The Blue Riband Trial Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 17 yards (2,027 metres) at Epsom in April.
| Listed race | |
| Location | Epsom Downs Epsom, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1937 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | Betfred |
| Website | Epsom Downs |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1m 2f 17y (2,027 m) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | 9 st 3 lb Allowances 5 lb for fillies Penalties 5 lb for Group 1 or 2 winners 3 lb for Group 3 or Listed winners |
| Purse | £50,000 (2024) 1st: £28,355 |
| Bonuses | Wildcard Derby entry |
| 2024 | ||
 |  |  |
| Bellum Justum | Defiance | Chief Little Rock |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
 |  |  |
| Epictetus | Hadrianus | Cite D'Or |
| 2022 | ||
 |  |  |
| Nahanni | Grand Alliance | Zain Sarinda |
| 2021 | ||
|  |  |
| Wirko | Technique | Uncle Bryn |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
|  |  |
| Cape Of Good Hope | Cap Francais | Turgenev |
| 2018 | ||
 |  |  |
| Crossed Baton | My Lord And Master | Dee Ex Bee |
| 2017 | ||
 | | |
| Cracksman | Permian | Bay Of Poets |
| 2016 | ||
 |  |  |
| So Mi Dar | Humphrey Bogart | Viren's Army |
| 2015 | ||
 | |  |
| Christophermarlowe | Future Empire | Sharp Sailor |
| 2014 | ||
 | |  |
| Our Channel | Marzocco | Stars Over The Sea |
| 2013 | ||
 |  |  |
| Mirsaale | Another Cocktail | Gabrial's Kaka |
| 2012 | ||
 |  |  |
| Goldoni | Mister Music | Cameron Highland |
| 2011 | ||
| |  |
| Slumber | Borug | Planet Waves |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
 |  | |
| Dreamspeed | Prompter | Togiak |
| 2009 | ||
| |  |
| Debussy | Midday | Popmurphy |
| 2008 | ||
 |  |  |
| Curtain Call | Drill Sergeant | Bold Choice |
| 2007 | ||
|  |  |
| Raincoat | Dubai Twilight | Spirit of The Mist |
| 2006 | ||
 |  |  |
| Before You Go | Hanoona | Sienna Storm |
| 2005 | ||
|  |  |
| Hallhoo | Elliots World | Love Palace |
| 2004 | ||
 |  |  |
| Bull Run | Bowstring | Mutafanen |
| 2003 | ||
 | |  |
| Franklins Gardens | Gala Sunday | Silver Gilt |
| 2002 | ||
 |  |  |
| Swing Wing | Mine Host | Savannah Bay |
| 2001 | ||
| |  |
| Storming Home | Tamiami Trail | Black Knight |
| 2000-1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| |  |
| Eternal Spring | Modish | Galleon Beach |
| 1999 | ||
 |  |  |
| Daliapour | Lightning Arrow | Helvetius |
| 1998 | ||
 |  |  |
| The Glow-Worm | Achilles | Dashing Chief |
| 1997 | ||
 |  |  |
| Palio Sky | Papua | Mister Pink |
| 1991 | ||
 |  | |
| Fair Average | Persianalli | Redden Burn |
| 1990-1988 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
|  | |
| Eton Lad | Lifewatch Vision | Mutah |
| 1989 | ||
 |  | |
| Shining Steel | Dawn Success | Tatsfield |
| 1988 | ||
| | |
| Shuja | St Cadoc | Ilishpour |
History
Established in 1937, the Blue Riband Trial Stakes replaced a previous event called the Nonsuch Plate.[1] It was originally contested over 1 mile and 110 yards.[2]
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Blue Riband Trial Stakes was given Group 3 status. It was relegated to Listed level in 1986, and it later became an ungraded conditions race.
The Blue Riband Trial Stakes was discontinued for several years in the mid-1990s. It returned in 1997, and from this point its distance was 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards. It was cut to 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 18 yards in 1999.
The race was renamed the Investec Derby Trial in 2010, when the banking group Investec took over the sponsorship. The race reverted to its original name of Blue Riband Trial from the 2018 running.
The event can serve as a trial for The Derby (flat racing's "Blue Riband"). It was upgraded to Listed status again in 2018.[3]
The last winner of the trial to achieve victory in the Derby was Blue Peter in 1939.
Records
Leading jockey since 1970 (5 wins):
- Frankie Dettori - Christophermarlowe (2015), So Mi Dar (2016), Cracksman (2017), Crossed Baton (2018), Epictetus (2023)
Leading trainer since 1970 (7 wins):
- John Gosden - Raincoat (2007), Debussy (2009), Christophermarlowe (2015), So Mi Dar (2016), Cracksman (2017), Crossed Baton (2018), Epictetus (2023)
Winners since 1970
Earlier winners
- 1937: Printer
- 1938: Chatsworth
- 1939: Blue Peter
- 1940–46: no race
- 1947: Combat
- 1948: King's Counsel
- 1949: Grani
- 1950: Port o'Light
- 1951: Zucchero
- 1952: Castleton
- 1953: Premonition
- 1954: Ambler II
- 1955: Sierra Nevada
- 1956: Monterey
- 1957: Tempest
- 1958: Miner's Lamp
- 1959: My Aladdin
- 1960: Vienna
- 1961: No Fiddling
- 1962: Cyrus
- 1963: The Bo'sun
- 1964: Minor Portion
- 1965: Cambridge
- 1966: Pretendre
- 1967: Starry Halo
- 1968: Society
- 1969: Caliban
See also
References
- Paris-Turf:
- Racing Post:
- galopp-sieger.de – Blue Riband Trial Stakes.
- pedigreequery.com – Blue Riband Trial Stakes – Epsom.