Two new Group 1 races this year There will be two new Group 1 races this year with both the Pretty Polly Strakes and the Matron Stakes having been elevated to the highest level following a review of the Irish Flat Pattern Race Programme.The two fillies races have been promoted from Group 2´s, with the ´Pretty Polly´ taking place at the Curragh on June 26 and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 11. This means there will be twelve Group 1 races in Ireland this season.In a further boost for fillies, the Debutante Stakes and the Blandford Stakes have been raised from Group 3 to Group 2, while a new Group 2 race - the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes - for older fillies and mares will take place over a mile at the Curragh on 2,000 Guineas day (May 22). However the International Stakes and the Flying Five have been demoted from Group 2 to Group 3 level.HRI´s Director of Racing, Jason Morris, commented: ´The enhancements are a further boost for the Irish Black Type programme, especially for fillies and mares, which have been significantly improved in the past two years. The downgrading of two under performing races illustrates HRI´s commitment towards maintaining the high standard of the Irish Pattern and ensuring our Black Type is not devalued in any way.´
