A LIFE-size bronze of Be Friendly, dual winner of the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup for BBC TV's former "voice of racing" Sir Peter O'Sullevan, is to be erected in the paddock at Haydock Park next year.

Sir Peter launched the work on the bronze on Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup day on September 7 which, at a total of more than £350,000, was the richest ever day's racing at Haydock Park.

The bronze will be completed within a year - and, in addition, there will be 20 smaller replicas made. One of these will become the perpetual trophy for the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup from 2003, while another will go to the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust. Fifteen of the replicas will be sold, some of the proceeds of which will go to the charitable trust.

Philip Blacker, who was responsible for the life-size Red Rum at Aintree Racecourse, will sculpt the bronze.

Be Friendly won the first two runnings of the Sprint Cup in 1966 and 1967, but was denied the chance of a hat trick because of fog 12 months later.

The 'Be Friendly' Handicap, a listed race, is run at Haydock Park every year in May and Sir Peter presents the winning owner with a challenge trophy.

Sir Peter said: "I'm touched that the memory of Be Friendly who was such a fine horse is to be remembered in this way at Haydock Park. I am equally delighted that we will be able to auction one of the replica bronzes to raise money for some of the welfare initiatives which the trust supports."

The Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust has distributed more than £375,000 to causes including The Blue Cross, The Brooke Hospital for Animals, Compassion in World Farming, The International League for Protection of Horses, The Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre, and Racing Welfare.

More information is available on the course web site www.haydock-park.com