Life of Guangzhou - Top International Field Lifts Jockey Club Hopes for 'Grand Slam' Racing Event

Nearly half of the world's top 50 racehorses in training have been entered for the Hong Kong International Races to be held on December 9.

At the close of first nominations yesterday, the Hong Kong Jockey Club received 287 nominations, including 69 individual Group 1 winners, for the four events that carry a total of HK million in stake money.

"The global diversity of those entered for the four group races worth HK million has never been more pronounced, with 17 countries and regions represented," club racing director Bill Nader said yesterday.

He said the entries for this year's showpiece event are exceptional and illustrate how the meeting has matured into the turf world championships.

"We have developed a Grand Slam fixture in the international racing calendar, one that clearly features the world's leading owners, trainers, jockeys and horses as a championship event," Nader said.

The decision to change the HK million Hong Kong Sprint from 1,000 meters to 1,200 meters last year has proved a winner and has attracted stronger international entries with an increase of Group 1 winners evident.

While equine influenza in parts of Australia poses a potential barrier to participation, the club is working very closely with the relevant authorities to enable stars with the quality of Miss Andretti, champion-elect of this year's Global Sprint Challenge and four-time Group 1 heroine, to take their rightful place, Nader said.

The sprint has identified the world's top-ranked sprinter for three of the past four seasons, and Absolute Champion is returning in a bid for back-to-back victories in a race Hong Kong has dominated since 2002.

The home team is bolstered further by the very exciting Medic Power and Sacred Kingdom. The HK million Hong Kong Vase, to be run over 2,400 meters, has been dominated by European horses in recent years, but this could change in 2007 given the quality of the nominations, Nader said.

Breeders Cup Turf winners Red Rocks from Britain and the American Better Talk Now front the nominations in company with Delta Blues, the Melbourne Cup hero from Japan, the current Caulfield Cup favorite Maldivian and Laverock from the UAE. (by Staff reporter)

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