:04.60 |
| 1989 | Tyrone Bridge | 3 | David Parnell | Kevin Prendergast | 3:00.60 |
| 1990 | Thetford Forest | 3 | Ron Quinton | John Oxx | 2:55.40 |
| 1991 | Hateel | 5 | Willie Carson | Peter Walwyn | 3:03.70 |
| 1992 | Arrikala | 3 | Christy Roche | Jim Bolger | 2:55.40 |
| 1993 | Vintage Crop | 6 | Michael Kinane | Dermot Weld | 3:04.90 |
| 1994 | Witness Box | 7 | John Reid | John Oxx | 3:04.30 |
| 1995 | Vintage Crop | 8 | Michael Kinane | Dermot Weld | 3:00.20 |
| 1996 | Blushing Flame | 5 | John Reid | Michael Stoute | 3:00.60 |
| 1997 | Orchestra Stall | 5 | Pat Eddery | John Dunlop | 3:04.50 |
| 1998 | Memorise | 4 | Kieren Fallon | Henry Cecil | 3:16.30 |
| 1999 | Maridpour | 4 | Gary Stevens | Sir Michael Stoute | 3:01.40 |
| 2000 | Quality Team | 3 | Pat Smullen | Dermot Weld | 3:05.60 |
| 2001 | Chimes at Midnight | 4 | Wayne Smith | Luke Comer | 3:22.50 |
| 2002 | Daliapour | 6 | Michael Kinane | Michael Stoute | 3:04.30 |
| 2003 | Maharib | 3 | Pat Smullen | Dermot Weld | 3:04.40 |
| 2004 | Mkuzi | 5 | Michael Kinane | John Oxx | 2:59.70 |
| 2005 | Mkuzi | 6 | Fran Berry | John Oxx | 3:05.50 |
| 2006 | Kastoria | 5 | Michael Kinane | John Oxx | 2:58.64 |
| 2007 | Peppertree Lane | 4 | Kevin Darley | Mark Johnston | 3:10.99 |
| 2008 | Septimus | 5 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien | 3:07.17 |
| 2009 | Profound Beauty | 5 | Pat Smullen | Dermot Weld | 3:03.35 |
| 2010 | Tactic | 4 | Tadhg O'Shea | John Dunlop | 2:58.92 |
| 2011 | Red Cadeaux | 5 | Tom McLaughlin | Ed Dunlop | 3:05.82 |
| 2012 | Hartani | 3 | Johnny Murtagh | John Oxx | 3:12.72 |
| 2013 | Ernest Hemingway | 4 | Seamie Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien | 2:56.33 |
| 2014 | Ernest Hemingway | 5 | Joseph O'Brien | Aidan O'Brien | 3:04.68 |
| 2015 | Bondi Beach | 3 | Seamie Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien | 3:03.31 |
| 2016 | Sword Fighter | 3 | Seamie Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien | 3:08.37 |
| 2017 | Rekindling | 3 | Wayne Lordan | Joseph O'Brien | 3:03.33 |
| 2018 | Flag Of Honour | 3 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien | 3:02.46 |
| 2019 | Twilight Payment | 6 | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | 3:03.83 |
| 2020 | Twilight Payment | 7 | Declan McDonogh | Joseph O'Brien | 3:07.18 |
| 2021 | Amhran Na Bhfiann | 4 | Colin Keane | Aidan O'Brien | 3:03.28 |
References
- "European Pattern Committee announces changes to the 2016 European Programme / 21 Jan 16". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- Paris-Turf:
- Racing Post:
- galopp-sieger.de – Curragh Cup.
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Curragh Cup (2018).
- irishracinggreats.com – Curragh Cup (Group 3).
- pedigreequery.com – Curragh Cup – Curragh.



















































