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What is your overall view of the new GBB scheme and its benefit for the Racing and Breeding Industry?
Anything that applauds the breeder, credits and financially rewards them has got to be a good thing. I think the scheme is a positive move in the right direction, although I would like to see a similar model to the French breeders premiums introduced in the future. Breeders experience many more downs than ups and it can be a very unforgiving industry at all levels, but for many breeders operating at the mid to grass roots level an incentive of this nature will be welcomed. These people are important to the industry and if they cannot make their breeding program financially viable they will become detached and will no longer operate.
Prize money is always a matter of contention and with the GBB you have a chance of winning a large contribution to a year's training fees with one win. Other parties such as trainers stand to benefit from the bonus too which may encourage them to target more British bred fillies at the sales. Looking into the future the GBB might encourage more owner breeders to race fillies for themselves and keep them in training for an additional season. Also breeders may choose to use more British based stallions in order to qualify for 100% of the bonus which can only be a good thing for our public studs.
Will you change any current practices to take better advantage of the new GBB scheme?
We will make our current owners aware of the scheme and its benefits which might help them decide between selling and retaining a nice filly. As we know, fillies of a certain level are very hard to sell but once confidence in the scheme has grown it may have a positive impact in the sales ring. We could also advise owners to keep a filly in training for an additional season if she can demonstrate ability to win these lucrative pots.
I am sure the TBA have worked incredibly hard to make the GBB scheme happen and I hope it is a success.