The Pretty Polly Stakes is a listed race for three-year-old fillies over a mile and a quarter. It takes place on 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket in late April or early May.
The Pretty Polly Stakes takes place on the 5th of May 2024.
It is a recognised trial for the Epsom Oaks with Taghrooda being the last filly to win both races in 2014.
Other notable winners of the Pretty Polly include Dunfermline (1977), Indian Skimmer (1987), All At Sea (1992), Ouija Board (2004) and Talent (2013).
Find out more about the Pretty Polly Stakes:
Contents
- 1 Race Overview – Pretty Polly Stakes
- 2 Pretty Polly Stakes Previous Winners
- 3 Pretty Polly Stakes Previous Result
- 4 Famous Pretty Polly Stakes Winners
- 5 Key Pretty Polly Stakes Trials
- 6 Pretty Polly Stakes Betting Trends
- 7 Pretty Polly Stakes – Top Trainers and Jockeys
- 8 Betting on the Pretty Polly Stakes
- 9 Popular Questions
- 10 Summary of the Pretty Polly Stakes
- 11 Guineas Festival Related Posts
Race Overview – Pretty Polly Stakes
The Pretty Polly Stakes is a listed racing event held on the third day of the 2025 Guineas Festival.
The race is named after Pretty Polly, the 1904 Triple Crown winner for fillies.
It was founded in 1962 and was first held at Newmarket’s mid-May meeting. In 1973, it was rescheduled for early May.
Pretty Polly Stakes Previous Winners
Here are the previous winners for the Pretty Polly Stakes.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Talent | Jim Crowley | Ralph Beckett |
| 2014 | Taghrooda | Paul Hanagan | John Gosden |
| 2015 | Jazzi Top | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden |
| 2016 | Swiss Range | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden |
| 2017 | Horseplay | David Probert | Andrew Balding |
| 2018 | Lah Ti Dar | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden |
| 2019 | Maqsad | Jim Crowley | William Haggas |
| 2020 | Run Wild[b] | Oisin Murphy | John Gosden |
| 2021 | Mystery Angel | Ben Curtis | George Boughey |
| 2022 | With The Moonlight | William Buick | Charlie Appleby |
| 2023 | Running Lion | Oisin Murphy | John and Thady Gosden |
Pretty Polly Stakes Previous Result
Check out the latest result from this race:
Famous Pretty Polly Stakes Winners
The Pretty Polly Stakes is named after the winner of the fillies’ Triple Crown in 1904. It was first run in 1962 and switched from mid-May to the Guineas fixture in 1973. Her Majesty The Queen’s Dunfermline went on to win the Epsom Oaks and the St Leger in 1977.
1987 winner Indian Skimmer won the French Oaks for Sir Henry Cecil. She won ten of her sixteen races including the English and Irish Champion Stakes in 1988. The same trainer won it in 1992 with All At Sea who started hot favourite for the Epsom Oaks but was runner-up to User Friendly. She did claim a Group 1 victory in the Prix du Moulin.
2004 winner Ouija Board would go on to be one of the greatest mares of modern times. Lord Derby’s daughter of Cape Cross won the English and Irish Oaks and famously won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf in 2004 and 2006. As a broodmare she produced the 2014 Epsom Derby winner Australia.
The Pretty Polly Stakes was won by subsequent Epsom Oaks winners in successive seasons in 2013 and 2014. Talent was a 20-1 shot at Epsom after winning here while Taghrooda was 5-1 third favourite. The latter would go on to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and was the world’s top-rated filly in 2014.
Key Pretty Polly Stakes Trials
As you would expect for a Classic trial, the form comes from various sources.
Maiden and Conditions races at Newmarket and Newbury produce the best results here. Although the race is likely to produce a leading Oaks fancy, only three fillies have gone on to win the Epsom Classic since Dunfermline in 1977.
Pretty Polly Stakes Betting Trends
There have been four winning favourites in the last ten renewals of the Pretty Polly Stakes; Taghrooda (2014), Swiss Range (2016), Lah Ti Dar (2018) and Maqsad (2019). None of them returned odds-on, although both Taghrooda and Lah Ti Dar were even money.
The longest-priced winner during that period was Talent at 11-1 in 2013.
Pretty Polly Stakes – Top Trainers and Jockeys
Sir Henry Cecil still leads the rankings as the most successful trainer in the Pretty Polly Stakes with eight wins; Flirtigig (1972), Cloonagh (1973), Sing Softly (1982), Sandy Island (1984), Indian Skimmer (1987), Sardegna (1990), All At Sea (1992) and Midnight Line (1998).
John Gosden is his nearest pursuer with six winners, all coming since 2009.
Frankie Dettori has a great record in this race with nine victories; Pricket (1996), Siyadah (1997), Melikah (2000), Mot Juste (2001), Hi Dubai (2003), Marie de Medici (2010), Jazzi Top (2015), Swiss Range (2016) and Lah Ti Dar (2018).
Betting on the Pretty Polly Stakes
The Pretty Polly Stakes is almost certain to have an impact on the ante-post betting for the Oaks, despite a patchy record in the Epsom Classic. A clear-cut winner is certainly worth noting, although it obviously cannot produce a Taghrooda or a Ouija Board every season!
If betting on the race check out the great offers on this page.
Popular Questions
Where is the Pretty Polly Stakes held?
The Pretty Polly Stakes is held on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket.
Summary of the Pretty Polly Stakes
Thank you for reading our Pretty Polly Stakes guide.
We have looked at previous winners, betting, tips and more, so you can find out all the information you need if looking to place a bet or simply watch the race.
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