Day 2: The Curragh

The Comer Group International Irish St. Leger

Opened up to allow older horses to compete in 1983, this race has been won by some truly great stayers with the older horses holding sway over their younger rivals on many occasions. Melbourne Cup winner Vintage Crop won the Irish St. Leger on the way to his historic triumph Australia in 1993 before scoring again 12 months later, while Oscar Schindler and two-time Ascot Gold Cup hero Kayf Tara were other dual winners. The brilliant Vinnie Roe won on four consecutive occasions (2001 - 2004) while the record breaking four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats triumphed in 2007.  More recently, there have been equally impressive winners with Brown Panther recording a six-and-a-half length win for Tom Dascombe in 2014 while Order Of St George raced clear in the straight to win the 2015 renewal by all of 11 lengths under Joseph O’Brien. However, he suffered a surprise defeat at odds of 1/7 favourite when losing out Wicklow Brave, a first Classic success for legendary National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins, in 2016 but regained his crown with an authoritative nine-length win the following year. Aidan O'Brien won the race again in 2018 with Flag Of Honour. Search For A Song won the Irish St Leger for trainer Dermot Weld for two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020. Sonnyboyliston delivered a resounding knockout blow to leave his rivals flat on the canvas and win in 2021, to cap a memorable Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes

Regarded as Ireland’s most important two-year-old race, legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien saddled the winner on no fewer than 15 occasions with victories from some true giants of the turf like Sir Ivor and Roberto. In more recent times, trainer Aidan O’Brien has come to the fore with winners such as Desert King, King Of Kings, George Washington, Mastercraftsman and Gleneagles. Gleneagles went on to win both the English 2,000 Guineas and the Irish equivalent the following year and win the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Air Force Blue made it 10 wins for O’Brien when running out a ready winner in 2015 and Ballydoyle’s dominance in the race was further emphasised in 2016 when Churchill ran out the easiest of winners. However, Jim Bolger sent out his fourth winner of the race when Verbal Dexterity beat the Gordon Elliott-trained Beckford to win the race in 2017 but the race went for export as Quorto scored for Charlie Appleby and owners Godolphin. Like the Moyglare Stud Stakes, the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes is run over seven furlongs. Thunder Moon won the race in 2020 for trainer Joseph O'Brien. Native Trail triumphed in the battle of the unbeaten two-year-olds in 2021 to hand trainer Charlie Appleby a Longines Irish Champions Weekend winner.

YOUNG DESIGNER AWARD

Longines Irish Champions Weekend is synonymous with style and will see a weekend of high fashion kicking off at Leopardstown on Saturday, September 10th and The Curragh on Sunday, September 11th.

Furthermore, the Longines Irish Champions Weekend Young Designer Award will take place on Sunday where three finalists will be showcasing their designs and the overall winner will be announced, chosen by a judging panel of Courtney, EVOKE editor Sybil Mulcahy and a Longines representative, so stay tuned to see the winner.

The St. Leger Restaurant

Situated on the top floor of the new Curragh grandstand, the St. Leger restaurant offers 3-course A la carte fine dining in the most stunning location Irish racing has to offer overlooking the race track and surrounding countryside. The St. Leger restaurant dining experience has received universal praise from guests and it is the ultimate VIP hospitality experience at a height of 20 meters above the racecourse. St. Leger bookings include reserved car parking and access to level 2 grandstand seating. For reservations contact [email protected]

The Curragh Picnic

The Curragh is delighted to announce the launch of the Curragh Picnic, a sharing gourmet picnic to be enjoyed by 2 people for just €49.00 (excluding admission). Click here to find out more, or to pre-purchase a picnic, click on the fixture you wish to attend, select your admission ticket and then add a picnic to your order basket. For tickets for all fixtures click here

GETTING TO THE CURRAGH

BY AIR

Ireland has five main ferry ports – Belfast, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Larne and Rosslare, and seven main airports - Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Knock, Shannon and Waterford. If travelling from Great Britain to Ireland by ferry, you can bring your car or go as a foot passenger.

Visit Ireland.com for more information. 

By Car
From Dublin take Exit 9 off the M50 onto the N7 southbound. Take Exit 12 off the M7. When you arrive, you’ll find plenty of free car parking. Visit the AA Roadwatch website for more travel information.

By Bus

The Curragh offer a free shuttle bus service from Newbridge, picking up at the train station and outside Riverbank Theatre and from Kildare, picking up at the train station and in the Square at the bus stop. This initiative is sponsored by Manguard Plus.

Expressway have a new direct bus return service from Dublin to The Curragh on race days – Busaras, Temple Bar (Wellington Quay), Heuston Station, Red Cow (Luas). To reserve your place, see expressway.ie.  Return €25, under 16s €18

There is plenty of free car parking at the venue

By Rail
Mainline trains from Heuston Station (Dublin), Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway to Kildare Town with complimentary shuttle bus to the racecourse. Call Iarnród Éireann at: +353 (0) 1 836 6222.