The Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) at Leopardstown in March or April.
History The event was formerly staged at Phoenix Park under the title 2,000 Guineas Trial. It was originally contested over 7 furlongs, and for a period it held Group 3 status. It was downgraded to Listed level in 1987.
The race was transferred to Leopardstown in 1991. It was extended to a mile in 1994. It regained Group 3 status in 2005, and reverted to Listed class in 2013. The race was reduced in distance to 7 furlongs again in 2018 and upgraded to Group 3 once more in 2023.
The event can serve as a trial for various colts' Classics in Europe. The last winner to achieve victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas was Saffron Walden in 1999. The last to win the 2,000 Guineas was Poetic Flare in 2021. The last to win the Poule d'Essai des Poulains was Henri Matisse in 2025.
Records Leading jockey since 1986 (6 wins): Michael Kinane – Lotus Pool (1990), Two-Twenty-Two (1998), Saffron Walden (1999), Bach (2000), Century City (2002), Alayan (2005) Ryan Moore - Black Sea (2016), Gustav Klimt (2018), Never No More (2019), Hans Andersen (2023), Battle Cry (2024), Henri Matisse (2025)
Leading trainer since 1986 (11 wins): Aidan O'Brien - Saffron Walden (1999), Bach (2000), Century City (2002), Furmer's Green (2012), Black Sea (2016), Orderofthegarter (2017), Gustav Klimt (2018), Never No More (2019), Hans Andersen (2023), Battle Cry (2024), Henri Matisse (2025)
Winners since 1986 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time 1986 Toca Madera Stephen Craine Liam Browne 1987 Island Reef Gabriel Curran Kevin Prendergast 1:27.30 1988 Caerwent John Reid Vincent O'Brien 1:31.80 1989 Sagamore David Parnell Kevin Prendergast 1:30.80 1990 Lotus Pool Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 1:36.50 1991 Bufalino Willie Supple Jim Bolger 1:31.30 1992 Portico Lester Piggott Vincent O'Brien 1:33.40 1993 Massyar Richard Hughes John Oxx 1:31.40 1994 Manntari Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 1:44.90 1995 Adjareli Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 1:44.60 1996 Deed of Love Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 1:46.30 1997 Lil's Boy Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 1:40.60 1998 Two-Twenty-Two Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 1:50.60 1999 Saffron Walden Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien 1:39.00 2000 Bach Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien 1:49.50 2001 Dr Brendler Fran Berry John Hayden 1:53.60 2002 Century City Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien 1:38.70 2003 Refuse to Bend Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 1:39.20 2004 Grey Swallow Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 1:51.60 2005 Alayan Michael Kinane John Oxx 1:51.70 2006 Yasoodd Chris Catlin Mick Channon 1:45.60 2007 Creachadoir Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 1:40.20 2008 Famous Name Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 1:43.95 2009 Recharge Chris Hayes Kevin Prendergast 1:40.65 2010 Noll Wallop Wayne Lordan Tommy Stack 1:47.15 2011 Dunboyne Express Declan McDonogh Kevin Prendergast 1:41.36 2012 Furner's Green Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:41.97 2013 Fort Knox Johnny Murtagh Tommy Carmody 1:48.51 2014 Go For Goal Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 1:44.88 2015 Zawraq Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 1:52.25 2016 Black Sea Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:52.35 2017 Orderofthegarter Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 1:41.06 2018 Gustav Klimt Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:38.60 2019 Never No More Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:32.01 2020 Ten Year Ticket Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 1:28.75 2021 Poetic Flare Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 1:28.02 2022 Dr Zempf Colin Keane Ger Lyons 1:30.06 2023 Hans Andersen Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:38.03 2024 Battle Cry Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:39.31 2025 Henri Matisse Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:28.44 2026 Thesecretadversary Seamie Heffernan Fozzy Stack 1:32.99
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
galopp-sieger.de – Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Race Detail (2012). pedigreequery.com – 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes – Leopardstown.