The British EBF Breeders’ Series of Fillies’ Handicaps kicked off its third year on Saturday 12th May 2018 at Ascot with the EBF “Breeders’ Series” Fillies’ Handicap Stakes.
Traditionally the first race of the series this Class 2 contest over a mile is the most valuable lead up race at £45,000 bar the program’s culmination at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile on 6th October where each of the four finales are worth £50,000.
This group of races was masterminded by the BHA for the 2016 season to provide progressive opportunities for three-year-old and up fillies that fall just under Listed Class. With over £300,000 of British EBF investment, the 20-race series is now worth in excess of £625,000 for the 2018 flat season with distance categories ranging from six to 12 furlongs.
Inevitably, the races have provided stepping-stones for some fillies to black type performances. The 2017 series produced EARTHA KITT (Pivotal) who won her EBF Breeders’ Series handicap at York in June easily before moving on to run third in the Gr.3 Summer Stakes at the same track and win the Listed EBF Boadicea Stakes at Newmarket at the end of the season. MELODIC MOTION (Nathaniel) won her EBF Breeders’ Series Handicap at Goodwood in May; she went on to be runner up in the Gr.2 Park Hill Stakes during Doncaster’s St Leger Festival.
Other notable graduates of the 2017 series include Listed winners TITI MAKFI (Makfi), BILLESDON BESS (Dick Turpin) and TISBUTADREAM (Dream Ahead).
Further races in the British EBF Breeders’ Series 2018:
| DATE | COURSE | CLASS | DISTANCE | TOTAL PRIZE FUND |
| 12 May 2018 | Ascot | 2 | 8f | £45,000 |
| 19 May 2018 | Doncaster | 3 | 10f | £20,000 |
| 20 May 2018 | Ripon | 3 | 6f | £20,000 |
| 24 May 2018 | Goodwood | 3 | 12f | £20,000 |
| 15 June 2018 | York | 2 | 6f | £30,000 |
| 29 June 2018 | Chester | 3 | 10f | £20,000 |
| 13 July 2018 | Ascot | 3 | 12f | £20,000 |
| 20 July 2018 | Newmarket | 3 | 6f | £20,000 |
| 21 July 2018 | Newbury | 2 | 8f | £30,000 |
| 01 August 2018 | Goodwood | 2 | 10f | £30,000 |
| 16 August 2018 | Sailsbury | 2 | 12f | £30,000 |
| 01 September 2018 | Lingfield | 3 | 8f | £20,000 |
| 08 September 2018 | Haydock | 2 | 10f | £30,000 |
| 08 September 2018 | Ascot | 2 | 8f | £30,000 |
| 12 September 2018 | Doncaster | 2 | 12f | £30,000 |
| 20 September 2018 | Pontefract | 2 | 6f | £30,000 |
| 06 October 2018 | Newmarket | 2 | 6f | £50,000 |
| 06 October 2018 | Newmarket | 2 | 10f | £50,000 |
| 06 October 2018 | Newmarket | 2 | 8f | £50,000 |
| 06 October 2018 | Newmarket | 2 | 12f | £50,000 |
