THE Irish Breeders Classic, sponsored by Connolly’s RED MILLS, kicks off in Barnadown Equestrian Centre in Co Wexford tomorrow (Thursday) August 31st and runs to Sunday, September 3rd.

The Irish Breeders Classic will feature three major young horse classes with a total prize fund of €50,000. The entire prize fund is comprised of contributions from industry associations, members and businesses.

Over the past six years, the Irish Breeders Classic has created a platform for five and six-year-old Irish horses to compete for significant prize-money, creating an attractive proposition for the connections of young horse.

The four-day event showcases a quality selection of competition horses as well as the Goresbridge Select Foal Auction, which combined present a unique opportunity for both potential domestic and overseas customers, therefore boosting demand for the Irish horse.

Ronan Rothwell, organiser of the Irish Breeders Classic said: “The Irish Breeders Classic began when I saw the need to create a demand for the Irish-born horse to the rest of the world. We have always been a nation known for producing top quality horses but it’s really important to keep the demand generated and make sure that there is a shop window for Irish born horses.”

Gareth Connolly, Sales and Marketing Director, Connolly’s RED MILLS: “The Irish Breeders Classic sponsorship started with a conversation between Ronan and myself and as Ronan described what the concept was all about it seemed a very good fit. We are extremely selective about the sponsorship that we are involved in. The home market is key for us, we spend at home to make sure that we can support the industry and the sport and our customers.”

The prize fund for the five and six-year-old class, confined to Irish-born horses, is €36,000. Horses compete in 2 qualifying rounds at the show and the leading 25 go through to the Grand Final on Sunday, with the remainder eligibly for a consolation final on Saturday.

The seven and eight-year-old championships is being run for the first time this year and it open to horses from any country of birth, with a prize fund of €10,000.

SELECT FOAL AUCTION

The Goresbridge Select Foal Auction takes place on Sunday in Barnadown, where 16 pre-selected foals will be offered for sale. Two percent of the turnover of the foals will go into the Irish Breeders Classic prize-fund. Last year’s top lot was a filly foal by SIEC Livello out of Killossery Kruisette who made €18,000.

Click here to read the foal sale preview

The final round of the New Heights Champions Series will take place on Saturday. Greg Broderick is currently out in the lead.

Click here to see the full leaderboard

Watch Ronan Rothwell speak about the initiative