The Henry II Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 2 miles and 50 yards (3,264 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late May.

Henry II Stakes
Group 3 race
LocationSandown Park
Esher, England
Inaugurated1963
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorChasemore Farm
WebsiteSandown Park
Race information
Distance2m 50y (3,264m)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight9 st 3 lb (4yo);
9 st 4 lb (5yo+)
Allowances
3 lb for fillies and mares
Penalties
7 lb for Group 1 winners *
5 lb for Group 2 winners *
3 lb for Group 3 winners *
* since 31 August last year
Purse£80,000 (2024)
1st: £45,368
Henry II Stakes
2024
Pink, white sleeves White, royal blue cross belts, royal blue and white striped sleeves Yellow, royal blue cross belts, royal blue and yellow chevrons on sleeves, royal blue cap
Sweet William Caius Chorister Trueshan
Previous years
2023
Emerald green, white diamonds on sleeves, white cap Dark blue, light blue epaulets, dark blue and orange striped sleeves, orange cap Orange and yellow check, orange sleeves, yellow cap
Roberto Escobarr Nate The Great Sleeping Lion
2022
Pale blue, campbell tartan hooped sleeves, royal blue cap Dark blue, light blue epaulets, dark blue and orange striped sleeves, orange cap White, emerald green cross of lorraine, armlets and cap
Quickthorn Nate The Great Rodrigo Diaz
2021
Yellow, light blue spots, yellow sleeves, light blue cap Black, gold cross and stripe on cap Emerald green, red disc, emerald green sleeves, red stars, emerald green cap, red spots
Lismore Ranch Hand Ocean Wind
2020-2010
2020
White, emerald green hoops, dark blue sleeves and cap Emerald green, maroon chevron, maroon cap Royal blue
Dashing Willoughby Spanish Mission Cross Counter
2019
Silver, tassel on cap Red, red and royal blue check cap Lime green, royal blue epaulets and cap
Dee Ex Bee Mekong Austrian School
2018
Grey, beige star, grey sleeves, beige stars and stars on cap Light blue and red diamonds, light blue sleeves, red cap, light blue diamond Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves
Magic Circle Red Verdon Weekender
2017
Yellow, black and yellow striped sleeves, white cap Beige and light blue stripes, light blue cap Mauve, purple armlets
Big Orange Higher Power She Is No Lady
2016
Claret, gold braid, claret sleeves, claret cap, gold tassel Grey, beige star, grey sleeves, beige stars and stars on cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap
Pallasator Suegioo Max Dynamite
2015
Royal blue and yellow diabolo, yellow sleeves, royal blue cap Dark blue, red epaulets, armlets and cap Royal blue, yellow triple diamond, striped sleeves, yellow cap, royal blue star
Vent De Force Trip To Paris Aussie Reigns
2014
Turquoise, dark blue cap Royal blue, yellow striped sleeves, royal blue cap, yellow star Light blue and orange diamonds, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, orange star
Brown Panther High Jinx Whiplash Willie
2013
Grey, maroon stars, grey cap, maroon star Red, black star, red sleeves, white stars, red cap, black star Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves
Gloomy Sunday Number Theory Model Pupil
2012
Royal blue Dark blue, gold hoops, white sleeves and cap Pink, dark blue triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves
Opinion Poll Ibicenco Chiberta King
2011
Light blue and grey stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap Royal blue, yellow epaulets, royal blue and white striped sleeves, royal blue cap, yellow star Royal blue
Blue Bajan Montaff Holberg
2010-2001
2010
Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap Pale blue, white and yellow check cap Royal blue
Akmal Saptapadi Darley Sun
2009
