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April 28, 2011

Goffs to Sponsor National Stakes at the Curragh

Goffs is the new title sponsor of the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh.  Consistently rated as the top two year old race in Europe, the €200,000 contest will be held on September 10 th and is part of a “Super Saturday” programme that also features The Irish Field St Leger.

First run in 1849, the National Stakes, Ireland’s premier race for two year olds, has been won by some true racing greats in the past including Sir Ivor and Santa Clause.  More recent winners include Goffs yearling graduates New Approach and Kingsfort, as well as Teofilo, George Washington and Sinndar, while 2000 Guineas contender Pathfork beat subsequent Group 1 winner and Goffs graduate Casamento in the race last year. 

Other previous winners purchased at Goffs include Danehill Dancer and Desert King, while another connection is His Story who won the race in 1959 trained by Sir Hugh Nugent, grandfather of Goffs’ auctioneer Nick Nugent.

The race, which is part of the Breeders Cup Challenge Series, has been associated with the memory of the legendary Vincent O’Brien since 2009, with the O’Brien Family presenting a perpetual trophy to the winning owner.

Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby added: 

“We are delighted to demonstrate our support of Irish racing at the highest level and continue our close association with The Curragh through the sponsorship of this world class Group 1 race on The Irish Field St Leger day.  The calibre of the Goffs National Stakes and its timing in mid September is a perfect fit for Goffs, offering a fantastic platform for our ongoing promotion of the Orby Sale”.

Paul Hensey, General Manager of the Curragh Racecourse commented,

“We are very grateful to Goffs for their continued support of the Curragh and look forward to working with them to continue to attract the very best 2 year olds in training to compete in the National Stakes. Goffs have been a very valued partner to the racecourse for many years having previously sponsored the Flying Five Stakes, the Goffs Millions and the Irish 1000 Guineas.”