IT may seem strange to be issuing news of an important flat race sponsorship in the middle of the National Hunt season, but it is good to know that racecourses are beavering away, working to attract sponsors.

This is in spite of the sport being in the dark when it comes to knowing when we can welcome racegoers on track.

The Curragh is the headquarters of Irish racing, home to all five classic races in the Irish calendar, and this week it revealed that the Niarchos Family has agreed to sponsor the Group 2 Debutante Stakes to acknowledge the magnificent racing career of Alpha Centauri.

The daughter of Mastercraftsman, who was named the world’s best three-year-old filly, the world’s best three-year-old miler, the Cartier champion three-year-old filly and the Irish Horse of the Year in 2018, won six races during her all too short but illustrious career.

One of her career highlights came at the Curragh when she enjoyed classic race success in the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas.

Subsequently she went on win the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Falmouth Stakes and the Niarchos-sponsored Prix Jacques Le Marois. An injury brought her career to a premature end.

The Debutante Stakes is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 21st and is one of the highest-rated races for two-year-old fillies in Europe. The Jessica Harrington trained Alpine Star, a half-sister to Alpha Centauri who was both owned and bred by the Niarchos Family, won the race in 2019 in the hands of Shane Foley.

In 2020 Alpine Star, a daughter of Sea The Moon, was rated the world champion three-year-old filly on turf from a mile to 10 furlongs.

Gorgeous winner

Pretty Gorgeous, trained by Joseph O’Brien, won the 2020 renewal of the race and she, like many before her, gave the race’s status a boost when she was runner-up in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on her way to an end of season victory in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.

Other notable subsequent Group 1 winners of the Debutante Stakes include Magical, Skitter Scatter, Rhododendron, Maybe, Again, Necklace, Rumplestiltskin (who comes from the family of Alpha Centauri), Lillie Langtry, Edabiya, Preseli, Dance Design and Pass The Peace.

Maria Niarchos-Gouaze, speaking on behalf of her family, said: “Racing in Ireland has been very good to my family and we are pleased to be able to support the Curragh through the sponsorship of such a prestigious race that has been won by many brilliant fillies, including Alpine Star.”

Very special

Jessica Harrington, who trained Alpha Centauri, said: “The Debutante Stakes at the Curragh is a race that I am very fond of, and I am delighted that the Niarchos Family will now sponsor it.

“To honour Alpha Centauri at the Curragh is very special to me as she was my first ever classic winner in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the course.”

On behalf of the Curragh, their racing and sponsorship manager Evan Arkwright commented: “The Niarchos family is synonymous with racing at the Curragh and their name has been associated with numerous high-quality winners over many years.

“We are delighted that they have agreed to honour Alpha Centauri by adding her name to a race that consistently attracts the very best juvenile fillies.”

Alpha Centauri retired from racing in 2018 with earnings of more than €1.4 million and is the proud dam of a now yearling colt by Galileo.

She is from a family that has been exceptionally successful for the Niarchos family. Alpha Centauri’s grandam East Of The Moon was a champion and dual classic winner, while her third dam was the champion and 10-time Group 1 winner Miesque.