15:25 Curragh (IRE) 18 Jul 2026
Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Sapphire Stakes
Group 2 | Class 1 | 3YO plus
Winner €78,000 - 10 ran
held up towards rear, 8th halfway, pushed along and short of room briefly under 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, 4th 1f out, disputed 100 yards out and soon led, kept on well
tracked leader, pushed along 2f out, ridden over 1f out, challenged early final furling and disputed 100 yards out, soon headed and no impression, kept on same pace
broke well and led, pushed along 2f out, ridden over 1f out, strongly pressed early final furlong, headed final 100 yards and soon 3rd, no impression, kept on one pace
a little awkward from stalls, held up in touch, 6th halfway, 5th when short of room briefly 2f out, ridden in 3rd 1f out, 4th and no impression final 100 yards, kept on one pace
dwelt, mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden in 5th and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along in 3rd halfway, ridden over 1f out and 6th 1f out, no extra
a little slowly away, soon tracked leaders, pushed along in 4th halfway, ridden in 7th 1f out, no extra
held up in touch, pushed along in 6th 2f out, ridden in 8th 1f out, weakened
a little awkward from stalls, always behind and never a factor, detached in rear after 1 1/2f, pushed along 2f out, reminder over 1f out, no extra
went left from stalls, mid-division early, pushed along in 9th halfway, ridden and weakened over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | €98.66 (2, 5) |
| Tricast | €411.39 (2, 5, 3) |
| Win | €8.00 (2) |
| Place | €1.40 (2), €4.25 (5), €1.70 (3) |
| Swinger | €6.55 (2, 3), €16.40 (2, 5), €9.95 (3, 5) |
| Exacta | €110.60 (2, 5) |
| Trifecta | €550.50 (2, 5, 3) |
Expert Analysis
A race dominated by the British raiders, their four runners producing the first four finishers, following on from a one-two in the early Scurry Handicap. In a well-run race, Cover Up reversed Royal Ascot form with Jakajaro and Rosy Affair.
COVER UP had been behind some of his rivals in the King Charles III Stakes but was coming off a break then while meeting trouble in running and came with a strong late run up the near rail to lead late on. He must improve to win a Group 1, but those races at sprint trips have been open in recent years and there is a chance he can do so.
PARTISAN HERO has improved markedly since dropping to sprint trips this year and looked well up to this level, doing best of those to race on the pace before being nabbed by a closer.
JAKAJARO has found consistency and improvement in 2026, again running his race from the front and only caught late on. An easier five furlongs may see him to best effect.
ROSY AFFAIR is another that has improved this season, and she backed up her fourth-place effort in the King Charles III here. She has option of reverting to her own sex and with all but one of her six wins having come over six furlongs, a race like the Balloygan Stakes at Naas in August could be a good target.
BRUSSELS ran his best race of the year, doing best of the Irish while also being caught out on the wing. He will need the British-trained horses to be absent to compete at Group level.
BUCANERO FUERTE has not been in the same form as last season.
HAVANA ANNA looked likely to be suited by the return to five furlongs but was not at her best.
IPANEMA QUEEN was flying high in his grade.
KENDALL ROY won a weak Listed race last time, but this was too tough.
CHARLES DARWIN has not gone on since a promising start to the season, well beaten in three starts since.
Video Highlights
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Replay: 15:25 Curragh 18th Jul 2026
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good | 8 | Arizona Blaze | 3 | 3 | 9 5 | - | 2-13162 | 29 days | A Murray (35 miles) | David Egan | 9/ 4 | 0:58.36 |
| 2024 | Good | 9 | Believing | 7 | 4 | 9 6 | - | 30-9144 | 28 days | G Boughey | Ryan Moore | EVENS | 0:57.96 |
| 2023 | Soft | 8 | Art Power | 5 | 6 | 9 9 | - | 66-8104 | 7 days | T D Easterby | David Allan | 6/ 5 | 1:00.92 |
| 2022 | Good | 9 | Ladies Church | 2 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 1132-20 | 29 days | J P Murtagh (3 miles) | Ben Coen | 12/ 1 | 1:00.86 |
| 2021 | Good | 8 | Mooneista | 7 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 1-321D6 | 29 days | J Davison (32 miles) | Colin Keane | 10/ 1 | 0:58.75 |
| 2020 | Good - Yielding | 7 | A'Ali | 6 | 3 | 9 5 | - | 1510-81 | 14 days | S & E Crisford | Colin Keane | EVENS | 0:59.85 |
| 2019 | Good to Firm | 9 | Soffia | 9 | 4 | 9 4 | - | 14-6211 | 44 days | E Lynam (32 miles) | Declan McDonogh | 6/ 1 | 0:58.51 |
| 2018 | Good to Firm | 7 | Havana Grey | 2 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 1122-56 | 57 days | K R Burke | P J McDonald | 10/ 1 | 0:58.21 |
| 2017 | Good to Firm | 6 | Caspian Prince | 6 | 8 | 9 8 | - | 375914 | 28 days | T Coyle & K Wood | Declan McDonogh | 10/ 1 | 0:57.15 |
| 2016 | Good - Yielding | 6 | Mecca's Angel | 1 | 5 | 9 4 | - | 1121-20 | 32 days | M Dods | Paul Mulrennan | 5/ 4 | 0:58.61 |
| 2015 | Good | 7 | Stepper Point | 7 | 6 | 9 7 | - | 9-94704 | 14 days | W R Muir | P J Smullen | 6/ 1 | 0:58.75 |
| 2014 | Good to Firm | 6 | Fountain Of Youth | 5 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 214-807 | 9 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Seamie Heffernan | 14/ 1 | 0:59.01 |
| 2013 | Good | 10 | Slade Power | 2 | 4 | 9 9 | - | 2118-37 | 7 days | E Lynam (32 miles) | Wayne Lordan | 11/ 4 | 0:57.51 |
| 2012 | Soft | 8 | Definightly | 5 | 6 | 9 7 | - | 2237-23 | 13 days | H & R Charlton | Johnny Murtagh | 13/ 8 | 1:02.13 |
| 2011 | Good | 6 | Invincible Ash | 3 | 6 | 9 4 | - | 525346 | 17 days | M Halford (3 miles) | Gary Carroll | 9/ 2 | 1:00.13 |
| 2010 | Good to Firm | 12 | Glamorous Spirit | 1 | 4 | 9 2 | - | 421204 | 8 days | R Harris | Kieren Fallon | 16/ 1 | 0:57.85 |
| 2009 | Good to Firm | 8 | Benbaun | 8 | 8 | 9 5 | - | 563-823 | 28 days | K A Ryan | P J Smullen | 5/ 1 | 1:00.03 |
| 2008 | Good to Soft | 8 | Tax Free | 3 | 6 | 9 7 | - | 3-52241 | 27 days | D Nicholls | Adrian Nicholls | 4/ 1 | 0:59.00 |
| 2007 | Good to Soft | 9 | Snaefell | 6 | 3 | 9 1 | - | 14-3642 | 14 days | M Halford (3 miles) | Johnny Murtagh | 16/ 1 | 1:02.97 |
| 2006 | Good to Firm | 8 | Dandy Man | 4 | 3 | 9 6 | - | 115-214 | 12 days | Mrs C Collins | P Shanahan | 5/ 4 | 0:58.40 |
