Christmas Day (horse)

Christmas Day
Racing silks of Susan Magnier
SireCamelot
GrandsireMontjeu
DamBeauly
DamsireSea the Stars
SexColt
Foaled22 February 2023[1]
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederFramont Ltd.
OwnerMagnier, Smith, Tabor, Westerberg, & Brant
TrainerAidan O'Brien
Record9: 4-1-3
Major wins
Eyrefield Stakes (2025)
Ballysax Stakes (2026)
Epsom Derby (2026)
Last updated on 2 August 2026

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.

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]
19 Aug 2026 1m 3f 188y Great Voltigeur Stakes II York 9/4 6 3rd 2:32.04 (4+1⁄4 lengths) Maltese Cross Ryan Moore [16]

Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Christmas Day was the post-time favourite.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Christmas Day (IRE), bay colt, 2023[1]
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)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Christmas Day pedigree". Equineline. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Christmas Day (IRE)". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 "2025 Whiriskey Refrigeration Irish EBF Maiden". sportinglife.com. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Camas Park Irish EBF Maiden". sportinglife.com. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden (Smullen Series)". sportinglife.com. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Mongey Communications Eyrefield Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)". skysports.com. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 "P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Group 3)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2)". sportinglife.com. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Christmas Day surges to Epsom Derby win for O'Brien". bbc.com. BBC. 6 June 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Christmas Day Unwraps Epsom Derby for Coolmore Partners". bloodhorse.com. Blood-Horse, LLC. 6 June 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Benvenuto Cellini, Christmas Day Rematch in Irish Derby". bloodhorse.com. Blood-Horse LLC. 26 June 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Irish Derby: Redemption for Benvenuto Cellini as he wins at the Curragh for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore". skysports.com. Sky Sports. 28 June 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Christmas Day | Race Record & Form". www.racingpost.com. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Betfred Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings) Full Result". www.racingpost.com. 6 June 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings) Full Result". www.racingpost.com. 28 June 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)". racingpost.com. 19 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
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