ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN PATTERN COMMITTEE
The European Pattern Committee, at its annual meeting on Wednesday 17 January held in Ireland this year, considered a number of changes to Flat Pattern and Listed races in Europe for 2018.
- ENHANCEMENTS TO THE STAYERS鈥� PROGRAMME
The European Pattern Committee remains strongly committed towards the important strategic objective of enhancing the attractiveness of breeding, buying, owning and racing quality horses which have an aptitude for stamina.
A number of enhancements to the stayers鈥� programme were announced for 2017, headlined by the upgrade of the Goodwood Cup to Group 1 and the Queen鈥檚 Vase to Group 2. Further beneficial changes have now been agreed by the Committee for 2018, with the focus on providing a more extensive and coherent programme of Black Type races for staying fillies and mares. This has been achieved through the promotion of the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood to Group 2 and the creation of three new Group 3鈥檚 (one each in Britain, France and Ireland) and three new Listed races restricted to mares over staying distances. There are also further improvements to the programme for three-year-olds.
Brian Kavanagh, Chairman of the European Pattern Committee, commented:
鈥淓urope can justifiably claim to be pre-eminent within the global racing community in terms of the quality of the stayers that we breed and race and we are taking active measures to ensure that this position is maintained and strengthened. There is an ongoing, multi-year project to improve Black Type staying race opportunities and it is expected that further changes to the stayers鈥� programme will be introduced in 2019, to continue the progression of this important project for the future of the staying horse.鈥�
The enhancements to the staying race programme agreed for 2018 are listed below:
Britain
New Group 3 (Bronte Cup) 4yo+ fillies鈥� race over 14 furlongs at York on May 26th
Listed Grand Cup (14f, 4yo+ York) moved from May 26th to June 16th
Listed Silver Cup (14f 3+ – 14 July York) 鈥� upgraded to Group 3 and convert to 4yo+
Group 3 Lillie Langtry (14f 3+ fillies – 2 Aug Goodwood) 鈥� upgraded to Group 2
Listed March Stakes (14f 3yo – 25 Aug Goodwood) 鈥� upgraded to Group 3
France
New Listed race for fillies, Prix Gold River (4yo+ 2,800m), at Longchamp on 3rd May
Listed Prix Michel Houyvet (Deauville, 3,000m 3yo, mid-August) 鈥� distance reduced to 2800m
Listed Prix Belle de Nuit (St Cloud, 2500m 3+ fillies, 27 October) 鈥� upgraded to Group 3 and distance increased to 2800m
Ireland
New Listed 4yo+ fillies鈥� race over 14 furlongs at Gowran Park on May 9th
Listed Stanerra (3yo+ fillies, 20 July) 鈥� moved to 12 July and upgraded to Group 3
New Listed 3yo only race over 14 furlongs at Leopardstown on 26 July
Listed Her Majesty鈥檚 Plate at Down Royal (14f, 27 July) 鈥� converted from 3yo+ to 4yo+
Germany
New Listed 4yo+ race over 3000m at Cologne on German Guineas weekend (6 May)
2.听听听听听听听听 UPGRADES
The Committee approved upgrades for 13 Pattern races and the creation of 9 new Listed races in 2018, including the promotion of the Flying Five at The Curragh on Longines Irish Champions Weekend to Group 1, providing Ireland with a first ever Group 1 sprinting opportunity for older horses. Additionally, four races were promoted to Group 2, namely the Huxley (Chester), Lillie Langtry (Goodwood), Golden Fleece (Leopardstown) and Prix du Calvados (Deauville).
The full list, including the staying races changes outlined above, is provided below:
Upgraded from Group 2 to Group 1
16/09/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Flying Five聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Curragh聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 5f
Upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2
11/05/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Huxley聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Chester聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4yo+聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 10f
02/08/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lillie Langtry聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Goodwood聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+ f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 14f
18/08/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Calvados聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Deauville聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2yo f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1400m
15/09/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Golden Fleece聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Leopardstown聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2yo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 8f
Upgraded from Listed to Group 3
14/07/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Silver Cup聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 York聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4yo+ (from 3+)聽 14f
29/06/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Hoppings聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Newcastle聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+ f聽 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 10f
12/07/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Stanerra聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Leopardstown聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+ f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 14f
28/07/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Six Perfections聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Deauville聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2yo f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1400m
25/08/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 March聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Goodwood聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 14f
19/10/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Mercury聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dundalk聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2yo+聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 5f
27/10/18聽 聽 Belle de Nuit聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Saint-Cloud聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+ f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2800m
New Group 3 Race
26/05/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Bront毛 Cup聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 York聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4yo+ f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 14f
New Listed Races
TBC聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Spring Mile (dirt)聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jagersro, Sweden聽聽聽聽聽聽 4yo+聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1600m
25/04/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Investec Derby Trial聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Epsom Downs聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 10f
06/05/18聽 聽 聽 聽TBC聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽Cologne聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽4yo+聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 3000m
07/05/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 As yet unnamed聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Naas聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 5陆 f
08/05/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 As yet unnamed聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Gowran Park聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4yo+ f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 14f
21/06/18聽 聽 聽 聽 TBC聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Chelmsford City, Britain聽 4yo+ f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 7f
08/07/18聽 聽 聽 聽Kistena聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Deauville, France聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 3yo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1200m
26/07/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 As yet unnamed聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Leopardstown聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 14f
04/08/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 Criterium Varesino聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Varese聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2yo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1500m
15/09/18聽聽聽聽聽聽 As yet unnamed聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Leopardstown聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2yo f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 7f
3.听听听听听听听听 DOWNGRADES
Europe continues to set a high standard in terms of quality control of its Pattern and Listed races and its Ground Rules unarguably represent a high watermark for the rest of the world. In accordance with these Ground Rules, races that underperform consistently are identified as at risk of downgrade, after which the host racecourse is put on notice that if the race fails to achieve the required performance rating, it could be downgraded the following year.
