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Launch of maiden race series for progeny of staying stallions

Initiative has been developed between BHA and BEBF

Newbury: Flat racing returns to track on Friday
Efforts have been made to improve chances for later maturing two-year-oldsCredit: Getty Images

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 1m2f 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 ten 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 further.

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 on Wednesday and is a 7f, Class 4 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 on Wednesday with the group headed by first time out winner The Last Emperor - a son of 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 tenfurlongs 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.”

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

09/08/2017 Yarmouth 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 4 over 7f, prize fund of £10,000

08/09/2017 Ascot 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 3 over 7f, prize fund of £12,000

10/09/2017 York 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 3 over 7f, prize fund of £12,000

13/09/2017 Carlisle 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 4 over 8f, total prize fund of £10,000

16/09/2017 Musselburgh 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 3 over 8f, total prize fund of £12,000

11/10/2017 Nottingham 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 5 over 8f, total prize fund of £10,000

17/10/2017 Leicester 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 4 over 7f, total prize fund of £10,000

25/10/2017 Newmarket 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 4 over 8f, total prize fund of £10,000

06/11/2017 Kempton 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 4 over 7f, total prize fund of £10,000

23/11/2017 Chelmsford 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 3 over 8f, total prize fund of £12,000

21/12/2017 Chelmsford 2yo Stayers Restricted Maiden
Class 3 over 8f, total prize fund of £12,000

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