News

Aus-Bred Horses Shine In China

9th Nov 2009

Australia’s presence in China was underlined on Sunday, when Australian-bred horses took star billing at one of that country’s most important Thoroughbred race meetings, winning five out of the seven races on the program.

The success came at the annual China International Racing Festival, which was conducted by the China Equestrian Association (CEA) in Wuhan, a city of 9 million situated between Hong Kong and Beijing.

The Aus-bred winners won over distances ranging from 1000m to 5000m and from 2YO to Open class.

Attending as a guest of the CEA, Aushorse Marketing Chief Executive Peter McGauran said that it was another sign of Australia's growing presence in the Chinese market.

"It was competitive and highly professional racing in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 6,000 cheering spectators" McGauran said.

The Wuhan race course is one of Asia's newest and largest with a seven story high, 200 metre long grandstand and state of the art IT. The giant TV screen is equal to the best in the world and 11 cameras are positioned around the track to record the action.

McGauran said that the winners came from such established studs as Arrowfield (NSW), Stratheden (NSW) and Wood Nook Farm (VIC).

Each race carried prizemoney of AUD$8,000, which is the second highest offered by the CEA on its limited number of Thoroughbred races over the course of a year.

McGauran said that there was no gambling at the meeting - in line with the Chinese Government's official policy.

"China is a complex and largely unpredictable market in the early stages of its development," McGauran said.

"However, it's important Australia remains engaged and supportive for the long term. We want to build a lasting partnership based on mutual benefit and respect with racehorse owners and breeders in China, as well as racing authorities.”

McGauran will also meet with quarantine and biosecurity officials in Beijing to encourage the streamlining of import protocols which presently can present barriers to trade.