Irish 2000 Guineas
Ireland | FEATURE RACE GUIDE
History
The Irish 2000 Guineas is a Group 1 race run under Set Weight conditions for three year old colts and fillies at the Curragh conducted by the Curragh Racecourse for Horse Racing Ireland.
The Irish 2000 Guineas is run over the mile. It was first run in 1921 and was won by Soldennis.
It is the second of the Guineas races, three weeks after the English version. They often pattern on to the St James's Palace Stakes.
The Irish 2000 Guineas is run on the round course.
Many a top stallion has this on the mantelpiece. None more so than the great Sadler's Wells from 1984.
Nine horses have done the English 2000 Guineas/Irish 2000 Guineas double - Churchill in 2017 the most recent to do so.
Leading trainer is Aidan O'Brien with an amazing 13 wins.
Most wins as a jockey are by Tommy Burns and Martin Quirke with five.
In 2021 the Futurity Trophy winner Mac Swiney beat home English 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare and the Criterium International winner Van Gogh.
Paddington won in 2023 and would go on to win the St James's Palace Stakes, Eclipse Stakes and Sussex Stakes.
The Irish 2000 Guineas was worth £500,000 in 2026.
Notable winners of the Irish 2000 Guineas include Gstaad (2026), Field Of Gold (2025), Paddington (2023), Native Trail (2022), Mac Swiney (2021), Siskin (2020), Churchill (2017), Gleneagles (2015), Kingman (2014), Canford Cliffs (2010), Mastercraftsman (2009), Henrythenavigator (2008), Cockney Rebel (2007), Dubawi (2005), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002), Desert King (1997), Spinning World (1996), Barathea (1993), Rodrigo De Triano (1992), Don't Forget Me (1987), Triptych (1985), Sadler's Wells (1984), Right Tack (1969), Santa Claus (1964) and Hard Ridden (1958).
The 2026 Irish 2000 Guineas was won by Gstaad from Distant Storm and Pacific Avenue.
Previous Irish 2000 Guineas Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
GSTAAD
(GB)
3C STARSPANGLEDBANNER (AUS) - MOSA MINE (GB) EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) |
RYAN MOORE | 58.0 | A P O'BRIEN | 8 |
|
|
FIELD OF GOLD
(IRE)
3C KINGMAN (GB) - PRINCESS DE LUNE (IRE) SHAMARDAL (USA) |
C T KEANE | 58.0 | JOHN & THADY GOSDEN | 9 |
|
|
ROSALLION
(IRE)
3C BLUE POINT (IRE) - ROSALINE (IRE) NEW APPROACH (IRE) |
S M LEVEY | 58.0 | RICHARD HANNON JR | 6 |
|
|
PADDINGTON
(GB)
3C SIYOUNI (FR) - MODERN EAGLE (GER) MONTJEU (IRE) |
RYAN MOORE | 58.0 | A P O'BRIEN | 3 |
|
|
NATIVE TRAIL
(GB)
3C OASIS DREAM (GB) - NEEDLELEAF (GB) OBSERVATORY (USA) |
WILLIAM BUICK | 58.0 | C APPLEBY | 1 |
|
|
MAC SWINEY
(IRE)
3C NEW APPROACH (IRE) - HALLA NA SAOIRE (IRE) TEOFILO (IRE) |
RORY CLEARY | 58.0 | J S BOLGER | 1 |
|
|
SISKIN
(USA)
3C FIRST DEFENCE (USA) - BIRD FLOWN (GB) OASIS DREAM (GB) |
C T KEANE | 58.0 | G M LYONS | 2 |
|
|
PHOENIX OF SPAIN
(IRE)
3C LOPE DE VEGA (IRE) - LUCKY CLIO (IRE) KEY OF LUCK (USA) |
J P SPENCER | 57.0 | C HILLS | 1 |
|
|
ROMANISED
(IRE)
3C HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (IRE) - ROMANTIC VENTURE (IRE) INDIAN RIDGE (IRE) |
SHANE FOLEY | 57.0 | KEN CONDON | 10 |
|
|
CHURCHILL
(IRE)
3C GALILEO (IRE) - MEOW (IRE) STORM CAT (USA) |
RYAN MOORE | 57.0 | A P O'BRIEN | 6 |
|
|
AWTAAD
(IRE)
3C CAPE CROSS (IRE) - ASHEERAH (GB) SHAMARDAL (USA) |
CHRIS HAYES | 57.0 | KEVIN PRENDERGAST | 5 |
|
|
GLENEAGLES
(IRE)
3C GALILEO (IRE) - YOU'RESOTHRILLING (USA) STORM CAT (USA) |
RYAN MOORE | 57.0 | A P O'BRIEN | 2 |
|
|
KINGMAN
(GB)
3C INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) - ZENDA (GB) ZAMINDAR (USA) |
JAMES DOYLE | 57.0 | JOHN GOSDEN | 1 |
|
|
MAGICIAN
(IRE)
3C GALILEO (IRE) - ABSOLUTELYFABULOUS (IRE) MOZART (IRE) |
J P O'BRIEN | 57.0 | A P O'BRIEN | 3 |
|
|
POWER
(GB)
3C OASIS DREAM (GB) - FRAPPE (IRE) INCHINOR (GB) |
J P O'BRIEN | 57.0 | A P O'BRIEN | 3 |
|
|
RODERIC O'CONNOR
(IRE)
3C GALILEO (IRE) - SECRET GARDEN (IRE) DANEHILL (USA) |
J P O'BRIEN | 57.0 | A P O'BRIEN | 3 |
|
|
CANFORD CLIFFS
(IRE)
3C TAGULA (IRE) - MRS MARSH (GB) MARJU (IRE) |
R HUGHES | 57.5 | R HANNON | 5 |
Related News
Gstaad deserves a race like the Irish 2000 Guineas
Master trainer Aidan O’Brien is searching for a record-extending 13th G1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m) when Gstaad lines up at the Curragh on Saturday (23 May).
Gstaad will look to claim Classic glory when he heads to the Curragh for the Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday.
Ryan Moore has been booked to ride Newmarket winner True Love in Sunday's Irish 1000 Guineas.
Aidan O'Brien has an excellent record in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes (2000m) and will likely be well-represented in his search of a fourth win in the last five seasons.
The Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m) is a momentous race in it's own right and often provides a launching pad for the best three-year-old 1600m colts to compete against their elders later in the season.
In the history of the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m), it has proven difficult for colts to achieve the English-Irish double, with only two three-year-olds completing the feat.
Plenty of quality in recent runnings of the Irish 2000 Guineas at Curragh on Saturday.
Will the Irish 1000 Guineas run at Curragh on Sunday be another big result for Ballydoyle?
Opera Ballo looks set to skip the Prix Aga Khan IV (Prix d'Ispahan) in favour of heading straight to Royal Ascot to take on stablemate Notable Speech in the Queen Anne Stakes next month.
Field Of Gold will miss his intended next target in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury after being treated for a bacterial infection.
Sam King is back with four selections on Saturday.
Opera Ballo benefitted from a masterclass front-running William Buick ride to see off a stellar line-up in the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown on Friday.
Sam King is back with three selections on Friday.
