Snow Leopardess victorious in BEBF Mares Novice Hurdle Finale

Tue 28 Mar 2017

The 2016/17 Jump season at Newbury Racecourse came to a close today, Saturday, March 25, day two of the Be Wiser Jump Season Finale.

There were two £40,000 contests on the seven-race programme, the first up being the Grade Two EBF & TBA Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Finale (3.00pm), a limited handicap over an extended two and a half miles.

It was the grey five-year-old Snow Leopardess (Charlie Longsdon/Aidan Coleman, 11st 1lb, 7/1 joint-favourite) who took the honours, wearing the colours of her owner, Marietta Fox-Pitt who is the mother-in-law of ITV Racing’s Alice Plunkett.

Taking up the running two flights from home, Snow Leopardess stayed on tenaciously to see off fellow 7/1 joint-favourite Copper Kay (Philip Hobbs/Richard Johnson, 11st 7lb) by four lengths. River Arrow (Tom Symonds/Jamie Moore, 10st 11lb, 25/1) was another length and a half adrift in third with top-weight Tara View (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson, 11st 10lb, 9/1) a further three and three-quarter lengths back in fourth.

Charlie Longsdon commented: “Snow Leopardess has always been good. I got it totally wrong last time out (when third at Doncaster on February 9). She had a break with her owner over Christmas before I then took her back and gave her a bit of work. I then ran her two weeks later when she was only half fit. It was totally my fault.

“She has had plenty of work since her last run and has won as I hoped she would today. She doesn’t show a lot at home as she is very laidback. I remember there were a few bets going around before she ran in her first bumper whether she would ever win a bumper (she won two). My head lad was very wrong and the lad that rode her out every day was very right.

“She keeps herself for the racecourse and has a lovely way of going. Onwards and upwards.”

Aidan Coleman added: “I got a lovely run round and she travelled brilliantly. The only bit of worry I had was three out when Noel’s horse (Lamanver Odyssey) looked to run out. To be fair to Snow Leopardess, she has courage and went on and did it well.

“She had a look around in front but is a really nice mare. To be fair to Charlie, if you look at her form, she has been campaigned brilliantly. She won a good bumper at Gowran and ran well in the mares’ race at Aintree last year.

“She loved the ground and is very versatile with everything she does. She has an amazing, laidback temperament and a great attitude.”

Courtesy of Newbury Racecourse

Strong field for EBF/ TBA Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Finale at Newbury

Fri 24 Mar 2017

Supported by the European Breeders’ Fund and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the £40,000 Grade 2 EBF & TBA Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Finale Limited Handicap is the finale to a 12-race series throughout the jumps season and is one of only a handful of black type opportunities for novice hurdler mares in Britain.  It has attracted a large field of 17 over an extended two and a half miles at Newbury tomorrow (25 March) justifying its upgrade from  a Listed contest to a Grade 2 for 2017

The 2016 contest was taken by BRIERY QUEEN (GB) (King’s Theatre (IRE)), trained by Noel Williams for owner/ breeder Helen Plumbly and Kathryn Leadbeater.  This progressive mare went on to win at Cheltenham in December 2016 and was 5^th of a field of 17 runners in this year’s OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) at the Cheltenham Festival.

This year’s line-up features top-weight Tara View (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson, 11st 10lb), who is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles this season, Listed bumper scorer Copper Kay (Philip Hobbs/Richard Johnson, 11st 7lb) and the hat-trick seeking Hitherjacques Lady (Oliver Sherwood/Leighton Aspell, 11st 5lb).

Symonds runs River Arrow (Jamie Moore, 10st 11lb) who bounced back from a disappointing effort at Warwick with victory against the boys in a two and a half mile novices’ hurdle at Southwell on March 6.

The trainer added: “River Arrow winning at Southwell was not a surprise at all. She has always shown plenty of ability but was a bit mercurial early on as the fairer sex can be.

“The ground would need to stay as it is for her to run. The ground was very hard work at Southwell and she has got a real soft ground action. We will see how things pan out with the ground.”

