Racing Centre

UNICORN Asset Management are to sponsor a ground-breaking new series of 10 qualifiers plus a final, worth a total of £170,000 in prize money, on Newmarket's July Course this summer. It is the first time that a major series will have been staged at a single British racecourse.

The Unicorn Asset Management July Course Series is for two-year-olds and is made up of six maiden races and five nursery handicaps, all run over six or seven furlongs. The qualifiers, the first of which will be run on Friday, June 22, are each worth a minimum of £10,000 in prize money. Any horse that is declared to run in a qualifier will be eligible for the £50,000 nursery final on Saturday, August 25, as long as they have attained an official HRA handicap mark. The final will be the most valuable two-year-old handicap in the British calendar.

Unicorn Asset Management are already an established supporter of racing through previous race sponsorships at Newmarket, as well as being the official sponsor of the Owner Breeder Clubs at the National Stud, which borders the July Course. They are the UK's market-leading fund management company, specialising in the provision of investment capital for growth companies on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

"This is fantastic prize money for a two-year-old series and we are extremely grateful to Unicorn Asset Management for their invaluable support," commented Michael Prosser, Newmarket Racecourses' Director of Racing.

Q"Unlike previous series in this country, all races will take place on the same track which will provide a level playing field for the horses and, in my opinion, will make the series all the more interesting.

"Newmarket maidens tend to be dominated by the bigger stables, but the nurseries should provide a good target for many of the smaller yards and I am confident that such a valuable final will be extremely competitive."

Peter Webb, CEO of Unicorn Asset Management, said: "I have been impressed with the enthusiasm and vigour of the team at Newmarket Racecourses in helping Unicorn to establish this race series and I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to entertain our many supporters and friends at the July Course this summer."

For more information:

Michael Prosser, 01638 675 504
Alistair Haggis, 07884 026 487

Qualifiers

1. Friday, June 22 (E) - Class 4 Maiden 6 furlongs, £10,000

2. Friday, June 29 (E) - Class 4 EBF Fillies Maiden 6 furlongs, £10,000

3. Friday, July 13 - Class 2 Nursery Handicap 7 furlongs, £20,000

4. Saturday, July 21 - Class 4 Maiden 6 furlongs, £10,000

5. Friday, July 27 (E) - Class 5 Nursery Handicap 7 furlongs, £10,000

6. Friday, August 3 (E) - Class 4 EBF Maiden 6 furlongs, £10,000

7. Friday, August 3 (E) - Class 5 Median Auction Maiden 7 furlongs, £10,000

8. Saturday, August 4 - Class 2 Nursery Handicap 6 furlongs (Channel 4), £20,000

9. Friday, August 10 (E) - Class 4 Nursery Handicap 7 furlongs, £10,000

10. Saturday, August 18 - Class 4 Maiden 6 furlongs, £10,000

Final

Saturday, August 25 - Nursery 7 furlongs £50,000 (Channel 4), £50,000

E = evening meeting