Pat Smullen Stakes Spearheads Series for Middle-Distance Youngsters

[Wandering Eyes]

This Saturday sees the inaugural running of the Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes at Naas, with the Listed contest having attracted eight runners from seven different stables. 

Run over a mile, the race is part of the Smullen Series, launched this year by the Irish EBF and consisting of 18 middle-distance races for two- and three-year-olds.

Daytona (Wootton Bassett), a winning debutant last month at Gowran Park, is among the field and his trainer Aidan O'Brien was keen to target the race which is named in honour of his late brother-in-law, the nine-time Irish champion jockey.

O'Brien said of Daytona, “He won nicely in Gowran the first day when Jack [Cleary] rode him. Wayne [Lordan] rides him in Naas. We think he's a nice horse and we think the trip should suit him.

“Obviously, it's in memory of Pat and that makes it very special for us and we're delighted to be running what we think is a nice horse in the race. We like him, we think he's a classy horse.”

Joe Foley, chairman of the Irish EBF Chairman, said, “The new Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes is the launch pad for the Smullen Series and an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of an Irish racing hero, Pat Smullen. The Smullen Series showcases the Irish EBF's commitment to middle-distance horses where two-year-olds now have a range of races from July to the end of the season each worth €25,000 over a mile and a mile-plus.

“For the following season they can link into the existing Spring Series of middle-distance races creating a pathway to the €200,000 Gowran Classic as a three-year-old. The objective of the series is to provide breeders, owners and trainers of middle-distance horses with valuable races for two and three-year-olds while promoting the breeding and racing of stamina horses. We are delighted to have Frances [Crowley] and her family to the races on Saturday to present the new Pat Smullen perpetual trophy.”

 

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