The Beresford Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September or October.
History The event was sponsored by Panasonic in the mid-1980s, and during this time it held Group 2 status. Juddmonte Farms took over the sponsorship in 1988. Its most illustrious winner was Nijinsky in 1969.
The race was relegated to Group 3 level in 1992. It regained Group 2 status in 2003.
The Beresford Stakes was added to the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2012. The winner earned an invitation to compete in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. It was dropped from the series in 2013. Since 2017 the Beresford Stakes has been part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Records Leading jockey since 1950 (6 wins): Liam Ward – Kildoon (1953), Carezza (1955), Scissors (1963), Hibernian (1967), Nijinsky (1969), Minsky (1970)
Leading trainer since 1950 (23 wins): Aidan O'Brien - Johan Cruyff (1996), Saratoga Springs (1997), Festival Hall (1998), Lermontov (1999), Turnberry Isle (2000), Castle Gandolfo (2001), Albert Hall (2004), Septimus (2005), Eagle Mountain (2006), St Nicholas Abbey (2009), David Livingston (2011), Battle of Marengo (2012), Geoffrey Chaucer (2013), Ol' Man River (2014), Port Douglas (2015), Capri (2016), Saxon Warrior (2017), Japan (2018), Innisfree (2019), High Definition (2020), Luxembourg (2021), Hawk Mountain (2025), Noble Exhibit (2026)
Winners since 1977 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time 1977 Icelandic Christy Roche Paddy Prendergast 1:44.80 1978 Just a Game Tommy Carberry Clem Magnier 1:42.90 1979 Huguenot Tommy Murphy Vincent O'Brien 1:46.70 1980 Euclid George McGrath Vincent O'Brien 1981 Assert Christy Roche David O'Brien 1:42.50 1982 Danzatore Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien 1983 Sadler's Wells Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien 1:44.50 1984 Gold Crest Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien 1:40.70 1985 Flash of Steel Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 1:46.80 1986 Gulf King Steve Cauthen Paul Kelleway 1:39.30 1987 Insan Richard Quinn Paul Cole 1:47.20 1988 Classic Fame John Reid Vincent O'Brien 1:46.50 1989 Victory Piper John Reid Barry Hills 1:43.00 1990 Approach the Bench Billy Newnes John Mulhern 1:44.10 1991 El Prado Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien 1:43.80 1992 Frenchpark Pat Shanahan Con Collins 1:44.30 1993 Sheridan Willie Carson John Dunlop 1:47.30 1994 Burden of Proof Christy Roche Charles O'Brien 1:48.60 1995 Ahkaam Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 1:46.10 1996 Johan Cruyff Christy Roche Aidan O'Brien 1:44.30 1997 Saratoga Springs Christy Roche Aidan O'Brien 1:47.70 1998 Festival Hall Jamie Spencer Aidan O'Brien 1:47.20 1999 Lermontov Paul Scallan Aidan O'Brien 1:47.30 2000 Turnberry Isle Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien 1:46.40 2001 Castle Gandolfo Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien 1:44.70 2002 Alamshar Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 1:44.90 2003 Azamour Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 1:42.00 2004 Albert Hall Jamie Spencer Aidan O'Brien 1:43.80 2005 Septimus Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 1:43.10 2006 Eagle Mountain Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien 1:43.40 2007 Curtain Call Fran Berry Jessica Harrington 1:46.74 2008 Sea the Stars Michael Kinane John Oxx 1:42.36 2009 St Nicholas Abbey Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien 1:41.60 2010 Casamento Pat Smullen Michael Halford 1:43.52 2011 David Livingston Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 1:46.23 2012 Battle of Marengo Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:47.77 2013 Geoffrey Chaucer Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:42.70 2014 Ol' Man River Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:39.38 2015 Port Douglas Emmet McNamara Aidan O'Brien 1:43.38 2016 Capri Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:45.05 2017 Saxon Warrior Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:46.45 2018 Japan Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:38.68 2019 Innisfree Donnacha O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:50.06 2020 High Definition Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 1:45.282021 Luxembourg Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 1:40.88 2022 Crypto Force Colin Keane Michael O' Callaghan 1:44.30 2023 Deepone Billy Lee Paddy Twomey 1:41.42 2024 Hotazhell Shane Foley Jessica Harrington 1:38.16 2025 Hawk Mountain Ronan Whelan Aidan O'Brien 1:43.36 2026 Noble Exhibit Wayne Lordan Aidan O'Brien 1:41.53
Earlier winners
1875: Richelieu 1880: Barcaldine 1891: Wordsworth 1910: Cheery Pat 1917: Judea 1919: Royal Ashe 1920: Ballyheron 1930: Spiral 1943: Arctic Sun 1945: Linaria 1946: Grand Weather 1949: Dark Warrior 1950: Setello 1951: Grand Morning 1952: Northern Gleam 1953: Kildoon 1954: Arctic Time 1955: Carezza 1956: Viviptic 1957: Articeelagh 1958: Sunny Court 1959: Lynchris 1960: Paris Princess 1961: Richmond 1962: Pontifex 1963: Scissors 1964: Jealous 1965: Boleslas 1966: Sovereign Slipper 1967: Hibernian 1968: Deep Run 1969: Nijinsky 1970: Minsky 1971: Boucher 1972: Chamozzle 1973: Saritamer 1974: Mark Anthony 1975: Whistling Deer 1976: Orchestra
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races
References
Paris-Turf: , , , , , , Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
galopp-sieger.de – Beresford Stakes. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Beresford Stakes (2018). – Beresford Stakes (Group 2). pedigreequery.com – Beresford Stakes – Curragh.