Group Three boost for Irish races

FIVE Irish Flat races have been promoted from Listed to Group Three status for this year by the European Pattern Committee.

Leopardstown stage three of the five events – the Amethyst Stakes over a mile on May 13, the Tyros Stakes for two-year-olds over a mile on July 28 and the mile-and-a-half Ballyroan Stakes on August 19.

The other two upgraded races are the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork on August 6 and the Solonoway Stakes at the Curragh on September 16.

Horse Racing Ireland racing director Jason Morris said: “We are delighted that the high quality of our black-type programme has allowed us to increase the number of Pattern races by 50% over the past five years.”

However, the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes at the Curragh on May 26 has been downgraded from Group Two to Three as it has failed to meet its required rating parameters.