THE first edition of the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes broke all records last year when it attracted 563 entries.

This, in turn, led to an explosion in the prize money offered to €320,000 and the creation of an €80,000 consolation race.

The six-furlong race is again confined to horses by sires whose yearlings had a median price of €75,000 last year. The first running saw prize money paid to all 20 runners, while the consolation race offered prize money down to 10th place.

Entries for the 2021 running close on March 10th and co-sponsor Joe Foley of Ballyhane Stud is hoping it proves even more popular this time around.

“It’s not just this race, but all the other auction races and median auction races too, which has stimulated demand for flat yearlings,” Foley said. “They are giving owners and trainer a chance of competing for big prize money, outside of the upper elite level. These races are attracting a high class of horse and those who compete well are worth a lot of money.”

Trainers buying

Foley names Jessica Harrington, Noel Meade, Tom Mullins, Conor O’Dwyer, Andy Slattery and John Murphy as examples of trainers who are more often associated with jump racing but are now buying significant numbers of flat yearlings each year.

Homebreds are also eligible for the median auction series – horses do not have to have been to the sales at all. A good example is Mooneista, bred by Paula Davison at Killarkin Stud and trained by her son Jack. The daughter of Dandy Man earned over €29,000 by finishing third in the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes and she also finished second in a listed race.

In terms of adding value to a yearling bought at the sales, there are few better stories than Champers Elysees. Johnny Murtagh and Fitzwilliam Racing paid €28,000 for the Elzaam filly at Tattersalls Ireland. After winning the Group 1 Matron Stakes last season, she was sold privately to Japanese owner-breeder Teruya Yoshida.

Noel Meade also landed a lovely touch on the flat last season with two Group 3 winners – Helvic Dream (€12,000 yearling) and Elysium (€15,000 yearling). The latter has since been purchased by George Strawbridge.

Worldwide market

Meade told The Irish Field: “I used to buy 12-15 three-year-old stores every year but it got to the stage where you couldn’t buy the ones you wanted. And if one of them turns out to be slow, its only option is to be a hunter for someone.

“With a flat yearling, they don’t cost as much and you have a worldwide market. They could be anything – there’s the auction races, there’s the export market and they could even end up going jumping.”

Meade has 17 two-year-olds in training this year, the number having increased year-on-year. “We have been lucky, with two Group 3 winners last year, and Elysium changed hands for a nice bit of money.”

Foley says he has been told by Horse Racing Ireland that the number of two-year-olds in training who qualify for median auction races is rising all the time. “The data proves that putting on races like these is an incentive to buy yearlings and put them in training.”

Plenty of breeders and vendors will have unsold yearlings from 2020 still on their hands. Foley adds: “They can do a deal with a trainer, put a syndicate together. People like to have a jackpot to aim for. The record number of entries last year proved that.”

Prize money for this year’s Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes will be a minimum €200,000. Foley explains: “Like last year, we left it at a guaranteed €200,000, with a promise to invest any extra entry fees we receive and hopefully run a consolation race as well.

Last year’s consolation race was won by Sweet Gardenia, trained in Upton, Co Cork, by John Murphy. The Showcasing filly cost 57,000gns as a yearling and ended up winning €57,000 in win prize money alone last season, as she also won a listed race in Tipperary.

“Auction races are absolutely vital to a trading yard, like ours,” Murphy said. “Full marks to Ballyhane Stud and the Irish EBF for the great concept. We have a smashing bunch of two-year-olds for this year. A lot of people have great confidence in the quality of Irish racing and we are really looking forward to the season. Sweet Gardenia is still with us too and we will be aiming high with her.”

Hoping for a crowd

the big day deserves

THIS year’s Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes will be run on bank holiday Monday, August 3rd. The first edition was originally scheduled for that date but had to be delayed a few weeks due to the compressed season.

The late August date was not ideal as it was close to the York Ebor meeting where there was a similar race.

Naas Racecourse manager Eamonn McEvoy is delighted to be again hosting the race, which could be the most valuable event for juveniles in Europe.

“I’m very thankful that we are racing at all, and we had a brilliant day last year for the race, even though it was gut-wrenching not to be allowed have owners or the public here. We had organised a Lockdown Hero competition and had planned to have them all here in the parade ring.

“Even with all the restrictions, we still had plenty of British-trained runners in the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes. It’s great value for owners to be able to run for that pot, and it was a pleasure to work with Joe Foley and Nessa Joyce of the Irish EBF. Hopefully we will have crowds back and plenty of new faces here on August 3rd.”

Nessa Joyce commented: “The Irish EBF board was extremely encouraged to see the response from trainers and owners to last year’s Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, and the 26 races in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series, worth nearly €670,000.

“All these median races are open to EBF eligible two-year-olds whose sire has established a median price of €75,000 or less and this includes homebreds, so any yearling that did not make a sale last year can still target these races.

“It is a great example of yet another Irish EBF initiative being so well received by the industry and we look forward to seeing connections benefit from this years Irish EBF Median races and hopefully for many more years to come.”

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