THE IRE Incentive scheme, introduced by Horse Racing Ireland to stimulate and strengthen sales of Irish-bred thoroughbreds at Irish public auctions, broke new ground last weekend with its first winner outside Ireland.

Imperial Fighter, trained by Andrew Balding, impressed on his debut at Goodwood to collect a €10,000 voucher for connections to spend on Irish-breds at Irish sales and join approaching 50 individual winners of the bonus since the initiative launched.

At the time of going to press, almost €500,000 has been awarded to close to 40 individual owners in the space of just over four months, all with the aim of making Irish-bred horses at Irish sales an even more attractive commodity.

Up to 150 races, mostly comprising fillies’ maidens, auction and median auction maidens, plus National Hunt auction events, are forming the initiative this year.

This number includes several more races that have been identified in Britain to award the bonus to eligible winners ahead of the Irish yearling sales next month. Races at Nottingham, Newbury, Pontefract, York, Musselburgh, Salisbury and Goodwood will carry the bonus in August and September.

“We’re delighted to have won the first €10,000 IRE Incentive bonus in Britain for Michael Blencowe who owns Imperial Fighter. He was very reasonably bought at the Orby Sale last year. It is a fantastic incentive and Michael is very keen to get another Irish horse with the €10,000 bonus in hand,” Balding said.

“We have been very fortunate at the Irish yearling sales in recent years. Khalifa Sat and Berkshire Rocco were both placed in classics last season and both were bought for very good value. Oo De Lally and Goolwa have done very well this year for us from Irish sales so we are hoping to come back next month. If we can win any more bonuses in the meantime it would be great.”

Ottoman Emperor

Another horse to have scooped the IRE Incentive is Ottoman Emperor who announced his arrival in the elite bracket last week by winning the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. Trainer Johnny Murtagh has declared the Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster next month his next target.

Ottoman Emperor, sourced for just €7,500 at the Goffs February Sale by Cormac Farrell and Anna Calder of Leamore Horses in Co Wexford, caught the eye in two Irish EBF Barrier Trials to convince prominent Australian owners OTI Racing to snap him up, unraced.

“I didn’t know about the IRE Incentive bonus so it is just more good news with Ottoman Emperor!” said Terry Henderson, managing director of OTI.

“This will help continue what is a growing relationship with Irish racing and bloodstock. Three years ago, we didn’t have any horses racing in Ireland and now we have 10 and they are doing very well. We will be only too happy to reinvest the bonus at the yearling sales to strengthen that link,” he added.

“The quality of Irish horses is very well-established in Australia and our model is to develop them in their early years in Ireland with a view to them coming to Australia if and when the time is right. That said, if Ottoman Emperor can continue the way he is going we will leave him where he is with Johnny. We are just thrilled with how he has progressed.”

McGuinness success

Earlier in the summer, Sea Breezing, trained by Ado McGuinness, clicked on her sole Irish start at Down Royal for Shamrock Thoroughbreds.

Syndicate manager Stephen Thorne said: “Sea Breezing was sold privately afterwards to race in America so, between the win on debut and the IRE Incentive bonus that came with it, it turned out a pretty good result for the team,” Thorne reflected. Everyone who was involved in her is looking forward to finding another horse or two to carry our colours next season. The IRE Incentive will only help that goal.”

At least 50 more races will be part of the IRE Incentive scheme before the end of the year between Ireland and Britain. The €10,000 bonus to eligible winners – those carrying the IRE suffix and Foal Levy compliant – will have until the end of the following year to redeem their voucher on an Irish-bred at an Irish public auction.