The Sapphire Stakes is a Group 3

Conditions races

Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...

 flat

Flat racing

Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...

 horse race

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 in Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 open to thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

s aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh

Curragh Racecourse

The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...

 over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.

The event was established in 2001, and it was originally classed at Listed level. For several years it was registered as the Richard H. Faught Memorial Stakes. It was renamed the Sapphire Stakes and promoted to Group 3 status in 2008.

The Sapphire Stakes is part of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting, and it is currently held on the third day, the same day as the Irish Derby.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Benbaun – 2005, 2009

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Leading jockey

Jockey

A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

 (2 wins):

• Pat Shanahan – Tiger Royal (2002), Dandy Man (2006)
• Johnny Murtagh
  Johnny Murtagh
  Johnny Murtagh is a Irish flat racing jockey from Bohermeen, Navan, County Meath.He excels on the big stage, having won many Group 1 races around the world...
  
   – Deportivo (2003), Snaefell (2007)
• Kieren Fallon
  Kieren Fallon
  Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....
  
   – Benbaun (2005), Glamorous Spirit (2010)

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Leading trainer

Horse trainer

In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

 (2 wins):

• Michael Halford – Snaefell (2007), Invincible Ash (2011)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Time
2001	Repertory	8	Fergus Sweeney	Malcolm Saunders	0:59.40
2002	Tiger Royal	6	Pat Shanahan	Dermot Weld Dermot Weld Dermot K. Weld is one of Ireland's most successful racehorse trainers. He holds the record for the most winners trained in Ireland ....	0:59.80
2003	Deportivo	3	Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh is a Irish flat racing jockey from Bohermeen, Navan, County Meath.He excels on the big stage, having won many Group 1 races around the world...	Roger Charlton Roger Charlton Roger J. Charlton is an English racehorse trainer and a former flat racing jockey. He trains horses in Beckhampton Stables in Wiltshire, England. He has had many successes as a trainer in England and Europe, including victories in both the Epsom Derby and the Prix du Jockey Club in 1990...	0:59.70
2004	Osterhase	5	Fran Berry	John Mulhern	0:57.30
2005	Benbaun	4	Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....	Mark Wallace	0:57.40
2006	Dandy Man	3	Pat Shanahan	Con Collins	0:58.40
2007	Snaefell	3	Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh is a Irish flat racing jockey from Bohermeen, Navan, County Meath.He excels on the big stage, having won many Group 1 races around the world...	Michael Halford	1:02.90
2008	Tax Free	6	Adrian Nicholls	David Nicholls	0:59.03
2009	Benbaun	8	Pat Smullen Pat Smullen Patrick J. Smullen is a jockey and considered one of the top riders in Ireland. He has had many successes through his position as stable jockey to Dermot Weld.-Major wins: Ireland...	Kevin Ryan	1:00.03
2010	Glamorous Spirit	4	Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....	Ron Harris	0:57.85
2011	Invincible Ash	6	Gary Carroll	Michael Halford	1:00.13