A pair of German Group 2 races and a distance change for two key French 2-year-old races were among the outcomes of the European Pattern Committee’s annual meeting at the British Horseracing Authority offices on January 23.
Germany suffered most with its Meilen Trophy and Goldene Peitsche downgraded from Group 2 status, and the Group 1 Deutsches Derby, Group 1 Preis von Europa, Group 2 Diana Trial and Group 2 T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis all put on notice for risk of downgrading in 2021.
France was issued a warning for four races – the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and Group 2 Prix Greffulhe, Prix Hocquart and Prix Eugene Adam.
Italy’s Group 2 Derby Italiano and Turkey’s Group 2 Topkapi Trophyare also on notice. The committee also determined that Italy shall remain as an associated member of the European Pattern Committee with no voting rights. Norway’s Group 3 Polar Cup was the only other pattern race downgraded, and five listed races in France (1), Spain (2) and Norway (3) lost their listed status.
France’s Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Group 1 Criterium International will shorten to distances of 1400m and 1600m, respectively, as part of a two-year trial with France-Galop confirming it will undertake a full review of the French 2- year-old programme.
One race each in Britain, Ireland and France were upgraded to Group 3 status: Ascot’s Valiant S. for fillies and mares over one mile; The Curragh’s Marble Hill Stakes over six furlongs for 2-yearolds and Deauville’s Prix Francois Boutin for 2-year-olds over 1400 metres.
Naas gains a new listed race for 2-year-old fillies over five furlongs at the end of July; Deauville adds a listed race for 3- year-olds and up over 2500 metres on the all-weather in December and Jagersro gets a listed race for 3-year-olds and up over a mile in October.
“Modest changes were the order of the day as the EPC approved a total of 427 group and 426 listed races to be run on the flat in Europe this year,” EPC Chair Brian Kavanagh said in a statement.
“The quality of the European programme was noted and while numerous races may have qualified for upgrade on their ratings, the changes were limited to three new Group 3 and three new listed races.”