The Balanchine (sometimes known as the Balanchine Stakes), is a horse race run over a distance of 1,800 metres (nine furlongs) on turf in February or March at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The race is named after Balanchine, a horse who won The Oaks and the Irish Derby in 1994. The race is restricted to female racehorses aged at least four years old, although three-year-olds bred in the southern hemisphere are also qualified.
It was first contested in 2004 at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse before being transferred to Meydan in 2010.
The Balanchine began as an ungraded race before being elevated to Listed class in 2006. The race was promoted to Group 3 level in 2009 and became a Group 2 event in 2011.
Records Record time: 1:47.64 - English Rose 2024
Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Christophe Soumillon 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 4 - William Buick 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
Most wins by a trainer: 6 - Charlie Appleby 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Most wins by an owner: 10 - Godolphin Racing 2004, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2004Gonfilia4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:48.702005 Moon Dazzle 4 Johnny Geroudis Mike de Kock Bernard Kantor1:49:802006Iridescence4Weichong MarwingMike de KockTeam Valor1:52.172007 Royal Alchemist 5 Kerrin McEvoy Ismail Mohammed Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:49:132008 Sun Classique 4Kevin SheaMike de Kock L Cohen & W V Rippon1:52:232009My Central5Johnny MurtaghHerman Brown Scuderia Siba1:51.092010Deem5Christophe SoumillonJerry BartonSultan Mohammed Saud Al Kabeer1:53.932011River Jetez7Christophe SoumillonMike de KockC A Amm & Marsh Shirtliff1:48.792012Mahbooba4Christophe SoumillonMike de KockMohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum1:50.272013Sajjhaa6Silvestre de SousaSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:48.582014L'Amour de Ma Vie5Maxime GuyonPia BrandtMD Bloodstock Limited1:50.552015Cladocera4Christophe SoumillonAlain de Royer DupreHaras de la Perelle1:50.742016Very Special4James DoyleSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:48.852017Opal Tiara4Oisin MurphyMick ChannonFilly Folly & Sweet Partnership1:49.722018Promising Run5Pat CosgraveSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:49.792019Poetic Charm4William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:49.602020Magic Lily5William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:47.652021Summer Romance4James DoyleCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:48.472022Creative Flair4William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:47.992023With The Moonlight4William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:49.472024English Rose4Mickael BarzalonaCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:47:642025Choisya5Mickael BarzalonaSimon & Ed CrisfordMohammed Al Nabouda1:48.782026Fairy Glen5Mickael BarzalonaSimon & Ed CrisfordSheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:49.89
See also List of United Arab Emirates horse races
References