The Golden Fleece Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong (1,811 metres) at Leopardstown in September.
History The event was first named the Golden Fleece Stakes after Golden Fleece, the Irish-trained winner of The Derby in 1982. It was established in 2007, and was originally contested over 7 furlongs. It initially held Listed status, and took place in late June or early July.
The race was switched to September and extended to a mile in 2012. From this point it was billed as a trial for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and known as the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Trial Stakes. It was promoted to Group 3 level in 2013. In 2014 it was renamed the Juvenile Turf Stakes and became part of the Irish Champions Weekend fixture. The word "Turf" was dropped from the title in 2015.
The race was upgraded to Group 1 from 2026 and reverted to its original name. Geldings are excluded from the Golden Fleece Stakes, which will now be run over 1 mile 1 furlong.
Records
Leading jockey (5 wins): Joseph O'Brien – Tenth Star (2011), Battle of Marengo (2012), Australia (2013), John F Kennedy (2014), Johannes Vermeer (2015)
Leading trainer (12 wins): Aidan O'Brien – Zoffany (2010), Tenth Star (2011), Battle of Marengo (2012), Australia (2013), John F Kennedy (2014), Johannes Vermeer (2015), Nelson (2017), Mogul (2019), Auguste Rodin (2022), Diego Velazquez (2023), Benvenuto Cellini (2025), Darkness Falls (2026)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time 2007 Bruges Niall McCullagh David Myerscough 1:34.60 2008 Ryehill Dreamer Wayne Lordan Tommy Stack 1:31.22 2009 Perfect Symmetry Keagan Latham Ger Lyons 1:28.39 2010 Zoffany Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien 1:27.89 2011 Tenth Star Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:27.96 2012 Battle of Marengo Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:38.68 2013 Australia Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:40.30 2014 John F Kennedy Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:38.44 2015 Johannes Vermeer Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:43.99 2016 Landfall Shane Foley Ken Condon 1:43.49 2017 Nelson Donnacha O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:47.35 2018 Madhmoon Chris Hayes Kevin Prendergast 1:41.00 2019 Mogul Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:42.59 2020 Cadillac Shane Foley Jessica Harrington 1:40.93 2021 Atomic Jones Colin Keane Ger Lyons 1:42.75 2022 Auguste Rodin Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:45.25 2023 Diego Velazquez Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:40.46 2024 Green Impact Shane Foley Jessica Harrington 1:39.52 2025 Benvenuto Cellini Christophe Soumillon Aidan O'Brien 1:42.35 2026 Darkness Falls Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:51.73 The 2009 running took place at Fairyhouse.
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races
Notes
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Juvenile Stakes (2018). pedigreequery.com – Golden Fleece Stakes – Leopardstown.