The Pretty Polly Stakes is a

Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N * Group On ...

flat Flat or flats may refer to: Architecture * Flat (housing), an apartment in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and other Commonwealth countries Arts and entertainment * Flat (music), a symbol () which denotes a lower pitch * Flat (soldier), ...

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

in Ireland open to

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

fillies A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...

and

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...

s aged three years or older. It is run at the

Curragh The Curragh ( ; ga, An Currach ) is a flat open plain of almost of common land in County Kildare. This area is well known for Irish horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is located on the edge of Kildare town, beside the ...

over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.

History

The event is named after

Pretty Polly Pretty Polly may refer to: * "Pretty Polly" (ballad) * ''Pretty Polly'' (film) * ''Pretty Polly'' (opera) * Pretty Polly (horse) Pretty Polly (March 1901 – 17 August 1931) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and bro ...

, a successful filly foaled in Ireland in 1901. It was originally restricted to fillies aged three, but it was later opened to older horses. For a period it was classed at Group 2 level, and it was promoted to Group 1 status in 2004. The Pretty Polly Stakes was part of the

Breeders' Cup Challenge The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of Thoroughbred horse races in which the winner earns an automatic spot in a specified Breeders' Cup race. The challenge races change somewhat each year. The Challenge series began in 2007 with 24 "Win and Yo ...

series from 2009 to 2012. The winner earned an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Champion ...

. The race is currently held on the final day of the Curragh's three-day

Irish Derby The Irish Derby (Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 ...

meeting.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins): * Dance Design – ''1996, 1997'' *

Alexander Goldrun Alexander Goldrun (foaled 9 February 2001 in Ireland) is a retired Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorse. Bred by Dermot Cantillon, she was raced by Mrs. Noel O'Callaghan for whom she compiled a race record of 10 wins, seven seconds, and six th ...

– ''2005, 2006'' Leading

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

since 1950 (3 wins): *

Liam Ward Liam Ward (18 May 1930 – 4 October 2022) was an Irish jockey who competed in flat racing. He was Irish flat racing Champion Jockey six times and rode for leading trainers Paddy Prendergast and Vincent O'Brien. He was particularly noted for rid ...

– ''Atlantida (1956), Iskereen (1967), Rimark (1968)'' *

Bill Williamson William James Williamson (19 December 1922 – 28 January 1979) was an Australian jockey who enjoyed considerable success in Australia during the 1950s and in Europe during the 1960s. He was named after his father William James Williamson, a m ...

– ''Icy Look (1961), Hibernia (1963), Pidget (1972)'' *

Johnny Roe Johnny Roe (26 March 1938 – 23 April 2017)Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott (5 November 1935 – 29 May 2022) was an English professional jockey and trainer. With 4,493 career flat racing wins in Britain, including a record nine Epsom Derby victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest f ...

– ''Mariel (1971), Godetia (1979), Calandra (1980)'' * Christy Roche – ''Alydar's Best (1985), Fleur Royale (1986), Noora Abu (1989)'' *

Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane (born 22 June 1959, Killenaule, County Tipperary) is an Irish former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009. A prolific winner of the Irish, English and French Classic race ...

– ''Market Booster (1992), Dance Design (1996, 1997)'' *

Seamie Heffernan James Anthony "Seamie" Heffernan (born 17 July 1972) is an Irish flat racing jockey who rides mainly for horse racing trainer Aidan O'Brien. From a family with no racing connections Heffernan was introduced to the sport when he took a summer ho ...

- ''Misty For Me (2011), Diamondsandrubies (2015), Magical (2020)'' Leading trainer since 1950 (7 wins): *

Vincent O'Brien Vincent O'Brien (9 April 1917 – 1 June 2009) was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history in a worldwide poll hosted by the ''Racing Post''. In ...

– ''Little Mo (1959), Ancasta (1964), Iskereen (1967), Rimark (1968), Godetia (1979), Calandra (1980), Dark Lomond (1988)'' Leading owner since 1978 (5 wins) includes joint wins: * Susan Magnier - ''Peeping Fawn (2007), Misty For Me (2011), Diamondsandrubies (2015), Minding (2016), Magical (2020)''

Winners since 1978

Earlier winners

* 1948: Cobaltic * 1949: Circus Lady * 1950: Lonely Maid * 1951: Ash Plant * 1952: Nashua * 1953: Northern Gleam * 1954: Belle Collette * 1955: Free Model * 1956: Atlantida * 1957: After the Show * 1958: Owenello * 1959: Little Mo * 1960: Young Empress * 1961: Icy Look * 1962: Tropic Star * 1963: Hibernia * 1964: Ancasta * 1965: Messene * 1966: Black Gold * 1967: Iskereen * 1968: Rimark * 1969: Borana * 1970: Place d'Etoile * 1971: Mariel * 1972:

Pidget Pidget (1969 – after 1984) was a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In 1972 she completed a unique double when she won both the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Irish St Leger. After showing some promise when winni ...

* 1973: Hurry Harriet * 1974: Northern Gem * 1975: Miss Toshiba * 1976: Lady Singer * 1977: Claire's Slipper

References

* Paris-Turf: **, , , , *

Racing Post ''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting publisher which is published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 6 ...

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galopp-sieger.de
– ''Pretty Polly Stakes.''
horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Pretty Polly Stakes (2018).''

– ''Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Pretty Polly Stakes – Curragh.'' {{Race Meeting, Irish Derby Festival, Turf Flat races in Ireland Curragh Racecourse Middle distance horse races for fillies and mares

History

Records

Winners since 1978

Earlier winners

See also

References