Thu 19 Sep 2019
Naas Sun 21 October 2018 -Cedars Of Lebanon ridden by Ronan Whelan, winning The Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Race Final
A record of 77 two-year-olds are entered for the fifth running of the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series Final at Naas Racecourse, with a prize-fund of €120,000. It is a timely reminder, before the yearling sales start next week, that horses purchased for €72,000 or less will be eligible for the valuable series next year.
Jessica Harrington has made 16 entries into the final, including five of her impressive six winners in the series so far. Noel Meade has the final in the plan for seven of his string which include both of his series winners, Layfayette and Helvic Dream. Other big entry numbers come from Tom Mullins, Joseph O’Brien and Ger Lyons, who have entered seven, six horses and four horses respectively.
Last year’s winner Cedars Of Lebanon was bought for €11,000 from the Tattersalls Ireland September yearling sale and won an impressive €87,625 throughout the series. Other success stories from the 2018 series include Lady Marengo, trained by Ken Condon, bought for €3,000 at auction and which won €15,600 in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series 2018, and Social Graces, trained by Willie McCreery, bought for €11,000 at auction, which won €17,625.
The Foran Equine Irish EBF partnership has significantly boosted prize-money and made the auction series a lucrative proposition for trainers and owners. The 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.
John O’Connor, Irish EBF Chairman, said: “The record entries for the €120,000 final are a testament to the strength and popularity of the series and it’s a very positive sign for next year’s series, particularly with the yearling sales starting next week. The average auction price of runners in the series is just over €23,000 and this tells the story that you can get involved and win races with a relatively modest investment. The series is now an integral part of the racing calendar and it should be part of every owners and trainers future plans.”
Gareth Connolly, Sales and Marketing Director, Foran Equine, commented: “We are delighted to see record entries for the Foran Equine Irish EBF auction series final at Naas on October 20th. For us this series has been about creating opportunities for our customers including the trainers, owners and breeders who are the backbone of the industry. We are grateful to the Irish EBF for being a great partner in this fantastic initiative. Last year’s final was a brilliant occasion and we are looking forward to working closely with Irish EBF and Naas Racecourse to deliver another exciting final.”
Wed 18 Sep 2019
Joe Foley, Irish EBF Vice Chairman, Eamonn McEvoy (manager Naas Racecourse) & Nessa Joyce (Irish EBF Manager)
The Irish EBF have announced a significant boost to the two-year-old programme for 2020 with a newly revamped median sires race series consisting of 24 races with a minimum prize-fund of €25,000 per race. In addition there will be a new exciting €200,000 two-year-old median sires race at Naas racecourse on Bank Holiday Monday, August 3, co-sponsored by Ballyhane Stud.
The Irish EBF Median Sires Series will have three levels of races, the majority of which will be for two-year-olds by a sire with an established median price of €60,000 or less and the rest will be divided between a median price of €75,000 or less and €30,000 or less. In addition there will be an allowance of 2lb and 4lb for sires with lesser values in all three levels to benefit two-year-olds by sires with a lower median sire price.
The new Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes will have a minimum value of €200,000 and will be run over 6f at Naas racecourse on August Bank Holiday Monday. It will be open to two-year-olds by a sire whose median price is not more than €75,000, with allowances for sires whose median price is €50,000 or €25,000 or less.
In 2020, together with the Irish EBF Foran Equine Auction Series, there will now be 50 two-year-old races with a minimum prize fund of €20,000 each in the auction/median auction race category, as well as the opportunity to target the €120,000 Foran Equine Irish EBF final in Naas in October and the new Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes worth a minimum of €200,000 also in Naas in August.
Speaking about the announcement, John O’Connor, Chairman, Irish EBF, said; “With the yearling sales about to start and a number of challenges facing the industry such as Brexit and the phasing out of the Plus 10 Bonus scheme, the Irish EBF board and HRI are delighted to announce a significant boost to the two-year-old race programme in Ireland for 2020. These races will give fantastic opportunities to horses bought at auction but also give the home-bred horse an equal opportunity to compete next year for significant prize-money. In conjunction with the success of the Foran Equine Irish EBF auction series, we are confident these new enhancements will give all owners and trainers of two-year-olds something to look forward to in 2020.”
Joe Foley, owner of Ballyhane Stud, said; “I’m delighted to sponsor the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes which should be an exciting addition to the two-year-old calendar. Providing a large potential jackpot for two-year-olds to target is important, and together with the EBF two-year-old schemes, this race gives owners and trainers another good reason to invest in yearlings at the upcoming sales.”
Ken Condon, trainer, commented; “This is such a timely incentive with the sales season starting next week, it will make everyone’s job easier to buy yearlings and provide owners a chance to win significant prize money next year. Already the Foran Equine/Irish EBF series has given us such significant opportunities and now this announcement will effectively double the chances of winning a two-year-old race next year. Kudos to the Irish EBF for coming up with the idea.”
David Spratt, owner, commented; “Irish two-year-old racing is arguably the most competitive two-year-old scene in the world and this new Irish EBF initiative alongside the current Foran Equine Auction Series, which has been such a success, will encourage plenty to try and compete, which can only be a good thing. We’ll certainly be trying to buy yearlings to win these races.”
For Further Information:
Nessa Joyce, Manager, Irish European Breeders’ Fund
Greenhills, Kill, Naas, Co Kildare, W91 FY62
M: +353 85 7590970, E: info@irishebf.ie Twitter & Facebook: @IrishEBF
www.ebfstallions.com