Two Pattern races and five Listed races were downgraded by the European Pattern Committee following their 2017 renewals. Additionally, the Committee has introduced a new Ground Rule that no handicaps can offer Black Type which saw Listed status removed from two races. Overall, the net position saw 6 Pattern races added to the European programme in 2018 and 2 Listed races.聽 The downgraded races were:
Downgraded from Group 3
19/08/17聽聽聽聽聽聽 Curragh聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Curragh聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2yo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 5f
12/10/17聽聽聽聽聽聽 Andre Baboin聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Bordeaux聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+ 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1900m
Downgraded from Listed
08/07/17聽聽聽聽聽聽 Derby de l鈥橭uest聽 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Nantes聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2400m
08/12/17聽聽聽聽聽聽 Crit. Dell鈥橧mmacolata聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Siracusa聽聽聽聽聽 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2yo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1400m
11/11/17聽聽聽聽聽聽 Giovanni Falck聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Milan聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+ f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2400m
02/07/17聽聽聽聽聽聽 Gran Premio de Madrid聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Madrid, Spain聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2500m
24/09/17聽聽聽聽聽聽 Grand Prix Jockey Club聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dielsdorf, Switzerland 3yo+ 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2470m
Removal of Listed status
18/05/17聽聽聽聽聽聽 Hambleton Handicap聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 York聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4yo+聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 8f
21/06/17聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sandringham Handicap聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Royal Ascot 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo f 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 8f
As a consequence of the on-going monitoring of their quality, 24 races comprising 12 Pattern races (two Group 1s, seven Group 2s and three Group 3s) and 12 Listed races have been identified as being at risk of downgrade in 2019.聽 A list of Group 1 (indicated) and Group 2 races which are at risk of downgrading can be found below:
France
08/05/17聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Saint-Cloud 聽聽聽聽 GREFFULHE聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yoc&f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2000m
04/06/17聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Chantilly聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 GROS-CHENE聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1000m
18/06/17聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Chantilly聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 HOCQUART聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yoc&f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2400m
Germany
02/07/17聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Hamburg 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 DEUTSCHES DERBY (Grp 1)聽 3yoc&f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2400m
27/08/17聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Baden-Baden聽聽 GOLDENE PIETSCH聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1200m
Italy
14/05/17聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Rome聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 PRESIDENTE DELLA聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4yo+聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1800m
REPUBBLICA
22/10/17聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Milan聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 GRAN CRITERIUM聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2yoc&f聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1500m
29/10/17聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Rome聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 LYDIA TESIO (Grp 1)聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3yo+f&m聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2000m
4.听听听听听听听听 OTHER ISSUES
Three-Year-Old Sprint Programme
In 2015 the European Pattern Committee announced details of a number of major enhancements to the European sprint programme, specifically with the creation of a programme of opportunities for high-class three-year-old sprinters in the early part of the season, culminating in the newly-created Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. With 2017 having been the third year since implementing the changes, the Committee undertook a full review of the programme and was very pleased with the level of success the three-year-old sprint races had attained, along with the positive impact of the Commonwealth Cup in a short space of time on how certain horses were being campaigned.
Italian Racing
The European Pattern Committee remains very concerned about the ongoing situation, and for the future of the horseracing and breeding industries in Italy. The number of overseas runners in Italy continues to fall and the quality of their Black Type races also, with Italy鈥檚 sole remaining Group 1 race, the Lydia Tesio, being put on the 鈥榓t risk鈥� list for 2019. Further requirements have been placed on Italy by the Committee and progress will be monitored closely over the next twelve months.
Redevelopment of Longchamp Racecourse
The European Pattern Committee is looking forward to the re-opening of Longchamp racecourse in 2018 following its extensive redevelopment, with its programme of Pattern and Listed races returning there from their temporary hosting racecourses.
