Weatherbys Ireland will be the title sponsor of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association National Hunt Fillies Bonus Scheme for 2017. Established in 2014, the scheme supports the sale of fillies at public auction and encourages owners and breeders to put their fillies into training. The scheme rewards eligible fillies 3-years-old and older a €5,000 bonus for breaking their maidens. Ninety-four eligible races are scheduled for 2017, up from 76 this year.
Ronan Murphy, chief executive officer of Weatherbys Ireland, said, “We are delighted to sponsor the Weatherbys/ITBA NH Fillies Bonus Scheme for 2017. Over the past two years we have targeted our National Hunt race sponsorship program specifically at mares and fillies races across the country, culminating in a new listed mares bumper at the Punchestown Festival which has been upgraded to Grade 3 status for 2017. Approximately 45% of all Irish-born foals are produced for the National Hunt market and we believe that it is important that we support race programmes for fillies and mares which ultimately represent the future broodmares of our industry.”
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