News

Dubai Joins Global Sprint Challenge

29th Nov 2011

The 2012 Global Sprint Challenge (GSC) will be the most expansive yet as the series extends to 10 legs with the addition of Dubai Racing Club’s Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m).

The introduction of the Dubai Golden Shaheen, to be run on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Meydan Racecourse on 31 March 2012, takes to six the number of countries hosting GSC races.

First conducted in 2005, the GSC now takes in races across Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Singapore and now the United Arab Emirates.

GSC Chairman, Leigh Jordon, said it was fitting that the Challenge would now enjoy a presence at the world’s richest race fixture.

“The Dubai Golden Shaheen is one of the world’s top sprints with a proven record of attracting horses from multiple jurisdictions and will be a welcome addition to the Global Sprint Challenge,” Jordon said.

Malih Lahej Al Basti, Board Member of Dubai Racing Club, added:
“As evidenced by our Dubai World Cup Carnival and the Dubai World Cup meeting, the Dubai Racing Club is committed to the internationalisation of horse racing and we are delighted to be a part of the Global Sprint Challenge.

“Any initiative to further advance the cause of horses from different parts of the world competing against each other is beneficial to the sport and naturally has our complete support

“The Dubai Golden Shaheen has proven to be among the most international sprints having attracted horses from 14 countries throughout its short history, and being part of the Global Sprint Challenge adds further to the prestige of the Dubai World Cup meeting.”

In addition to the Dubai Golden Shaheen’s inclusion in the series, changes to the US$1 million GSC bonus structure to make it more attainable are also announced today.

To be eligible for the lucrative bonus in 2012, a horse must win a GSC race in three countries which can include the horse’s country of origin.

This differs from 2011 when a horse had to register three GSC wins outside its own racing jurisdiction to be eligible for the prize.

The bonus will be split 75% to the owners and 25% to the trainer, with the US$1 million pool split equally if more than one horse achieves the feat in 2012.

“We hope that the combination of an additional sixth host country within the Global Sprint Challenge, coupled with the changes announced to the bonus structure, will see owners and trainers actively target what is a very achievable bonus when planning the campaigns of their star sprinters,” Jordon added.

2012 Global Sprint Challenge Schedule

AUSTRALIA
COOLMORE LIGHTNING STAKES (GROUP 1)
Saturday, 18 February, Flemington

JAPAN
TAKAMATSUNOMIYA KINEN (Group 1)
Sunday, 25 March, Chukyo

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN, SPONSORED BY GULF NEWS (GROUP 1)
Saturday, 31 March, Meydan

SINGAPORE
KRISFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT (GROUP 1)
Sunday, 20 May, Kranji

UNITED KINGDOM
KING’S STAND STAKES (GROUP 1)
Tuesday, 19 June, Royal Ascot

GOLDEN JUBILEE STAKES (GROUP 1)
Saturday, 23 June, Royal Ascot

DARLEY JULY CUP (GROUP 1)
Saturday, 14 July, Newmarket

JAPAN
SPRINTERS STAKES (GROUP 1)
Sunday, 30 September, Nakayama

AUSTRALIA
PATINACK FARM CLASSIC (GROUP 1)
Saturday, 10 November, Flemington

HONG KONG
HONG KONG SPRINT (GROUP 1)
Sunday, 9 December, Sha Tin