Irish Champion Stakes

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series > Irish Champion Stakes

Irish Champion Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland
  • Inaugural Race: 1976
  • Distance: 1 mile & 2 furlongs (2,012 metres)
  • Track Type: Left-handed, Turf
  • Age Qualifications: Three Year Olds and up
  • 2022 Purse: €1,000,000
  • 2022 Race Date: Saturday, September 10th

2022 Irish Champion Stakes Race Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE
4LuxembourgRyan Moore / A P O'Brien$10.10 / $3.00
5OnestoStephane Pasquier / F Chappet$5.90
7VadeniChristophe Soumillon / J-C Rouget$2.20
3MishriffColin Keane / John & Thady Gosden
6Stone AgeSeamie Heffernan / A P O'Brien
1AlenquerTom Marquand / William Haggas
2BroomeWayne Lordan / A P O'Brien

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1.00 Exacta (4-5) Paid: $60.20
  • $0.50 Trifecta (4-5-7) Paid: $85.85
  • $1.00 Superfecta (4-5-7-3) Paid: $257.60

Watch the 2022 Irish Champion Stakes

Irish Champion Stakes Race History

The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group I horse race run each year at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, Ireland. The race was first inaugurated in 1976 as the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes, a well known and successful racehorse owner who helped establish the notorious Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstakes.

The race has established itself as a key prep race for several other major global races like the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Hong Kong International Festival and major Group 1 races in Japan. As a result, the race is known for attracting some of the best three-year olds (and up) in the world. This was no more apparent than the 2016 edition, with 12 of the 17 horses lining up sharing 17 career Group 1 wins collectively. In fact, four runners would go on to capture additional Group 1 wins that year, including the winners of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Currently, two horses are tied for the record for most wins at two: Dylan Thomas (2006, 2007) and Magical (2019, 2020). Legendary Irish rider Michael Kinane holds the record for most wins by a Jockey with seven (1989, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2009).

In 2009, the race became part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, offering the winners automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Irish Champion Stakes Past Winners

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerDistance / Time
2022LuxembourgRyan Moore / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:12.10
2021St Mark's BasilicaRyan Moore / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:11.19
2020MagicalSeamie Heffernan / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:05.08
2019MagicalRyan Moore / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:06.49
2018Roaring LionOisin Murphy / John Gosden1 M & 2 F / 2:07.21
2017Decorated KnightAndrea Atzeni / Roger Charlton1 M & 2 F / 2:08.36
2016AlmanzorChristophe Soumillon / Jean-Claude Rouget1 M & 2 F / 2:08.93
2015Golden HornFrankie Dettori / John Gosden1 M & 2 F / 2:05.41
2014The Grey GatsbyRyan Moore / Kevin Ryan1 M & 2 F / 2:03.18
2013The FugueWilliam Buick / John Gosden1 M & 2 F / 2:05.22
2012Snow FairyFrankie Dettori / Ed Dunlop1 M & 2 F / 2:00.92
2011So You ThinkSeamie Heffernan / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:04.20
2010Cape BlancoSeamie Heffernan / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:04.29
2009Sea the StarsMichael Kinane / John Oxx1 M & 2 F / 2:03.90
2008New ApproachKevin Manning / Jim Bolger1 M & 2 F / 2:07.57
2007Dylan ThomasKieren Fallon / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:02.27
2006Dylan ThomasKieren Fallon / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:02.90
2005OratorioKieren Fallon / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:03.90
2004AzamourMichael Kinane / John Oxx1 M & 2 F / 2:01.90
2003High ChaparralMichael Kinane / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:03.30
2002GranderaFrankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor1 M & 2 F / 2:04.70
2001Fantastic LightFrankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor1 M & 2 F / 2:01.80
2000Giant's CausewayMichael Kinane / Aidan O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:03.10
1999DaylamiFrankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor1 M & 2 F / 2:08.40
1998SwainFrankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor1 M & 2 F / 2:10.20
1997PilsudskiMichael Kinane / Michael Stoute1 M & 2 F / 2:04.70
1996TimaridaJohnny Murtagh / John Oxx1 M & 2 F / 2:06.20
1995PentireMichael Hills / Geoff Wragg1 M & 2 F / 2:04.40
1994CezanneMichael Kinane / Michael Stoute1 M & 2 F / 2:07.90
1993MuhtarramWillie Carson / John Gosden1 M & 2 F / 2:06.10
1992Dr DeviousJohn Reid / Peter Chapple-Hyam1 M & 2 F / 2:10.00
1991Suave DancerCash Asmussen / John Hammond1 M & 2 F / 2:06.80
1990ElmaamulWillie Carson / Dick Hern1 M & 2 F / 2:02.90
1989Carroll HouseMichael Kinane / Michael Jarvis1 M & 2 F / 2:04.00
1988Indian SkimmerMichael Roberts / Henry Cecil1 M & 2 F / 2:06.50
1987TriptychTony Cruz / Patrick Biancone1 M & 2 F / 2:06.70
1986Park ExpressJohn Reid / Jim Bolger1 M & 2 F / 2:02.50
1985Commanche RunLester Piggott / Luca Cumani1 M & 2 F / 2:09.20
1984Sadler's WellsPat Eddery / Vincent O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:00.90
1983StanerraBrian Rouse / Frank Dunne1 M & 2 F / 2:09.50
1982AssertChristy Roche / David O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:06.30
1981Kings LakePat Eddery / Vincent O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:06.30
1980GregorianGeorge McGrath / Vincent O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:07.80
1979FordhamTommy Carberry / Vincent O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:07.00
1978InkermanLester Piggott / Vincent O'Brien1 M & 2 F / 2:05.20
1977North StokeRon Hutchinson / John Dunlop1 M & 2 F / 2:09.20
1976MalacateLester Piggott / François Boutin1 M & 2 F / 2:07.60