Stayers Examination a Welcome Development

The life of Peter Willett, who died in November at the age of 96, will be celebrated at a memorial service in Hampshire on Thursday. As well as being a hugely respected bloodstock journalist and author, his most significant contribution to the racing industry was as the key orchestrator of what we now know as the European Pattern.

The last time I saw Peter was in August and, despite his advancing years, he still had plenty to say on racing matters. Among various topics discussed that day was the fact that it was his belief–and one shared by many–that the Pattern is now somewhat unwieldy.

Thursday's announcement by the European Pattern Committee (EPC) that there will be five fewer black-type races in 2016 is therefore a small step in the right direction, but more welcome still is the EPC's decision to adopt a “pan-European approach” to the staying division by establishing a sub-committee to deal with the “worrying trend towards decline in the pool of staying horses that the EPC would not want to see continue.”

The sprinting programme for 3-year-olds has come under scrutiny in recent years, with one enhancement being the installation of a new Group 1 race for that age group at Royal Ascot, the Commonwealth Cup. The race had the best possible inauguration when won by the subsequent champion sprinter Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and, even by mid-season in 2015, John Gosden was already talking about the Commonwealth Cup as the main 3-year-old aim for his high-flying juvenile Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Now it's time to turn the spotlight on the stayers.

One of the members of the new EPC sub-committee is the BHA's Director of International Racing and Racing Development, Ruth Quinn, who has already liaised on this issue with the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), which launched a campaign last April to “protect the future of the British stayer” following an in-depth report into the dwindling gene pool of stamina-laden blood. That report had been triggered by the EPC's downgrading of the Queen's Vase, the two-mile Royal Ascot contest for 3-year-olds which previously held Group 3 status, and the G3 Bahrain Trophy being put on the 'at risk' list for downgrading. The winner of both these races in 2014 was Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) and he exemplifies the problem faced as he has subsequently been exported to Australia where he won last year's G1 The BMW.

Hartnell is a rarity in that he was not sold to go to Australia but merely continued to race for Godolphin in a country where prize money returns are better and the options are easier for Northern Hemisphere-bred stayers. Such has been the success of European imports in Australia's major staying races that progressive horses with good mile-and-a-half form in the book are now greatly in demand by buyers from that country.

Despite accomplished middle-distance and staying horses being of greater value as in-training purchases and able to compete in more valuable races, there exists a notable push by breeders towards the use of sprinting stallions in the British Isles and it is this trend which most concerns the TBA.

In launching the campaign last spring, TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson commented, “It's very much part of the TBA ethos to look after the heritage and represent the future of British racing.”

“This isn't a crisis yet but we are heading towards one and we believe that we need a carefully considered and enhanced racing programme with greater emphasis on what the stayer brings to Flat racing.”

It's heartening that so many of the recent Derby winners have gained prominent stud positions in Britain and Ireland, largely thanks to Coolmore, which stands Galileo (Ire), Pour Moi (Ire), Camelot (Ire), Ruler Of The World (Ire) and Australia (Ire), while Darley has New Approach (Ire) and Golden Horn (GB) (as well as Authorized {Ire} in France), and Sir Percy (GB) is at Lanwades Stud.

For decent winners at a mile and a half and up outside that elite bracket it can become harder to secure a berth at a Flat stud, even if those victories have come at Group 1 level. Witness the fact that at this Wednesday's DBS January Sale, a parade of 11 'National Hunt' stallions contains such high-class names as Dunaden (Fr), Schiaparelli (Ger), Telescope (Ire) and last year's G1 Coronation Cup winner Pether's Moon (Ire). Flat breeders can of course still use any of these stallions, and owner-breeders would be crazy not to when they stand for a fraction of the price of some standing distinctly under the Flat banner. To do so, however, means that the resultant offspring, if offered for sale, will attract little interest and lower bids than those yearlings by lesser-credentialed but more precocious stallions.

Turning around the mass market is nigh on impossible, and naturally for many breeders to survive in the business, commercial considerations must remain uppermost in their minds. This problem is not helped by the fact that prize money remains so woeful in all bar the top races in Britain that owners are understandably becoming keener to see quick results from horses who are able to be up and running earlier in their careers.

We are still fortunate to have an abundance of staying blood in the European stallion ranks and, for that to remain the case, it's encouraging to see the EPC taking action now to halt the erosion of those races at the upper end of the distance spectrum and provide sufficient progression for stayers throughout the racing programme. Both factors are vital if we are to be able to continue to do what the European Thoroughbred breeding industry does best–producing racehorses with stamina to match their class.

Feedback: Emma Berry emmaberry@thoroughbreddailynews.com

Click here for a free daily subscription to TDN.