Irish Stamp
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EXACTLY 20 years after it was downgraded from a Group 1, Royal Ascot's King's Stand Stakes has regained that lost status following prolonged lobbying of the European Pattern Committee, it was revealed on Monday.
Shorn of its previous ranking because race planners at the time were anxious to focus increased attention on Haydock's Vernons Sprint, now the Betfred Sprint Cup, the profile of the Ascot race has been raised considerably in recent years following Choisir's headline grabbing win for Australia in 2003.
Two years later it became the first leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, and its image was subsequently further boosted by wins for the Australian-trained pair Takeover Target in 2006 and Miss Andretti last year.
As a prelude to its reinstatement, the King's Stand was last year run under Group 1 conditions after the BHA negotiated the removal of penalties for previous winners at that level, which was regarded a crucial component to attract further international sprinters.
Within the next few days, Nick Smith, Ascot's head of public relations, will embark on a tour of Japan, Hong Kong and Australia with a brief to tempt the fastest horses from those areas to Ascot this summer.
As a result of the change, Royal Ascot 2008 will open with three consecutive Group 1 races and will stage seven in all.
Ruth Quinn, the BHA's director of racing, said on Monday: “Ascot has invested a great deal of time and money in the King's Stand and results in recent years are a clear indication that this is proving to be successful.
“As we know, the Global Sprint Challenge very quickly established itself as an attractive additional incentive for sprinters worldwide to travel and it has certainly added another dimension to a sphere that for some years had been lacking in narrative or interest.”
She added: “It can clearly be argued that there is a case for a European Group 1 over five furlongs in the first half of the season and with the King's Stand now proving to be as strong as any existing Group 1 sprint in Europe, we are finally able to justify rewarding it with Group 1 status.”
Charles Barnett, Ascot's chief executive, said: “We're delighted to see the King's Stand Stakes formally recognised as the championship race it has become over the last few years.”
OTHER CHANGES TO BRITISH PATTERN RACES
>> Upgraded from Listed to Group 3: Goodwood's Glorious Stakes and Haydock's John of Gaunt Stakes.
>> Upgraded from Group 3 to 2: Ascot's Princess Royal Stakes, now switched to Newmarket's Champions meeting and to be run under a different name. In exchange, the Group 3 Bentinck Stakes moves from Newmarket to Ascot and will be run as the Bengough Stakes at the October meeting. The Listed Harvest Stakes at Ascot will adopt the name of the Princess Royal Stakes.
>> The European Pattern Committee also approved the switch of the Group 2 Temple Stakes from Sandown to Haydock. The race will have prize-money boosted from £85,000 to £100,000.
From the RP.
Some interesting changes in there
Shorn of its previous ranking because race planners at the time were anxious to focus increased attention on Haydock's Vernons Sprint, now the Betfred Sprint Cup, the profile of the Ascot race has been raised considerably in recent years following Choisir's headline grabbing win for Australia in 2003.
Two years later it became the first leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, and its image was subsequently further boosted by wins for the Australian-trained pair Takeover Target in 2006 and Miss Andretti last year.
As a prelude to its reinstatement, the King's Stand was last year run under Group 1 conditions after the BHA negotiated the removal of penalties for previous winners at that level, which was regarded a crucial component to attract further international sprinters.
Within the next few days, Nick Smith, Ascot's head of public relations, will embark on a tour of Japan, Hong Kong and Australia with a brief to tempt the fastest horses from those areas to Ascot this summer.
As a result of the change, Royal Ascot 2008 will open with three consecutive Group 1 races and will stage seven in all.
Ruth Quinn, the BHA's director of racing, said on Monday: “Ascot has invested a great deal of time and money in the King's Stand and results in recent years are a clear indication that this is proving to be successful.
“As we know, the Global Sprint Challenge very quickly established itself as an attractive additional incentive for sprinters worldwide to travel and it has certainly added another dimension to a sphere that for some years had been lacking in narrative or interest.”
She added: “It can clearly be argued that there is a case for a European Group 1 over five furlongs in the first half of the season and with the King's Stand now proving to be as strong as any existing Group 1 sprint in Europe, we are finally able to justify rewarding it with Group 1 status.”
Charles Barnett, Ascot's chief executive, said: “We're delighted to see the King's Stand Stakes formally recognised as the championship race it has become over the last few years.”
OTHER CHANGES TO BRITISH PATTERN RACES
>> Upgraded from Listed to Group 3: Goodwood's Glorious Stakes and Haydock's John of Gaunt Stakes.
>> Upgraded from Group 3 to 2: Ascot's Princess Royal Stakes, now switched to Newmarket's Champions meeting and to be run under a different name. In exchange, the Group 3 Bentinck Stakes moves from Newmarket to Ascot and will be run as the Bengough Stakes at the October meeting. The Listed Harvest Stakes at Ascot will adopt the name of the Princess Royal Stakes.
>> The European Pattern Committee also approved the switch of the Group 2 Temple Stakes from Sandown to Haydock. The race will have prize-money boosted from £85,000 to £100,000.
From the RP.
Some interesting changes in there
