Italy suffers downgrades while Ireland receives boost

Three of Italy's four classics were dealt a blow by the European Pattern

Committee and have been downgraded for 2007, while Irish racing received a boost to its 2007 program

with a

quintet of upgrades.

The May 20 Derby Italiano (Ity-G1) will keep its status, but the filly

equivalent, the June 17 Oaks d'Italia, has been demoted from Group 1 to Group 2. In

addition to the Oaks, Rome's two mile classics -- the April 29 Premio

Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas) and the May 13 Premio Regina Elena

(Italian One Thousand Guineas) -- will be downgraded from Group 2 classification

to Group 3. Total prize money for the four events has been cut by 10 percent.

In Ireland, the May 13 Amethyst S., July 28 Tyros S. and August 19 Ballyroan S.

have all been promoted to Group 3 standing. All three events are run at

Leopardstown.

"We are happy to have secured the promotion of three listed races to Group 3

status, all of which play a vital role in the Irish black-type program,"

said Tom Burke, Leopardstown's general manager. "The Ballyroan has produced four

of the last five winners of the Irish St. Leger (Ire-G1), the Tyros featured Teofilo

(Galileo [Ire]) last

year and the Amethyst provides an important early season opportunity for older

milers."

In addition to the upgrades at Leopardstown, the August 6 Give Thanks S. at

Cork and the September 16 Solonoway S. at The Curragh have been promoted to Group 3 status.

However, the May 26 Ridgewood Pearl S., run at The Curragh as well and inaugurated in 2004, has been downgraded

from Group 2 to Group 3 status after failing to meet its required rating

parameters.

"We are delighted that the high quality of our black-type program has allowed

us to increase the number of pattern races by 50 percent over the past five

years, from 38 in 2002 to a record new level of 57 in 2007," said Jason

Morris, Horse Racing

Ireland's racing director. "It is testimony to the strength of

our flat horse population."