Author: BEBF/ Newbury Racecourse

Foran Equine and Irish European Breeders’ Fund Join Forces to Sponsor Auction Series

Wed 1 Mar 2017

Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series Final Now Worth €120,000

20 Qualifiers all worth a Minimum of €20,000

Pictured at Willie McCreery’s Rathbride Stables on The Curragh are from left to right: John O’Connor Chairman of the Irish European Breeder’s Fund, Willie McCreery Racehorse Trainer, Gareth Connolly Foran Equine Sales & Marketing Director

The Irish European Breeders’ Fund today announced Foran Equine as sponsor of the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series. The three year deal will significantly boost the prize-money and establish the series as a target for purchasers of yearlings and 2yos at public auction.

Now in its third year the Irish EBF Auction Series for 2yos will comprise of 21 races across 15 racecourses with a total prize-fund of €573,000, including the final to be held at Naas Racecourse in October, worth €120,000, up from €100,000 in 2016.

Each of the 20 qualifying races will have a minimum prize-fund of €20,000 as well as the added benefit of being Plus 10 registered, whereby qualified winners will be eligible for a bonus of €12,500 under the Plus 10 Scheme. The first race will take place at Cork racecourse on Saturday 6^th May.

The Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series is designed to create wide-scale opportunities for horses purchased as a yearling or a 2yo at public auction for €72,000 or less, with allowances for fillies and horses purchased at a lower auction price. The final is open to horses which have run in one of the qualifying races and which are EBF eligible.

Gareth Connolly, Sales and Marketing Director, Foran Equine said; “Foran Equine is delighted to be joining forces with the Irish European Breeders’ Fund to sponsor this exciting, valuable series for the next three years. Owners, trainers and breeders, who are the backbone of this industry, are also our customers. This series allows us, in conjunction with the Irish EBF and Horse Racing Ireland, to increase the value of 21 races across the country, demonstrating our continued commitment to the Irish racing industry.”

John O’Connor, Chairman, Irish European Breeders’ Fund, said; “The 2yo Auction Series was created in 2015 by HRI and the Irish EBF, with the long term goal to stimulate the auction market and to support this vital sector of the Flat breeding industry. We strongly believe in the series and the Governors of the Irish EBF wholeheartedly welcome Foran Equine as our partner for the next three years.  The generous sponsorship from Foran Equine means the winner of the Final will earn €72,000 (out of a total €120,000 prize-fund) which will cover its sale price as this is the cut off point for horses to be eligible to participate.”
 

Jason Morris, Director of Racing, Horse Racing Ireland, said; “We are extremely grateful to Foran Equine for agreeing to sponsor this series in partnership with the Irish European Breeders’ Fund. HRI has increased the number of 2yo auction races in recent years to incentivise Irish owners and trainers to purchase yearlings, and we intend to progressively increase the number of such races, and therefore the size of this Series, in the years ahead. This new Series will present a broad range of high value opportunities for horses at the lower to medium end of the market. The winning horse will receive at least €12,500 for winning any qualifier, with this figure being doubled for any Plus 10 eligible winners.”

Willie McCreery, said; “As a trainer I welcome the investment from Foran Equine and the Irish EBF into this series. In an increasingly competitive market this series creates a clear proposition for a number of my 2yos to compete for significant prize-money. This is good news for my owners who continue to invest in my team. I am looking forward to targeting the Foran Equine Irish EBF Series this season and will have one eye on the 2018 series when attending the yearling sales in the autumn.”