Yellow, dark green epaulets, dark green sleeves, yellow armlets, yellow cap, dark green star Pale blue, white and yellow check cap Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap
Geordieland Patkai Tastahil
2008
White, Red braces, White sleeves, Red stars and stars on cap Grey, Pink epaulets, quartered cap Maroon, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, maroon diamond
Finalmente Balkan Knight Royal And Regal
2007
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Grey, pink epaulets, quartered cap Emerald Green and Royal Blue (halved horizontally), Blue sleeves, Emerald Green cap
Allegretto Balkan Knight Bulwark
2006
Black, light blue armlets Royal blue, white cross belts, royal blue sleeves, red armlets, white cap Emerald Green, Red sash, Yellow sleeves and cap
Tungsten Strike Winged d'Argent Barolo
2005
Royal blue Chocolate, Gold braid and sleeves, quartered cap Dark green, yellow hoop and armlets, checked cap
Fight Your Corner Lochbuie Alcazar
2004
Royal blue Yellow, mauve spots, yellow sleeves Royal blue, white cap
Papineau Mr Dinos New South Wales
2003
Yellow, mauve spots, yellow sleeves White, green sleeves, orange cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Mr Dinos Pole Star Kasthari
2002
Royal blue, white spots, white sleeves, royal blue armlet, white cap, royal blue spots Dark blue, white cross-belts and sleeves, white cap, dark blue spots Purple, light blue chevron, light blue cap
Akbar Invermark Persian Punch
2001
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Eton Blue Purple, light blue chevron, light blue cap
Solo Mio Romantic Affair Persian Punch
2000-1991
2000
Purple, light blue chevron, light blue cap Red and white hoops, striped sleeves and cap Yellow, Dark Blue disc
Persian Punch Churlish Charm Arctic Owl
1999
Yellow, Dark Blue disc Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Arctic Owl Rainbow High Maridpour
1998
Purple, light blue chevron, light blue cap Royal blue, white diabolo on sleeves, star on cap Royal blue
Persian Punch Samraan Kayf Tara
1997
Purple, light blue chevron, light blue cap Emerald Green, Black and Emerald Green striped sleeves, Black cap Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves
Persian Punch Celeric Eva Luna
1996
Emerald green, red stripe, halved sleeves, emerald green and red striped cap Royal blue, white epaulets, diamonds on sleeves, white cap Emerald green, royal blue sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Double Trigger Assessor Court Of Honour
1995
Emerald green, red stripe, halved sleeves, emerald green and red striped cap Dark blue, pink and dark blue halved sleeves, pink cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Double Trigger Old Rouvel Linney Head
1994
Red and blue (quartered), white sleeves, black cap Royal blue, white chevron, light blue cap Apple green, black sleeves, green cap
My Patriarch Zinaad Further Flight
1993
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Mauve and White check, striped sleeves Black, yellow cap
Brier Creek Not In Doubt Assessor
1992
Dark green, white spots, royal blue sleeves, white spots, white cap, royal blue star Dark blue, white sleeves and cap Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap
Drum Taps Arcadian Heights Tyrone Bridge
1991
Royal blue, white hoop on body, striped cap Pink, blue seams, hooped cap Red, red and Royal blue check cap
Top Of The World Crack Teamster
1990-1988
1990
Red, red and Royal blue check cap Purple, pink cross-belts, hooped sleeves, pink cap Royal blue, white cross of lorraine and armlets, check cap
Teamster Mountain Kingdom Chelsea Girl
1989
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Sadeem Zero Watt Zaffaran
1988
Dark blue, light blue cross belts, striped sleeves, white cap Dark green Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Primitive Rising Guarde Royale Sadeem
 

