THE Beresford Stakes - the two-year-old trial used as a launchpad to greatness for Sea The Stars in 2008 - is one of four Irish blacktype races on the flat that are at risk of a downgrade in 2024 after the European Pattern Committee’s latest performance assessments this month.

Also in receipt of warning letters for next year are Dundalk’s Listed Patton Stakes, which saw horses rated 98, 84 and 78 fill the 1-2-3 last season, the Curragh’s Group 3 Gladness Stakes, won in 2022 by Markaz Paname, and Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes (registered as the Balanchine), which went to the unbeaten Statuette last year.

Victory for the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Crypto Force in last season’s Beresford Stakes denied Aidan O’Brien a 12th consecutive win in the Group 2 - and a 22nd in total.

Horse Racing Ireland’s race planning manager Shane Doyle, who represents Ireland on the EPC along with John O’Connor, told The Irish Field: “The Patton and Gladness have fallen below the required parameter in the last two years and would be automatically downgraded if they fail to hit the mark for a third consecutive year, while the pair of two-year-old races, as Group 2s, would go to a vote of the EPC if they are not of the required standard this year.

“Ireland could make our case to the committee for them to retain their status if our pattern committee feel that they are important to our pattern, but hopefully that will not be required as both races have rated well in the past and will do again this year.”

Leopardstown’s Ballylinch Stud-backed 2000 Guineas Trial has been upgraded from listed to Group 3 status, a move Doyle believes was fully deserved.

He explained: “The race was downgraded from Group 3 to listed in 2013 and, following feedback from leading trainers that the race would be a more suitable start to the season for classic contenders over seven furlongs than a mile, the distance was changed. The four renewals in April since have all exceeded the Group 3 parameter.

“Over the new distance, it has attracted good field sizes and been won Group 1 performers like Poetic Flare and Gustav Klimt and the likes of Madhmoon and US Navy Flag have been placed. The committee felt the race was clearly deserving of an upgrade and were confident it can continue to achieve the required ratings.”

Ireland will also stage a new listed race for fillies and mares aged three years and older over eight furlongs at Navan in June.

Doyle said: “With only one new listed race permitted each year under the EPC ground rules, it’s important that new races are of a strategic benefit to the pattern and in recent years the new races have tended to be fillies’ races, which have performed well and helped boost the attractiveness of having fillies in training in Ireland.

“This new race has been suggested for a few years from the feedback we seek from the leading trainers before the pattern committee meets each year. It will exclude previous group-race winners and is targeted at fillies who have won their maiden early in the season or who have tried the Guineas trail and maybe not proved up to the top level at that stage of their career.”

The Group 2 Curragh Cup will move from Irish Derby weekend in late-June to Irish Oaks weekend on July 22nd, while there were downgrades for the Kilboy Estate (Group 2 to Group 3) and Concorde (Group 3 to listed).

On the factors behind why the downgrades had arisen, Doyle said: “The Kilboy Estate is a difficult one to figure out. It had always rated very strongly and been won by very high-class fillies like Dank, Bocca Baciata and Magical, but the last four renewals have fallen quite a bit shy of the standard required for a Group 2.

“The Concorde can sometimes be run on heavy going in early October and can lead to some horses under performing. While generally rated as a strong Group 3, it has had some low-rated renewals through the years and, with the last three runnings being low-rated races, its downgrade was automatic.”