THE Pretty Polly Stakes will be sponsored by Juddmonte Ireland for the next three years.

The race is one of the most prestigious and valuable Group 1 races in Europe for fillies and mares and has an impressive role of honour with previous winners including world champion Minding, Dar Re Mi, Dance Design, and Alexander Goldrun.

The 10-furlong contest, with a minimum total prize money of €250,000, will be run on Sunday 1st July 2018, the highlight of day three of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival.

First run in 1947, the Pretty Polly Stakes is named to honour one of the great racing fillies of the 20th century who won 22 of her 24 races.

Juddmonte Farms is one of the world’s leading owner/breeders, and has to date bred over 100 individual Group/Grade 1 winners of over 200 Group/Grade 1 races, including 25 classic winners.

The colours of Juddmonte owner Prince Khalid Abdullah have been carried to victory in many of the Curragh’s top races.

These have included classic winners Commander In Chief, Kingman, Wemyss Bight, Bolas and Enable who won the Darley Irish Oaks in spectacular style last year.

Douglas Erskine Crum CEO Juddmonte Group said: “Juddmonte is delighted to sponsor the Pretty Polly at the Curragh. The addition of this race completes our current sponsorship portfolio, with Juddmonte now sponsoring Group/Grade 1 races in the UK, Ireland, France and the USA.”

Derek McGrath, CEO of the Curragh, said: “We are very grateful to His Highness Prince Khalid and the team at Juddmonte for their generous support of the Curragh and it is fitting for them to be associated with one of our most high profile races.”