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
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Luxembourg | Ryan Moore / A P O'Brien | $10.10 / $3.00 |
| 5 | Onesto | Stephane Pasquier / F Chappet | $5.90 |
| 7 | Vadeni | Christophe Soumillon / J-C Rouget | $2.20 |
| 3 | Mishriff | Colin Keane / John & Thady Gosden | |
| 6 | Stone Age | Seamie Heffernan / A P O'Brien | |
| 1 | Alenquer | Tom Marquand / William Haggas | |
| 2 | Broome | Wayne 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
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Luxembourg | Ryan Moore / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:12.10 |
| 2021 | St Mark's Basilica | Ryan Moore / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:11.19 |
| 2020 | Magical | Seamie Heffernan / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:05.08 |
| 2019 | Magical | Ryan Moore / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:06.49 |
| 2018 | Roaring Lion | Oisin Murphy / John Gosden | 1 M & 2 F / 2:07.21 |
| 2017 | Decorated Knight | Andrea Atzeni / Roger Charlton | 1 M & 2 F / 2:08.36 |
| 2016 | Almanzor | Christophe Soumillon / Jean-Claude Rouget | 1 M & 2 F / 2:08.93 |
| 2015 | Golden Horn | Frankie Dettori / John Gosden | 1 M & 2 F / 2:05.41 |
| 2014 | The Grey Gatsby | Ryan Moore / Kevin Ryan | 1 M & 2 F / 2:03.18 |
| 2013 | The Fugue | William Buick / John Gosden | 1 M & 2 F / 2:05.22 |
| 2012 | Snow Fairy | Frankie Dettori / Ed Dunlop | 1 M & 2 F / 2:00.92 |
| 2011 | So You Think | Seamie Heffernan / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:04.20 |
| 2010 | Cape Blanco | Seamie Heffernan / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:04.29 |
| 2009 | Sea the Stars | Michael Kinane / John Oxx | 1 M & 2 F / 2:03.90 |
| 2008 | New Approach | Kevin Manning / Jim Bolger | 1 M & 2 F / 2:07.57 |
| 2007 | Dylan Thomas | Kieren Fallon / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:02.27 |
| 2006 | Dylan Thomas | Kieren Fallon / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:02.90 |
| 2005 | Oratorio | Kieren Fallon / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:03.90 |
| 2004 | Azamour | Michael Kinane / John Oxx | 1 M & 2 F / 2:01.90 |
| 2003 | High Chaparral | Michael Kinane / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:03.30 |
| 2002 | Grandera | Frankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor | 1 M & 2 F / 2:04.70 |
| 2001 | Fantastic Light | Frankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor | 1 M & 2 F / 2:01.80 |
| 2000 | Giant's Causeway | Michael Kinane / Aidan O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:03.10 |
| 1999 | Daylami | Frankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor | 1 M & 2 F / 2:08.40 |
| 1998 | Swain | Frankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor | 1 M & 2 F / 2:10.20 |
| 1997 | Pilsudski | Michael Kinane / Michael Stoute | 1 M & 2 F / 2:04.70 |
| 1996 | Timarida | Johnny Murtagh / John Oxx | 1 M & 2 F / 2:06.20 |
| 1995 | Pentire | Michael Hills / Geoff Wragg | 1 M & 2 F / 2:04.40 |
| 1994 | Cezanne | Michael Kinane / Michael Stoute | 1 M & 2 F / 2:07.90 |
| 1993 | Muhtarram | Willie Carson / John Gosden | 1 M & 2 F / 2:06.10 |
| 1992 | Dr Devious | John Reid / Peter Chapple-Hyam | 1 M & 2 F / 2:10.00 |
| 1991 | Suave Dancer | Cash Asmussen / John Hammond | 1 M & 2 F / 2:06.80 |
| 1990 | Elmaamul | Willie Carson / Dick Hern | 1 M & 2 F / 2:02.90 |
| 1989 | Carroll House | Michael Kinane / Michael Jarvis | 1 M & 2 F / 2:04.00 |
| 1988 | Indian Skimmer | Michael Roberts / Henry Cecil | 1 M & 2 F / 2:06.50 |
| 1987 | Triptych | Tony Cruz / Patrick Biancone | 1 M & 2 F / 2:06.70 |
| 1986 | Park Express | John Reid / Jim Bolger | 1 M & 2 F / 2:02.50 |
| 1985 | Commanche Run | Lester Piggott / Luca Cumani | 1 M & 2 F / 2:09.20 |
| 1984 | Sadler's Wells | Pat Eddery / Vincent O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:00.90 |
| 1983 | Stanerra | Brian Rouse / Frank Dunne | 1 M & 2 F / 2:09.50 |
| 1982 | Assert | Christy Roche / David O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:06.30 |
| 1981 | Kings Lake | Pat Eddery / Vincent O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:06.30 |
| 1980 | Gregorian | George McGrath / Vincent O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:07.80 |
| 1979 | Fordham | Tommy Carberry / Vincent O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:07.00 |
| 1978 | Inkerman | Lester Piggott / Vincent O'Brien | 1 M & 2 F / 2:05.20 |
| 1977 | North Stoke | Ron Hutchinson / John Dunlop | 1 M & 2 F / 2:09.20 |
| 1976 | Malacate | Lester Piggott / François Boutin | 1 M & 2 F / 2:07.60 |