- Tattersalls extend support of first two Irish Classics and the Gold Cup for a further three years
- Total prize money for all three Group 1 races to be €1.5 million
- Tattersalls continue to sponsor enhanced Owners and Trainers facilities at the Curragh.
- Exciting line up for 2025 renewal in prospect
The Curragh is pleased to announce that Tattersalls, Europe’s leading bloodstock auctioneers, will continue as the title sponsors of the prestigious Irish Guineas Festival from 2026 until 2028, strengthening Tattersalls’ longstanding commitment to the Irish racing and breeding industry. The partnership ensures that the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Irish 1,000 Guineas, and the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup will offer total prize money of at least €500,000 each.
Edmond Mahony, Chairman of Tattersalls said: “Tattersalls have been longstanding supporters of Irish racing and the Curragh Racecourse, having sponsored the Tattersalls Gold Cup since 1985 and the Irish 2000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas since 2013 and 2015 respectively. The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival is one of the great weekends of racing within the European Flat scene and these sponsorships reflect Tattersalls’ enduring support of Irish racing and breeding. Tattersalls are proud to extend our association with this flagship sponsorship to 2028 and we now look forward to an outstanding weekend of racing and to working with the Curragh Racecourse for the next three years.”
A star-studded line up is expected to feature in all three races with entries for the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas including recent Coolmore Stud Tetrarch Stakes winner Officer, together with Henri Matisse, Twain and Camille Pissaro, who are all among potential runners trained by Aidan O’Brien. Impressive recent Newmarket winner Cosmic Year, together with Field of Gold, Hotazhell, Rashabar and Scorthy Champ, are also all likely contenders for the Group 1 contest.
The connections of recent winners City of Memphis and Atsila have indicated that they could be supplemented into the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas and join the Ollie Sangster trained pair of Flight and Simmering who finished second and third in the English 1000 Guineas and the Archie Watson trained Duty First, together with impressive Leopardstown Group 3 winner Swelter and last year’s Champion two-year-old filly Lake Victoria and the Dermot Weld trained Swelter
This year’s Tattersalls Gold Cup promises to attract some of the highest rated middle-distance horses in Europe with Kalpana, Los Angeles, White Birch, Anmaat and Ghostwriter all likely runners.
Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of The Curragh Racecourse, added, “The continued support of Tattersalls is integral to the success of the Irish Guineas Weekend, and we are delighted to extend our partnership with them as title sponsor. Tattersalls is synonymous with excellence in the world of thoroughbred racing and breeding, and their backing elevates this important fixture in the international racing calendar helping us to attract the very best horses to compete in all three Group 1 races. Tattersalls are a pleasure to work with and the partnership is highly valued here at the Curragh”
The three-day festival takes place this year from 23rd to 25th May and promises top-class racing, fashion, food, and entertainment, drawing racing fans and social attendees alike to the heart of County Kildare. With Tattersalls’ support, this year’s festival is set to be one of the most exciting and competitive in recent memory.
Tattersalls has also agreed to renew their sponsorship of facilities for owners and trainers at the Curragh with the aim of working closely with the racecourse to enhance the race day experience for all owners with a runner at the racecourse.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Jason Singh – Associate Director of Marketing Tattersalls Mobile + 44 7879421010, Email [email protected]
Evan Arkwright, Racing and Sponsorship Manager, The Curragh [email protected]