END

For Further Information:

http://www.hri-ras.ie/
Nessa Joyce, Manager, Irish European Breeders’ Fund
Greenhills, Kill, Naas, Co Kildare, W91 FY62
M: +353 85 7590970, E: iebf@eircom.net Twitter: @IrishEBF

​Jane Davis, Equine Brand Manager, Connolly’s RED MILLS

Goresbridge, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

M: +353 86 3490681, E: jane.davis@redmills.ie  Twitter: @RED_Millsfeed

EDITOR’S NOTE

• All horses must be EBF Eligible to run in any of the races
• €120,000 Final at Naas Racecourse on Sunday October 15^th, Naas Racecourse
• Horses must run in any one of the series races to qualify to enter final
• Only horses purchased as yearlings or 2yos at public auction for not more than €72,000 may enter
• 5lb allowance for fillies and further allowances for horses purchased at lower auction prices
• Total of 21 races in series including the final

• 2015 winner – SEVENLEFT

o    TATTS OCT book 2 £31,000

o    Trainer Sheila Lavery

o    Owned by John Lavery

• 2016 winner – TREVANNA

o    GOFFS FEB €15,000 & TATTS DEC YRLG £10,500

o    Trainer Kevin Prendergast

o    Owner, Trevor McCormack, Ms Anne E Prendergast & Mrs Kevin Prendergast

FORAN EQUINE

Established in 1974 in Ireland, Foran Equine has grown to become a market leader in the field of specialised equine nutrition and health care.

Foran Equine boasts a comprehensive, well established range of over 60 products. These include superior quality nutritional supplements specifically designed to optimize health and boost performance and essential health care products for performance horses. Products are developed by an experienced multi-disciplinary team including veterinary surgeons, chemists, equine nutritionists and horsemen and women in accordance with our customer’s needs.

Through development and innovation trials in-house and in leading educational institutes, products are put through their paces to ensure superior levels of efficacy, safety and quality. Following more than 10 years research and development into the evolving nutritional demands of high performance horses, the range now includes some of the most technologically advanced and innovative products available today.

EBF ELIGIGBLE

When a stallion is registered to the EBF all progeny resulting from that year’s coverings are automatically EBF qualified for life. Once a horse is EBF qualified it is eligible to run in any EBF confined race throughout Europe.  You can check the EBF status of any stallion by going to www.ebfstallions.com

Background

The scheme was launched in 1983 by Britain, France and Ireland as a self-help measure to support the racing industry, mainly 2yo maiden races. Since then it has expanded to include Germany, Italy and Switzerland and now supports a strong performance of racing at all levels throughout Europe. Since its launch the EBF has contributed over €100 million to the European racing industry. The Irish EBF alone has contributed over €40 million of this money to Irish racing prize-money.

Benefits of the scheme

• The EBF puts on average €5 million back into racing throughout Europe in additional prize-money in the form of sponsorship each year.
• There is a full race programme for fillies in both listed races and handicaps in Britain, Ireland and France.
• Over 80% of 2yo races in each member country are confined to EBF-eligible horses only.
• As well as the 2yo maiden races that are supported, selected conditions races, novices and handicaps also receive significant added prize money from the EBF.
• There is significant support for jump racing, again including a fillies and mares programme.
• The EBF also supports selected veterinary research programmes, benefiting the racing and breeding industry.
• In 2014 the EBF became a partner in the Destination Europe initiative aimed at encouraging overseas participation and investment in European racing.

PLUS 10 ELIGIBLE

Plus 10 is an industry funded bonus scheme for British and Irish Flat thoroughbred owners and breeder which pays a €12,500 bonus to qualified 2yo and 3yo winners of Plus 10 races.

In Ireland there are 100 bonuses available on all non-black type 2yo races rolled over until all 100 bonuses are won.  In total each year almost €7,000,000 in bonus prize money is made available across more than 600 races in Britain and Ireland.

Registration

To be eligible for the full bonus, horses must be paid into the scheme at three stages:

Foal Registration – due by 31 August in foal year (cost €187.50)

Yearling Registration – due by 30 June in the yearling year (cost €250)

Owner Registration – due by 28 February in the 2YO year (cost €437.50)

Breakdown

The bonus of €12,500 is shared as follows:

Foal Registrant: 10%

Yearling Registrant: 10%

Registered owner at time of race win: 75%

Trainer, jockey and stable staff: 5%

Since March 2015 the Plus 10 Bonus scheme has paid out over €10,000,000 in bonus prize money to over 800 British and Irish owners and breeders.

Details on eligible horses and registration can be found at www.plus10bonus.com