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The short course scamper is the Flying Five Stakes run at Curragh on Sunday.
Fairyland ran some very good sprint races before taking out this race. The 2020 Flying Five Stakes (1006m) at Curragh on Sunday will be humming along?
2020 FLYING FIVE STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Flying Five Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for three year olds and up at the Curragh conducted by the Curragh Racecourse for Horse Racing Ireland.
The Flying Five Stakes is run over the five furlongs as the name suggests. It is the only Group 1 sprint for older horses in Ireland.
Two year olds used to be able to run in it but from 2003 it became a 3yo and up event.
The race used to be held at Phoenix Park but moved to Leopardstown in 1991. It was moved once more to the Curragh in 2002.
After being a Listed race it went to Group 3 in 1998 and Group 2 in 2002. Then in 2004 it was back to Group 3.
The Flying Five Stakes was run a month earlier in the past but switched with the Renaissance Stakes and joined the Irish St Leger, Moyglare Stud Stakes and National Stakes as Group 1s on Irish Champions weekend.
As a result in 2015 it was Group 2 again before going to Group 1 in 2018.
One of the best winners of the Flying Five was just last year as Caravaggio scored as a 3yo. He'd won the Commonwealth Cup earlier in the preparation.
Benbaun won the race three times in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He was a highly consistent international traveller over a long period of time and notably missed Takeover Target by a nose in the King's Stand in 2006.
Most wins as a jockey was with Michael Kinane with six victories. Dermot Weld has won it five times as a trainer.
The Flying Five Stakes was worth €250,000 in 2020.
Notable winners of the Flying Five Stakes include Caravaggio (2017), Sole Power (2015), Reverence (2009), Benbaun (2005/2006/2007), Ishiguru (2001), Tedburrow (1998/1999), Tropical (1993/1994), Flowing (1991/1992), Handsome Sailor (1989) and Committed (1985).
The 2019 Flying Five Stakes was won by Fairyland from So Perfect and Invincible Army.
