Flying Five Stakes

The Flying Five Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for three year olds and up at the Curragh conducted by the Curragh Racecourse for Horse Racing Ireland.

The Flying Five Stakes is run over the five furlongs as the name suggests. It is the only Group 1 sprint for older horses in Ireland.

Two year olds used to be able to run in it but from 2003 it became a 3yo and up event.

The race used to be held at Phoenix Park but moved to Leopardstown in 1991. It was moved once more to the Curragh in 2002.

After being a Listed race it went to Group 3 in 1998 and Group 2 in 2002. Then in 2004 it was back to Group 3.

The Flying Five Stakes was run a month earlier in the past but switched with the Renaissance Stakes and joined the Irish St Leger, Moyglare Stud Stakes and National Stakes as Group 1s on Irish Champions weekend.

As a result in 2015 it was Group 2 again before going to Group 1 in 2018.

One of the best winners of the Flying Five was recently as Caravaggio scored as a 3yo. He'd won the Commonwealth Cup earlier in the preparation.

Benbaun won the race three times in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He was a highly consistent international traveller over a long period of time and notably missed Takeover Target by a nose in the King's Stand in 2006.

In 2022 Highfield Princess became the domestic sprinting queen winning the Prix Maurice De Gheest, Nunthorpe and Flying Five.

Most wins as a jockey was with Michael Kinane with six victories. Dermot Weld has won it five times as a trainer.

The Flying Five Stakes was worth €400,000 in 2023.

Notable winners of the Flying Five Stakes include Highfield Princess (2022), Glass Slippers (2020), Caravaggio (2017), Sole Power (2015), Reverence (2009), Benbaun (2005/2006/2007), Ishiguru (2001), Tedburrow (1998/1999), Tropical (1993/1994), Flowing (1991/1992), Handsome Sailor (1989) and Committed (1985).

The 2023 Flying Five Stakes was won by Moss Tucker from Get Ahead and Equality.