Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas
Group 1, Curragh 16:30
€500,000 guaranteed,
3yo only, 1m   
Saturday 23rd May 2026

1 Gstaad 4/11F
2 Distant Storm 5/1
3 Pacific Avenue 40/1
9 ran NR: Neolithic Distances: 3l, 1l, nk
Time: 1m 35.69s (fast by 1.01s)

Gstaad gained deserved compensation for his Newmarket disappointment by producing a dominant display at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien’s son of Starspangledbanner, a Royal Ascot and Breeders’ Cup winner at two, had found only George Boughey’s Bow Echo too strong in the English 2,000 Guineas earlier this month. Like Field Of Gold before him, he turned Rowley Mile silver into Curragh gold.

With Karl Burke’s Greenham Stakes winner Alparslan setting the pace alongside Power Blue, Gstaad travelled comfortably just off the leaders under Ryan Moore.

Moore asked the 4-11 favourite to make his move approaching the final quarter-mile and the response was immediate, with Gstaad producing a sharp turn of foot to surge three lengths clear of Charlie Appleby’s pair Distant Storm and Pacific Avenue.

Moore said: “He had a nice draw in eight really. He was sat out there on the wing, but he was comfortable and nothing was able to get in his way, so we kept things uncomplicated.

“I just kept asking him to creep forward from halfway and he has quite an extravagant stride, so when he gets the chance to use it he’s a very impressive horse.

“He deserved that because he’s been second a few times and he’s never run a bad race. Sometimes things just didn’t fall for him last year.

“He’s come back this season as a big, scopey horse and looks like he still has further progress in him.

“His mind is in an unbelievable place and there’s nobody better than Aidan at bringing that out in a horse. I remember him as a two-year-old and the confidence he’s developed is down to the trainer.”

O’Brien was recording a record-extending 13th victory in the Irish Classic and was delighted to see Gstaad add a top-level success at three to his high-class juvenile form.

He said: “He’s a lovely uncomplicated horse and Ryan gave him a beautiful ride. He’s very straightforward and genuine.

“Ryan said he was a little lazy through the middle of the race, but once he got him opened up he went to the line very strongly.

“He was beaten in three Group Ones last year and we felt he was a little unlucky in all three. We were delighted he held on and got his Group One in America.

“Sometimes horses don’t come back from those kinds of seasons, but we always felt there were reasons for his defeats.”

Looking ahead to a likely clash in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, O’Brien added: “Ryan said the best feel he’s ever given him was when he won the Coventry, so you’d hope he’ll be very happy returning to Ascot.

“Hopefully George’s horse comes and Francis’ horse comes. Let them all line up because that’s what racing is all about.

“We’d look forward to Ascot whatever happens. There should be plenty of pace and we’ll see what happens.”

O’Brien also suggested Gstaad could eventually tackle further distances, adding: “We think stepping up in trip won’t be a problem for him when the time comes.

“We always thought he had the profile of a Cox Plate horse, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before then.”

Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1)
1m, €500,000 guaranteed 
10 ran
Going: Good, Good to Yielding in places

1
 
8. Gstaad 3yo 9-2
Trainer: A P O'Brien · Jockey: Ryan Moore · SP: 4/11F
2
3
6. Distant Storm 3yo 9-2
Trainer: Charlie Appleby · Jockey: Billy Loughnane · SP: 5/1
3
1
5. Pacific Avenue 3yo 9-2
Trainer: Charlie Appleby · Jockey: Jamie Spencer · SP: 40/1
4
nk
7. Power Blue 3yo 9-2
Trainer: Robson De Aguiar · Jockey: David Egan · SP: 28/1
5
½
3. Alparslan 3yo 9-2
Trainer: K R Burke · Jockey: Sam James · SP: 11/1
6
hd
1. Thesecretadversary 3yo 9-2
Trainer: J A Stack · Jockey: Seamie Heffernan · SP: 14/1
7
9. Bamako Beach 3yo 9-2
Trainer: M D O'Callaghan · Jockey: Colin Keane · SP: 50/1
8
2. Take Charge Star 3yo 9-2
Trainer: J P Murtagh · Jockey: Ben Coen · SP: 50/1
9
5
4. Go Just Do It 3yo 9-2
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O'Brien · Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle · SP: 25/1

Previous Winners

2025 Field Of Gold
Age / Weight
3 / 9-2
Jockey
C T Keane
SP
1/1Fav
Trainer
John & Thady Gosden
Draw
9
2024 Rosallion
Age / Weight
3 / 9-2
Jockey
S M Levey
SP
10/11Fav
Trainer
Richard Hannon
Draw
6
2023 Paddington
Age / Weight
3 / 9-2
Jockey
R L Moore
SP
3/1
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
3
2022 Native Trail
Age / Weight
3 / 9-2
Jockey
W Buick
SP
2/5Fav
Trainer
Charlie Appleby
Draw
1
2021 Mac Swiney
Age / Weight
3 / 9-2
Jockey
R P Cleary
SP
8/1
Trainer
J S Bolger
Draw
1
2020 Siskin
Age / Weight
3 / 9-2
Jockey
C T Keane
SP
2/1Fav
Trainer
G M Lyons
Draw
2
2019 Phoenix Of Spain
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
J P Spencer
SP
16/1
Trainer
Charles Hills
Draw
1
2018 Romanised
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
S Foley
SP
25/1
Trainer
K J Condon
Draw
10
2017 Churchill
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
R L Moore
SP
4/9Fav
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
6
2016 Awtaad
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
C D Hayes
SP
9/2
Trainer
Kevin Prendergast
Draw
5
2015 Gleneagles
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
R L Moore
SP
2/5Fav
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
2
2014 Kingman
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
James Doyle
SP
4/5Fav
Trainer
John Gosden
Draw
1
2013 Magician
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
J P O'Brien
SP
10/3
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
3
2012 Power
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
J P O'Brien
SP
5/1
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
3
2011 Roderic O'Connor
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
J P O'Brien
SP
7/2
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
3
2010 Canford Cliffs
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
R Hughes
SP
9/4Fav
Trainer
R Hannon
Draw
5
2009 Mastercraftsman
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
J P Murtagh
SP
6/4Fav
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
6
2008 Henrythenavigator
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
J P Murtagh
SP
5/4
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
7
2007 Cockney Rebel
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
O Peslier
SP
6/4Fav
Trainer
G A Huffer
Draw
7
2006 Araafa
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
A Munro
SP
12/1
Trainer
Jeremy Noseda
Draw
8
2005 Dubawi
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
L Dettori
SP
7/4JFav
Trainer
Saeed Bin Suroor
Draw
7
2004 Bachelor Duke
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
S Sanders
SP
12/1
Trainer
James Toller
Draw
8
2003 Indian Haven
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
J F Egan
SP
8/1
Trainer
P W D'Arcy
Draw
3
2002 Rock Of Gibraltar
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
M J Kinane
SP
4/7Fav
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
4
2001 Black Minnaloushe
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
J P Murtagh
SP
20/1
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
9
2000 Bachir
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
L Dettori
SP
4/1
Trainer
Saeed Bin Suroor
Draw
3
1999 Saffron Walden
Age / Weight
3 / 9-0
Jockey
O Peslier
SP
12/1
Trainer
A P O'Brien
Draw
3

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