Derby Trial promoted to Group Two status

LEOPARDSTOWN’S Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial is one of eight Irish races which have been upgraded by the European Pattern Committee at its meeting in Stockholm.

The mile and a quarter event, won for the last three years by Sinndar, Galileo and High Chaparral, who all went on to take the Vodafone Derby, has been promoted to Group Two status.

Like the Derby Trial another three of the eight races have been made Group Two from Three.

The others are Leopardstown's one-mile Matron Stakes and two races at the Curragh, the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes and the Anheuser Busch Railway Stakes over six furlongs.

Also promoted from Listed status to Group Three are the Ballysax Stakes and the seven-furlong Brownstown Stakes which drops down from a mile at Leopardstown, while at the Curragh, the Athasi Stakes and the Mooresbridge Stakes have gone up in grade.

Jason Morris, director of racing for Horse Racing Ireland, said: "HRI is delighted to have secured these eight Pattern promotions which, coupled with the 14 new Listed races added this year, will see a significantly enhanced Flat Black Type programme for Ireland for 2003.

"These measures are due recognition of the high quality of the Irish Flat horse population and mean that Irish racegoers will be provided with even more opportunities to witness high-class, international competition during the 2003 Flat season."

In another change to the Ballysax Stakes, the race will be renamed the P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes in recognition of McGrath's immense contribution to the development of Leopardstown racecourse.