Brand New EBF Yarmouth Novice Stakes closes tomorrow

Wed 16 May 2018

Entries for a brand-new EBF novice race for two-year olds closes tomorrow (17^th May 2018).

The Class 3, British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes will be staged at Great Yarmouth on 23rd May, which had a fantastic opening meeting earlier in the month with the likes of WITHOUT PAROLE (Frankel) making his seasonal reappearance, over six furlongs and carries at total prize fund of £15,000.

The race has been specifically designed to attract potential Royal Ascot two-year olds; providing valuable racecourse experience for the juveniles ahead of progression to possible runs in races such as the Coventry or Albany Stakes (both Gr.2) by making use of the two-year-old friendly straight at Yarmouth.

The race came in to being as a result of consultation between the BHA, Arena Racing Company and the British EBF and has been funded in part via the BEBF Development Fund.

Rachael Gowland, Marketing and Communications Manager of the British EBF explained:

“The British EBF are always looking to improve graduating opportunities for EBF two-year-olds; after the success of the likes of HEARTACHE, HEADWAY, TAKE ME WTH YOU and SANTRY all progressing via EBF maiden/ novice races to win or be placed at the Royal meeting in 2017, the chance to further enhance this area of our portfolio was very attractive.

We are lucky to have several exciting pre-Ascot opportunities in our sponsorship program and this provides a great enhancement to our EBF races for 2018 along with our increased involvement in similar races at Chester’s May meetings, Lingfield and York’s Dante Festival.”

Richard Aldous, Clerk of the Course at Yarmouth added:

“Our opening meeting showcased Great Yarmouth with excellent field sizes.  Every season, stars of the future learn their craft on our track, which we have put a great deal of work into in recent years.  We are always ready to welcome trainers from across the region, and country where possible, to take advantage of the great racing surface we have here and we are looking forward to taking this race forward with the British EBF.”

British EBF Breeders’ Series Returns today

Sat 12 May 2018

Breeders Series Fillies’ Handicaps 2018

British EBF Breeders’ Series Returns today

The British EBF Breeders’ Series of Fillies’ Handicaps kicks off its third year today at Ascot with the EBF “Breeders’ Series” Fillies’ Handicap Stakes.

Traditionally the first race of the series this Class 2 contest over a mile is the most valuable lead up race at £45,000 bar the program’s culmination at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile on 6^th October where each of the four finales are worth £50,000.

This group of races was masterminded by the BHA for the 2016 season to provide progressive opportunities for three-year-old and up fillies that fall just under Listed Class.  With over £300,000 of British EBF investment, the 20-race series is now worth in excess of £625,000 for the 2018 flat season with distance categories ranging from six to 12 furlongs.

Inevitably, the races have provided stepping-stones for some fillies to black type performances. The 2017 series produced EARTHA KITT (Pivotal) who won her EBF Breeders’ Series handicap at York in June easily before moving on to run third in the Gr.3 Summer Stakes at the same track and win the Listed EBF Boadicea Stakes at Newmarket at the end of the season.  MELODIC MOTION (Nathaniel) won her EBF Breeders’ Series Handicap at Goodwood in May; she went on to be runner up in the Gr.2 Park Hill Stakes during Doncaster’s St Leger Festival.

Other notable graduates of the 2017 series include Listed winners TITI MAKFI (Makfi), BILLESDON BESS (Dick Turpin) and TISBUTADREAM (Dream Ahead).