The Global Sprint Challenge (GSC) has been enhanced with the addition of Singapore’s premier turf sprint, the KrisFlyer International Sprint, from next year. The introduction of the six-furlong Group 1 event, to be held at Kranji Racecourse on 22 May, takes to nine the number of races forming the $US10.8 million series.
The GSC will be exclusively run at Group 1 level in 2011 following the substitution of Japan’s Group 2 Centaur Stakes (six furlongs) with the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (six furlongs) in that country on 27 March.
The Takamatsunomiya Kinen is held annually at Japan’s Chukyo Racecourse, but with the track under renovation in 2011, the race will be held next year at Hanshin.
GSC Chairman, Leigh Jordon, said: “The KrisFlyer International Sprint has proven itself a world class contest with winners from France, Australia and Hong Kong including Global Sprint Challenge stalwarts Takeover Target and Sacred Kingdom, and is a natural addition to the international series for turf sprinters.”
Nick Smith, Head of International Racing at Ascot, added: “Two Hong Kong-trained horses and one from Australia came to Royal Ascot after the KrisFlyer last year and we hope to see a similar pattern in 2011, with Singapore’s own star sprinter, Rocket Man, among those at the top our target list.”
Any horse that wins three races in three different countries outside its own racing jurisdiction will collect a $US1 million bonus to be split 75% to the owners and 25% to the trainer.
The 2011 GSC commences with the first of two Australian legs, the Coolmore Lightning Stakes (five furlongs), at Flemington Racecourse on 19 February.
It then moves to Japan and Singapore respectively for the two new legs, before continuing in the United Kingdom with the King’s Stand Stakes, Golden Jubilee Stakes and Darley July Cup over the summer.
The GSC returns to Japan on 2 October for the Sprinters Stakes (six furlongs) at Nakayama Racecourse, before making its second stop at Flemington for the Patinack Farm Classic (six furlongs) on 5 November.
The series will again reach its culmination in Hong Kong on 11 December with the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (six furlongs) at Sha Tin Racecourse.
