Roi retired
ROI Du Mee, a prolific winner for Gordon Elliott, has been retired.
Owned by Gigginstown House Stud, he won 16 races under rules and his final start was in a point-to-point at Maralin in October.
His career highlight came when he beat Sizing Europe in the 2013 JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal. Elliott tweeted: “Yard favourite Roi Du Mee, winner of 17 races, has been retired and will enjoy a happy retirement at Gigginstown House Stud.”
New sponsor for Stayers’ Hurdle
SUN Bets is the new sponsor of the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The betting website replaces Ladbrokes, who have not yet signed up to the British Horseracing Authority’s Authorised Betting Partner scheme. The new sponsor has signed a three-year deal.
Plus 10 bonus
conditions change
THE conditions of the Plus 10 Bonus Scheme have been amended so that in 2017 qualified horses can only win one €12,500 bonus.
The scheme’s Irish coordinator Fiona Goor said Irish owners would only be minimally affected.
“This year we only had five horses win two bonus races.
“In 2017, as before, there are 100 Plus 10 bonuses which are attached to every non-blacktype two-year-old race in Ireland, rolled over until all 100 are won.”
CARRIED OVER
Goor confirmed that over 90 bonuses were won in Ireland this year and, pending the results from last night’s Dundalk meeting, approximately seven bonuses would be carried over to three-year-old maidens next year.
In the past two years Plus 10 has paid out €10 million to UK and Irish breeders and owners, who fund the scheme in addition to funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board, British Horseracing Authority, Horse Racing Ireland, Goffs and Tattersalls.
Pony racing on
New Year’s Day
THE first meeting of new horse and pony racing season, the traditional Southern Region Christmas fixture, takes place on Ballyheigue Strand, Co Kerry on Sunday, January 1st at 12.30pm.
The Southern Region’s awards night will be presented in the Rathkeale House Hotel, Co Limerick on Saturday, February 18th at 7pm.
The Irish Field National Rider Awards for 2016 will be presented at this event.
Dream Ahead moves to France
DREAM Ahead moves from Ballylinch Stud to stand in France next year. The Diktat horse will be based at Haras de Grandcamp and his fee will be €12,000. A five-time Group 1 winner, Dream Ahead retired to stud in 2012 and his best known son is Donjuan Triumphant, a Group 2 winner in France.
At Grandcamp Dream Ahead will stand alongside the Elusive Quality horse Evasive and Group 1 winner Dabirsim (by Hat Trick).