Five Group 1 races included in new Champions’ Weekend
The principal alteration concerns the creation of Irish Champions’ Weekend, a new two-day meeting featuring ten Group races, including five Group 1’s, to be run at Leopardstown on Saturday, September 13 and the Curragh on Sunday, September 14, as a joint venture.
The full Black Type programme for Irish Champions’ Weekend, which will see the Solonaway Stakes (8 furlongs, 3yo+) upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2 status, has now been formally approved by the European Pattern Committee.
Additionally, the Curragh will stage a two-day Irish Champions’ Weekend Trials meeting on Saturday/Sunday August 23/24, featuring the Group 2 Debutante (7f 2yo Fillies) and Futurity (7f 2yo), along with the Group 3 Renaissance (6f 3yo+), Royal Whip (10f 3yo+) and Ballycullen (14f 3yo+).
The British Champions Long Distance Cup is the most notable upgrade in the British calendar.
The two-mile event takes place on Champions Day at Ascot on October 18 and will now be run as a Group Two event after being upgraded from Group Three status, as will the Solonaway Stakes on September 13 at Leopardstown.
Salisbury’s Dick Poole Stakes is another contest to be augmented by the EPC, switching from Listed to Group Three status, along with the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.
However, in a blow for Chester, the Dee Stakes has been downgraded to Listed level from Group Three, while the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot has also undergone the same demotion.
The Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown, the Prix Noailles at Longchamp and the Goldene Peitsche at Baden-Baden have all been changed to Group Three from Two after having failed to achieve the required rating parameter for the previous three years.
