Prize-money up at Champions Weekend

Further prize-money increases have been confirmed for the second day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend, to be held at the Curragh on Sunday 11 September.

The Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger will now be worth €400,000, double its value in 2013, while the Moyglare Stud Stakes will now be worth €350,000 an increase of €125,000 since 2013.

Jason Morris, Director of Racing at Horse Racing Ireland, said: “It is very pleasing that five of the Curragh’s races will see enhanced prize-money of €50,000 each this year, with the total value of the eight Curragh races on Longines Irish Champions Weekend rising by €250,000 from €1.900m to €2.150m in 2016. HRI is very grateful to the respective sponsors for their increased contributions in these races and is delighted to be providing matched funding to achieve the new higher levels of prize-money. This underlines our commitment to a meeting which has quickly established itself as a feature on the international racing calendar.”

The Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger was won last year by Order Of St George in impressive style, a performance which earned him the official title of Top Stayer in the World for 2015 making him the highest-rated 3yo in Ireland.

Luke Comer, owner of Palmerstown House Estate, commented: “We have enjoyed an excellent partnership with the Curragh as title sponsors of the Irish St. Leger since 2014 and we are delighted to enhance our commitment to the race by helping to increase the prize-money which will ensure it continues to attract the best staying horses in Europe and to be one of the most lucrative Group 1 races in the racing calendar.”

The Moyglare Stud Stakes was won by the European Champion 2yo filly Minding last year, who subsequently won The Dubai Fillies Mile at Newmarket and is currently favourite for the English 1000 Guineas.

Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner, Moyglare Stud, said: "I am very happy to support the prize-money increase to €350,000 for the 44th consecutive Moyglare Stud Stakes to be run at the Curragh on Longines Irish Champions Weekend in September. As the status of the Moyglare Stud Stakes grows, this can only be enhanced by the exciting plans for the future of the "new" Curragh Racecourse."

Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager of the Curragh Racecourse, said: “We are very grateful to our sponsors for their commitment and support of Longines Irish Champions Weekend and for working closely with us so that we can continue to grow the stature and prestige of the event.”