racing_news/

Global Sprint Challenge Leaders On Course For Golden Jubilee Stakes
27/04/05

A total of 77 horses have been entered for the Golden Jubilee Stakes, leg four of the Global Sprint Challenge, headed by the winners of the first two legs in Australia, Fastnet Rock and Cape Of Good Hope.

Fastnet Rock, trained in Sydney by Choisir's handler Paul Perry, won the Group One TEAC Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday 5th February, with Hong Kong-trained Cape Of Good Hope (David Oughton) in third. Cape Of Good Hope went on to win the second series leg, the Group One Timbercorp Australia Stakes, at Moonee Valley, on 19th February.

Points for all series races are allocated 10-5-4-3-2 first to fifth with all other starters awarded one point. Horses competing outside their own racing jurisdiction gain double points.

Racing jurisdictions are deemed to be:
Victoria - Australia & New Zealand
Ascot - Europe, UAE
Japan - Asia

Competitors trained outside these jurisdictions qualify for double points in all legs.

Cape Of Good Hope, with an away win and third, leads the challenge on 28 points, from Fastnet Rock, who is on 10 points with a home win.

The winner is deemed to be the horse with the most points, who has accumulated at least 30 points and who has competed in two or more participating countries. Fastnet Rock and Cape Of Good Hope are intended starters in both Royal Ascot legs, the King's Stand Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

The inaugural challenge moves on to Japan in September and two Japanese entries have been received for the Golden Jubilee Stakes - Keeneland Swan (Hideyuki Mori) and Precious Café (Futoshi Kojima), who were second and third respectively to Admire Max in the Group One Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March.

A strong and high quality entry from the east has been matched by interest from the west in the form of Soaring Free (Canada, Mark Frostad) and Mighty Beau (USA, Jeff Mullins).

Soaring Free, fourth in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile last year, most recently won the 5½ furlong Group Three Shakertown Stakes on turf at Keeneland, with a neck to spare over Mighty Beau, one of America's highest profile turf sprinters.

The European defence is headed by five entries for Aidan O'Brien, including Group One Middle Park Stakes winner Ad Valorem and Airwave, who chased home Choisir in the Golden Jubilee two years ago.

Miss Emma and former Wokingham winner Ratio, both trained by John Hammond, have been entered for France whilst the Tim Easterby-trained winner of last year's race at Ascot, Fayr Jag, won't have as far to come this year in defence of his title.

"We're delighted with the reception of the Global Sprint Challenge and to have the winners of both Australian races on target for the two Royal Ascot legs is more than we could have hoped for in the first year," said Nick Smith, Head of Public Relations at Ascot.

"We're well on the way with organising shipping for both horses and are now getting into detailed negotiations with the JRA with regards to Japan's possible representatives. It would be marvellous to secure one or both of the North American entries and we're doing all we can, with our colleagues at the International Racing Bureau, to facilitate all these ventures.

"Away from the Golden Jubilee Stakes, which has been the primary focus of our international promotions this year, we're very pleased that Tony Vasil is planning to run Dubai Duty Free winner Elvstroem in either the Queen Anne Stakes or the Prince of Wales's Stakes as part of a wider European campaign. He could face the likes of Bago, Azamour, Phoenix Reach and Rakti in the Prince of Wales's Stakes - all the top names in Europe are in at this stage."

Stephen Allanson, Director of Racing Operations for Racing Victoria, partners with Ascot in the Global Sprint Challenge, said:

"The challenge is really taking off. It's massive news in Australia. Cape Of Good Hope running in both of our legs was a tremendous boost, especially when he became the first horse trained overseas ever to win at Moonee Valley.

"At the very least Fastnet Rock looks the equal of Choisir and he's probably achieved more in Australia than Choisir had before shipping - he's won again and been second twice in Group Ones since the Lightning Stakes and he's with a trainer who knows how to win in England."

Dr. Naoaki Koike, Presidential Counsellor for Foreign Affairs for the Japan Racing Association added:

"The Global Sprint Challenge is an exciting new vehicle to promote thoroughbred racing as an international sport. We are strong believers that thoroughbred racing must have more international development to gain world recognition, and the Global Sprint Challenge will take that onto a higher stage. Precious Café and Keeneland Swan are Japan's best sprinters at this stage and we consider them equivalent to likes of Agnes World. We hope they will prove their ability at Royal Ascot and we look forward to welcoming globe trotting speedsters to Japan this coming Autumn, when we host the final legs of the challenge."