News

Futurity Stakes Kicks Off World's Richest Race Series

25th Feb 2009

Racing Victoria - Media Release - Wednesday, 25 February 2009

The world’s richest race series, the 2009 Asian Mile Challenge gets underway this weekend with the running of the $500,000 Group 1 Rokk Ebony Futurity takes (1600m) at Caulfield.

The four race series carries total prize money and bonuses of US$11million. Now in its fifth year, the Asian Mile Challenge also includes next months Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai, the Champions Mile at Sha Tin in Hong Kong in April and the Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo in June.

Any horse which can win two legs of the series is eligible for a US$1million bonus while any horse which can win three legs nets a US$2million bonus. This bonus is shared between the owners and trainer.

Some of the world’s best gallopers were to the fore in last year’s Asian Mile Challenge, with South African star Jay Peg winning the Dubai Duty Free before his success in the Singapore Gold Cup, while Hong Kong champion Good Ba Ba won the Champions Mile in between his back-to-back wins in the Hong Kong Mile.

Last season Good Ba Ba was rated alongside Australian Racehorse of the Year, Weekend Hussler as the world’s premier turf miler.

The well credentialed line up of contenders on Saturday includes last year’s winner Niconero, which subsequently contested the second leg of the series in Dubai, the Mick Price-trained Group 1 pair Alamosa and Light Fantastic and 2007 Tattersall’s Cox Plate winner El Segundo.

Melbourne Racing Club Chief Executive Officer Warran Brown is excited about the strength of Saturday’s race.