British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Stakes – Britain’s Richest Maiden Race.

Fri 25 Aug 2017

RIVET wins BEBF Convivial Stakes York 2016

The British European Breeders’ Fund are proud to be supporting the Convivial Maiden Stakes for the third year today at York.  The Convivial has the accolade of being Britain’s most valuable maiden with its prize money increasing each year under the combined stewardship of York Racecourse and the British EBF, to its current level of £70,000.  In addition, the race carries a Plus 10 bonus which would see an additional £10,000 prize going to a qualified winner.

RIVET (Fastnet Rock), pictured, made exceptional progress through the remainder of his two-year-old career following his 2016 win in the EBF Convivial Maiden.  He won the Gr.2 Champagne Stakes and Gr.1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster beating the likes of multiple Gr.1 winner THUNDER SNOW (Helmet); Gr.1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner up SALOUEN (Canford Cliffs) and this year’s Gr.3 Bahrain Trophy winner RAHEEN HOUSE (Sea The Stars) in the process.

For seven of the 20 potential runners in today’s race, it will be their first visit to a racecourse; however there are plenty of horses which come the race with promise and experience from their last run. DOSWELL (Giant’s Causeway); GABR (Intello); KANNAPOLIS (Makfi); LAUGH A MINUTE (Mayson); PORTH SWTAN (Invincible Spirit) and MISS MUMTAZ (Lope De Vega) all come to the race with encouraging runs to second place in their last racecourse outing.

2017 EBF Future Stayers Maiden Programme Returns Today

Wed 9 Aug 2017

As part of the British EBF’s continuing support of the staying programme, a series of maiden races for progeny of staying stallions has been instigated and developed between the BHA and BEBF.

Restricted to progeny of stallions that won over 10f or more with EBF eligibility, they offer opportunities later in the season for two-year-olds who may be campaigned in staying races later in their careers.  They were created in 2015 in response to a review by the BHA Flat Racing Committee following a noticeable lack of opportunities for staying types and to help meet a goal of further enhancing the stayers programme.

For 2017, the number of races has been increased again to 11, from 10 the previous year.  The additional race, a trial for the British EBF is a maiden to be run at Musselburgh which further restricts runners to progeny of horses that have won over 1m4f or over.  In a bid to accommodate late maturing types and progeny of international staying stallions, the final two races of the 2017 programme with be run on the all-weather at Chelmsford City Racecourse.

Races towards the end of the programme have also be had the conditions opened up to encompass progeny of mares that have won over the allotted distance, again a trial which the British EBF has assisted the BHA in implementing.

The maiden and novice races are run with a minimum total prize fund of £10,000 each, with several exceeding this, being worth £12,000.

The first of these restricted maiden/ novice races is to be run at Great Yarmouth today and is a seven furlong, Class four contest which carries a total prize fund of £10,000.  The contest has attracted seven runners from 23 entries. Three of the field face their first racecourse debut today with the group headed by first time out winner THE LAST EMPEROR (Azamour) for Roger Varian.

Ruth Quinn, BHA’s Director of International Racing and Racing Development, said:

“As part of the ongoing project to encourage the breeding and buying of a greater number of future stayers, the BHA will seek to grow the number of races, over the next three to five years, for the progeny of either sires or dams who have won over a distance of 10 furlongs or more, with a small number of races being offered for those progeny who won over 12 furlongs or further.  These races should be viewed as an investment for the future and will hopefully act, as part of our wider package of enhancements for the stayer, as an incentive for people to invest in horses with certain bloodlines and which are more likely to demonstrate an aptitude for stamina.  We are delighted that the British EBF is keen to extend its support for these races and to invest in the programme for future stayers.”

ARC Director of External Affairs, Susannah Gill, said:

“We’re delighted to be hosting the first race in the EBF’s 2017 Stayers Maiden Programme. As major sponsors in British Racing we welcome the opportunity to support the work of the EBF wherever possible, while ARC’s recent investment in levelling the home straight has helped ensure Great Yarmouth remains popular with trainers as an ideal location to run young horses.”

The rest of the races in the future stayers’ maiden/ novice programme:

EBF Convivial Stakes (Ebor Festival) – prize money boost

Tue 8 Aug 2017

York racecourse announced recently that the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Stakes, to be run at the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival and already Britain’s wealthiest maiden, will receive an additional prize money boost this year.

The total prize fund for the race will increase from its 2016 level of £60,000 to a new high of £70,000.  Some 22 races, out of the 25 to be staged at the meeting, have seen an increase in prize fund since their 2016 running; with every contest on the opening and closing days set to be more valuable.

York Racecourse Chairman, Lord Grimthorpe, “York is delighted that our continued commercial success in the first half of the season has allowed us to keep investing in the prize money, facilities and experience of racing at York.  The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival is our flagship meeting and we look forward to welcoming the racegoers and supporters to York to see the world’s best horses and jockeys competing on the Knavesmire. It already looks set to be a fabulous four days of racing action.  Our continued thanks to our supporters and sponsors who help us to invest in racing at York.”

British EBF round up: Qatar Goodwood Festival 2017

Tue 8 Aug 2017

EBF Breeders’ Series Fillies Handicap (Wednesday 2nd August)

A gutsy performance by BILLESDON BESS (Dick Turpin) saw her win the EBF Breeders’ Series Fillies’ Handicap, which saw nine horses line up after seven were withdrawn following heavy rain.

The conditions were no problem for the three-year-old winner, who was ridden by Hollie Doyle for trainer Richard Hannon and in the colours of Pall Mall Partners & Partners. Billesdon Bess is a daughter of Dick Turpin, who was trained by Hannon’s father, Richard Snr, to win the 2005 G2 Richmond Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Jeanette McCreery, representing the owners, said she was confident of success, adding: “It’s a brilliant day, she was marvellously trained and we couldn’t be more excited.

“She loves the conditions and we thought she would win because she’s tough. That’s what happens when you have horses with Richard Hannon.”

The winning trainer said: “She’s improving and Hollie gave her a lovely ride – she made all the running and gets on well with her. She did it the hard way and is versatile on the ground. There is improvement to come, and I’m pleased for the owners who are lovely people.”

BILLESDON BESS and runners up TITI MAKFI and INDULGED are all now set to run for the £25,000 TBA bonus (subject to qualification criteria) at the EBF Breeders’ Series finals at Newmarket on 7^th October where each of the Handicaps are worth £50,000.

Victoria Racing Club EBF British Stallion Studs Fillies’ Maiden (Thursday 3^rd August)

Roulette, the evens favourite, who was sixth, beaten two and a quarter lengths on her debut in July, built on that run when victorious in the Victoria Racing Club EBF British Stallion Studs Fillies’ Maiden over seven furlongs.

Michael Bell, who trained the Poet’s Voice Two-year-old filly, commented after the race: “It is very hard work on that ground for two-year-olds. She has never been in front in a race before in her life.

“We said before that we would try and make the running and use her experience.”

“I thought she looked like winning by a couple of lengths at one point, but it really is very hard for two-year-olds in this ground.

“She is a gorgeous looking filly. Barry Hills trained the mother, who hurt herself, and he said to Bill Gredley [owner], this is a very nice filly – you want to keep this. That was good advice from Barry.

“The Gredleys get so much fun out of it [racing], Bill is out twice a week watching them and Tim watches them a lot – they get a lot of fun out of it and it is great to train another winner for them.”

Charlie Hills, trainer of the 5/1 debutante Ripley who came home a neck second to Roulette, said: “I am really happy with her, though she did run a bit green. She handled the ground but I am sure she will be a bit better on better ground. The winner’s experience counts for a lot.”