Christmas Day (horse)
Irish Thoroughbred racehorse
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Christmas Day (foaled 22 February 2023) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He took victories in the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes and Ballysax Stakes before taking victory in The Derby in 2026.
| Christmas Day | |
|---|---|
Racing silks of Susan Magnier | |
| Sire | Camelot |
| Grandsire | Montjeu |
| Dam | Beauly |
| Damsire | Sea the Stars |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | 22 February 2023[1] |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Framont Ltd. |
| Owner | Magnier, Smith, Tabor, Westerberg, & Brant |
| Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
| Record | 8: 4-1-2 |
| Major wins | |
| Eyrefield Stakes (2025) Ballysax Stakes (2026) Epsom Derby (2026) | |
| Last updated on 2 August 2026 | |
Background
Christmas Day is a bay colt bred in Ireland by Framont Ltd. He is owned by a partnership of owners consisting of Magnier, Smith, Tabor, Westerberg, & Brant. He is trained by Aidan O'Brien.[2]
Christmas Day is sired by Camelot, a winner of two legs of the English Triple Crown. His dam is Beauly, who is a daughter of the highly successful Sea the Stars.[1]
Career
2025: two-year-old season
Christmas Day made his racing debut on 2 August 2025 at Gallway in a 1-mile & 73 yard race, where he finished in third.[3] His next race was another maiden race at a distance of 1 mile & 1 furlong, this time at Tipperary on 31 August. Christmas Day finished only fifth in a field of 12.[4] His next race was a 1-mile race at Gowran Park on 20 September. In heavy going, he took his first race win.[5]
Christmas Day's first significant stakes entry was at the Group-3 Eyrefield Stakes. Christmas Day went of with 13/2 SP and charged to the lead in the final furlong to take his first major win.[6]
2026: three-year-old season
After being rested for the winter, Christmas Day returned to racing in April 2026 at the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes. He once again pushed into the lead in the final furlong to take another race victory.[7] In May, he was entered into the Dante Stakes, marking his first race start outside of Ireland. He finished third.[8]
Christmas Day was next entered into The Derby, marking the most significant start of his career. He entered with 7/1 SP. In soft conditions and driving rain, he was taken to victory by 2+3⁄4 lengths. The win was a record-extending 15th Derby win for trainer Aidan O'Brien, but a first Derby win for his jockey Ronan Whelan[9][10] Christmas Day when then entered in to the Irish Derby.[11] He finished second, being defeated by his stablemate Benvenuto Cellini.[12]
Statistics
Racing form based on Racing Post.[13]
| Date | Distance | Race | Grade/ Group |
Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Winner (2nd place) |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| 2 Aug 2025 | 1m 73y | Maiden | Galway | 11/2 | 9 | 3rd | 1:48.69 | (5+3⁄4 lengths) | Action | Jack Cleary | [3] | |
| 31 Aug 2025 | 1m 1f | Maiden | Tipperary | 5/1 | 12 | 5th | 2:01.35 | (6+1⁄4 lengths) | Endorsement | Jack Cleary | [4] | |
| 20 Sep 2025 | 1m | Maiden | Gowran Park | 6/4* | 9 | 1st | 1:46.48 | 1⁄2 length | (Hedjet) | Wayne Lordan | [5] | |
| 18 Oct 2025 | 1m 1f | Eyrefield Stakes | III | Leopardstown | 13/2 | 8 | 1st | 1:56.71 | Short head | (A Boy Named Susie) | Jack Cleary | [6] |
| 2026 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| 12 Apr 2026 | 1m 2f | Ballysax Stakes | III | Leopardstown | 11/1 | 9 | 1st | 2:12.76 | 1⁄2 length | (Endorsement) | Wayne Lordan | [7] |
| 14 May 2026 | 1m 2f 56y | Dante Stakes | II | York | 11/4* | 8 | 3rd | 2:10.80 | (4+1⁄2 lengths) | Item | Ryan Moore | [8] |
| 6 Jun 2026 | 1m 4f 6y | Epsom Derby | I | Epsom Downs | 7/1 | 14 | 1st | 2:43.75 | 2+3⁄4 lengths | (Maltese Cross) | Ronan Whelan | [14] |
| 28 Jun 2026 | 1m 4f | Irish Derby | I | The Curragh | 4/1 | 8 | 2nd | 2:28.33 | (1+3⁄4 lengths) | Benvenuto Cellini | Ronan Whelan | [15] |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Christmas Day was the post-time favourite.
Pedigree
| Sire Camelot (GB) 2013 |
Montjeu 1996 |
Sadler's Wells (USA) | Northern Dancer (CAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairy Bridge (USA) | |||
| Floripedes (FR) | Top Ville | ||
| Toute Cy (FR) | |||
| Tarfah (USA) 2001 |
Kingmambo (USA) | Mr. Prospector (USA) | |
| Miesque (USA) | |||
| Fickle (GB) | Danehill (USA) | ||
| Fade (GB) | |||
| Dam Beauly (GB) 2005 |
Sea the Stars 2006 |
Cape Cross | Green Desert (USA) |
| Park Appeal | |||
| Urban Sea (USA) | Miswaki | ||
| Allegretta (GB) | |||
| Pickle (GB) 2001 |
Piccolo (GB) | Warning (GB) | |
| Woodwind (FR) | |||
| Crackle (GB) | Anshan (GB) | ||
| Crackling (GB) (Family 14-c) |