Guineas Trials promoted to Group 3 The Leopardstown 1,000 & 2,000 Guineas Trials have been promoted to Group 3 level from Listed class for 2005.The European Pattern Committee have approved the promotion of these races, which are for 3-year olds only and are run over 7 and 8 furlongs respectively.Announcing the change, HRI Director of Racing Jason Morris commented, ´Since HRI´s inception we have been able to secure agreement from the European Patten Committee for a significant increase in the number of Irish Pattern races, with a rise from 38 in 2002 to 48 in 2005.´´This reflects the ever increasing quality and strength in depth of the Irish Flat horse population. The two new Group 3 Guineas Trials are a very welcome further addition to our Pattern race programme having become well established trials for both the Newmarket and Irish Guineas, featuring recent Group 1 performers such as Refuse To Bend, Grey Swallow, Dimitrova and L´Ancresse.´Matt O´Dwyer, Chief Executive, HRI Racecourse Division, added, ´Leopardstown are delighted to be starting their 2005 Flat season with an extremely strong card on Sunday 10th April featuring three well established Classic trials all now at the Group 3 level, with the 10 furlong Ballysax complementing the two newly promoted races.´
