NO AUSTRALIAN RUNNERS - AGAIN!

By Darren Winningham | Monday, April 20, 2026

Australian horses are staying home in their stables, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club will no doubt feel the disappointment of another major meeting without Australian representation.

In December, not a single Australian runner contested the HK$130 million on offer across four Group 1 races at the Hong Kong International Races.

Fast-forward to April and the story repeats: the FWD Champions Day rolls out HK$78 million across three Group 1 events - and again, no Australian runners.

Two major Hong Kong meetings. Zero Australian participation.

Why does this happen? Is it due to the Australian racing calendar being too strong?

Australia is deep in its Autumn Championships at Randwick - two amazing Saturdays featuring eight Group 1 races and $25 million in prizemoney. Immediately after, the spotlight shifts north to Queensland for a 10-week Winter Carnival boasting $28 million, nine million-dollar races, and eight Group 1 races.

With that kind of money and opportunity on home soil, it’s easy to see why owners hesitate to travel.

For those who have travelled, the feedback is consistent. Hong Kong delivers an elite, world-class experience for owners, trainers, jockeys, and every member of a travelling team. The facilities are immaculate, the hospitality unmatched, and the professionalism of the Hong Kong Jockey Club is something visiting connections never forget.

Ask anyone who has brought a horse to Sha Tin — they rave about it.

Look, Australian racing is strong, but isolation does not help promote the sport. Hong Kong’s international stage is one of the best in the world, and Australian horses deserve to be seen on it. The punters deserve it. The sport deserves it.

Let us hope this trend reverses soon, so Australian horses can once again take their place on one of racing’s biggest global platforms.