Joanne Hurley, Ger Lyons, Colin Keane and Pat Keogh at the launch of the series
The Curragh Racecourse has announced that Gain Equine Nutrition will strengthen their partnership with the racecourse by agreeing to sponsor a series of three high quality races for two-year-olds, which will be branded as the “Champion Collection”.
Gain have enjoyed a long-standing association with the Curragh since 2012 when they initially sponsored the Irish St Leger, moving their support to the Group 2 Railway Stakes in 2014 and then adding the Listed First Flier Stakes last year. They will also be adding the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes to their sponsorship portfolio this year for the first time.
The winning horse from the GAIN Railway Stakes will receive a free entry into the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes Group 1.
Trainer, Ger Lyons, who has won each of the three of the races in the Champion Collection said, “It is great to see GAIN extending their sponsorship with The Curragh this season and the Champion Collection is a fantastic initiative. Each race is blacktype and every season we hope to have two year olds talented enough to win races of this calibre. They are important markers through the season and ideally you’d like to move up the ranks and be represented in the Group 2 Railway Stakes on Derby weekend.”
Joanne Hurley, Irish Country Manager, GAIN Equine Nutrition noted, “We are delighted to strengthen our support of The Curragh racecourse this year by launching the Champion Collection series. This partnership has grown over the years and truly reinforces GAIN’s commitment to both the racing and bloodstock industries. We have enjoyed an excellent long-standing relationship with The Curragh and look forward to three very keenly-contested races.”
Evan Arkwright, Racing and Sponsorship Manager, commented, “We are excited to extend our very valued partnership with GAIN this year. There is already a natural synergy between all three races consistently attracting some of the best juveniles in Europe, so we are delighted to be able to officially link them through their generous sponsorship.”