History

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The event is named after Henry II, who founded a priory on the site of Sandown Park in the 12th century. It was established in 1963, and the inaugural running was won by Gaul.

The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Henry II Stakes held Group 3 status. It was promoted to Group 2 in 2002, and relegated back to Group 3 in 2012.[1]

The leading horses from the Henry II Stakes often go on to compete in the following month's Gold Cup at Ascot. The last to win both in the same year was Big Orange in 2017.

Records

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Most successful horse (3 wins):

Leading jockey (6 wins):

  • Frankie DettoriDrum Taps (1992), Mr Dinos (2003), Papineau (2004), Finalmente (2008), Opinion Poll (2012), Big Orange (2017)

Leading trainer (6 wins):

  • Dick HernGrey of Falloden (1965), Charlton (1971), Zab (1975), Sea Anchor (1976), Smuggler (1978), Longboat (1986)

Winners since 1978

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time
1978 Smuggler 5 Willie Carson Dick Hern
1979 Buckskin 6 Joe Mercer Henry Cecil
1980 Billion 6 Pat Eddery John Dunlop
1981 no race 1981 [a]
1982 Ardross 6 Lester Piggott Henry Cecil
1983 Ore 5 Lester Piggott Willie Musson
1984 Harly 4 Pat Eddery John Dunlop
1985 Destroyer 4 Simon Whitworth Kim Brassey
1986 Longboat 5 Willie Carson Dick Hern 3:37.83
1987 Saronicos 4 Tony Ives Clive Brittain 3:30.47
1988 Primitive Rising 4 Steve Cauthen Henry Cecil 3:40.95
1989 Sadeem 6 Greville Starkey Guy Harwood 3:29.93
1990 Teamster 4 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute 3:33.88
1991 Top of the World 4 Michael Roberts Clive Brittain 3:35.59
1992 Drum Taps 6 Frankie Dettori Lord Huntingdon 3:32.75
1993 Brier Creek 4 Michael Roberts John Gosden 3:39.64
1994 My Patriarch 4 Pat Eddery John Dunlop 3:38.34
1995 Double Trigger 4 Jason Weaver Mark Johnston 3:33.01
1996 Double Trigger 5 Jason Weaver Mark Johnston 3:41.15
1997 Persian Punch 4 Ray Cochrane David Elsworth 3:35.15
1998 Persian Punch 5 Walter Swinburn David Elsworth 3:35.58
1999 Arctic Owl 5 Ray Cochrane James Fanshawe 3:33.18
2000 Persian Punch 7 Philip Robinson David Elsworth 3:53.45
2001 Solo Mio 7 Michael Kinane Amanda Perrett 3:37.43
2002 Akbar 6 Richard Hills Mark Johnston 3:32.44
2003 Mr Dinos 4 Frankie Dettori Paul Cole 3:30.50
2004 Papineau 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 3:34.17
2005 Fight Your Corner 6 Kerrin McEvoy Saeed bin Suroor 3:38.77
2006 Tungsten Strike 5 Ryan Moore Amanda Perrett 3:45.55
2007 Allegretto 4 Seb Sanders Sir Michael Stoute 3:39.47
2008 Finalmente 6 Frankie Dettori Simon Callaghan 3:54.30
2009 Geordieland 8 Shane Kelly Jamie Osborne 3:30.07
2010 Akmal 4 Richard Hills John Dunlop 3:37.92
2011 Blue Bajan 9 Daniel Tudhope David O'Meara 3:41.33
2012 Opinion Poll 6 Frankie Dettori Mahmood Al Zarooni 3:34.80
2013 Gloomy Sunday 4 Olivier Peslier Christophe Ferland 3:44.57
2014 Brown Panther 6 Richard Kingscote Tom Dascombe 3:47.94
2015 Vent De Force 4 Richard Hughes Hughie Morrison 3:37.86
2016 Pallasator 7 Oisin Murphy Sir Mark Prescott 3:43.12
2017 Big Orange 6 Frankie Dettori Michael Bell 3:32.67
2018 Magic Circle 6 Fran Berry Ian Williams 3:41.09
2019 Dee Ex Bee 4 Silvestre de Sousa Mark Johnston 3:34.00
2020 [b] Dashing Willoughby 4 Oisin Murphy Andrew Balding 3:35.36
2021 Lismore 4 Jamie Spencer Henry De Bromhead 3:50.22
2022 Quickthorn 5 Tom Marquand Hughie Morrison 3:38.27
2023 Roberto Escobarr 6 Richard Kingscote William Haggas 3:38.67
2024 Sweet William 5 Robert Havlin John and Thady Gosden 3:39.15
  1. ^ The 1981 running was abandoned because of a waterlogged course
  2. ^ The 2020 race was run in July due to the COVID-19 pandemic

.

Earlier winners

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  • 1963: Gaul
  • 1964: Fighting Ship
  • 1965: Grey of Falloden
  • 1966: Fighting Charlie
  • 1967: Parbury
  • 1968: Chicago
  • 1969: Chicago
  • 1970: Ginger Boy
  • 1971: Charlton
  • 1972: Hornet
  • 1973: The Admiral
  • 1974: Ragstone
  • 1975: Zab
  • 1976: Sea Anchor
  • 1977: Grey Baron [a]
  1. ^ Bruni finished first in 1977, but he was disqualified for bumping Grey Baron

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BHA announces upgrades". British Horseracing Authority. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  • galopp-sieger.deHenry II Stakes.
  • ifhaonline.orgInternational Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Henry II Stakes (2019).
  • pedigreequery.comHenry II Stakes – Sandown Park.
  • Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 47–48. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.