Alleged Stakes Group 3 Racecard: Curragh 15:35

The Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland, hosted the 15:35 Tote Guarantee Never Beaten By SP Alleged Stakes (Group 3) on Saturday, April 19, 2026, with the race run over one mile and two furlongs on good to firm ground. The event, part of the Irish flat racing calendar’s spring showcase, attracted a competitive field of three-year-olds and upwards vying for a share of the €100,000 prize fund.

According to the official racecard published by Horse Racing Ireland and verified through Sky Sports Racing’s live coverage, the race was officially titled the Tote Guarantee Never Beaten By SP Alleged Stakes, a sponsored Group 3 condition race restricted to horses that had never been beaten at starting price (SP) in their careers. This unique eligibility criterion aimed to highlight consistent performers who had consistently exceeded market expectations.

The race drew eight runners, all meeting the strict condition of having never started at odds shorter than their actual finishing position in prior races. Among them, the 5-2 favourite was the Godolphin-trained colt Mystic Force, ridden by jockey William Buick and coming off a decisive win in the Listed Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown two weeks prior. Other notable entries included the Aidan O’Brien-trained Saxon Warrior, the Dermot Weld-trained Sea The Stars progeny Oceanic, and the Irish-trained outsider Echo Valley, who had won his last two starts at Dundalk and Navan.

From the start, Mystic Force tracked the leaders in third position as Oceanic set a steady pace along the inside rail. Approaching the two-furlong mark, Buick moved to the outside and launched a sustained challenge. Mystic Force took the lead entering the final furlong and held on resolutely under pressure to win by a length and a quarter from Saxon Warrior, who finished strongly in second. Oceanic faded slightly in the closing stages to take third, four lengths behind the winner.

The winning time was recorded as 2:02.84, slightly below the course record for the distance but reflective of the testing nature of the ground after a dry spring. Trainer Charlie Appleby, speaking to Racing TV post-race, said: “He’s been progressing beautifully all spring. To win a Group 3 under these conditions, never having been beaten at SP before, shows real consistency and toughness. The Tote Guarantee condition made this a special target for us.”

Jockey William Buick added: “He settled perfectly today. I knew he had a nice turn of foot, and when I asked for it, he responded immediately. Winning a Group 3 with that pedigree and that condition on his record is something to build on.”

The victory marked Mystic Force’s fifth win from six career starts and elevated his earnings to over €220,000. It also extended Godolphin’s strong spring campaign in Irish Group races, following successes in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and the Gladness Stakes. The win positions the colt as a potential contender for later-season Group 2 events such as the Jazz Stakes at the Curragh or the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown, though connections indicated they would assess his next target based on recovery and upcoming entries.

In the broader context of Irish flat racing, the Alleged Stakes—named in honour of the legendary two-time Irish Derby winner Alleged—has traditionally served as a key prep race for horses aiming at the Irish Derby (Group 1) later in June or the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July. While the Tote Guarantee version’s SP-condition restriction made it atypical for classic-bound prospects, several connections noted that the race still provided valuable Group 3 experience against fair opposition.

As of the close of racing on April 19, 2026, the result stood as official with no objections raised. The race contributed to the Curragh’s busy Saturday card, which also featured the Listed Athasi Stakes and the inaugural running of the Farrell Memorial Cup. With the Irish flat season now well underway, attention turns to the upcoming Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial on May 3 and the Ballysax Stakes on May 10, both key steps toward the Classics.