Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes to pay €50,000 bonus if winner is by sponsor's sire

Ballyhane Stud will pay a €50,000 bonus to the winning connections of the new €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes if they are by a Ballyhane sire.

The breeder of the winner will also receive a free nomination to a Ballyhane stallion in 2021.

The six-furlong race will be run at Naas on August 3, 2020, a Bank Holiday Monday in Ireland, and the early entry deadline – costing just €250 – is approaching fast: next Wednesday at noon.

The race, set to be the richest ever run at Naas and open to two-year-olds by an EBF-registered sire whose sire’s median price is no more than €75,000, was launched at the Lord Bagenal Hotel in Leighlinbridge, opposite Ballyhane Stud, on Tuesday.

Foley said: “I’m delighted to support the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, a race which should be an exciting addition to the calendar. It’s a huge pot for owners and trainers to target and the €50,000 bonus for a Ballyhane-sired winner is our way of rewarding supporters of our stallions.”

Ballyhane Stud stands established sires Dandy Man and Elzaam, as well as Prince Of Lir, who has first two-year-old runners this year, and Soldier's Call, who is covering his first mares.

John O’Connor, chairman of the Irish EBF, said: “The concept behind the race is to offer connections of EBF-eligible two-year-olds, where their sire’s median price is no more than €75,000, a lucrative race where they are competing against other similar valued horses who are either homebreds or auction-bought two-year-olds.

“By capping the sire’s median price, giving weight allowances to lower sire median prices and with the added incentive of the €50,000 Ballyhane Stud bonus, it creates more opportunities for two-year-olds and it is great to be part of something special.”

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