DAZZLING ARRAY OF INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES FOR CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL RACES

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The 2011 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races (CXHKIR) received an overwhelming response when a record number of 88 Group 1 winners were nominated for the flagship event of the Hong Kong racing season which will be held on 11 December.

A spectacular entry list features a total of 311 nominations, the highest number since 2007. Nearly 80 percent of the entries are of Group status, also a record number.

“The worldwide response to this year’s Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International meeting exceeds all expectations and once again illustrates the tremendous interest in what is clearly one of the world’s great race days,” said Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director of Racing, William A Nader.

“This race meeting has earned its title as the Turf World Championships`and promises the very best that our sport has to offer. As a premier Hong Kong sporting event featuring the world’s top horses and jockeys, Sha Tin Racecourse will be the place to be on 11 December.”

The 2011 Turf World Championships includes four Group 1 races, with total stakes of HK$68 million. Prize money for the CXHK Mile has been increased from HK$16 million to HK$20 million this year, making it the equal of the CXHK Cup as Hong Kong’s richest horse race.

Standout performers in the lists include such international champions as Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream; the Qipco British Champion Stakes winner Cirrus Des Aigles; European record holding 14-time Group 1 winner Goldikova; dual Cox Plate winner So You Think; Epsom Oaks and Qipco British Champions Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes winner Dancing Rain; Dubai World Cup winner Victoire Pisa; dual Eclipse Award-winning Gio Ponti; 150th Melbourne Cup winner Americain; Prix Jacques le Marois winner Immortal Verse; German Guineas winner, and twice runner-up to the sensational Frankel, Excelebration; 2010 and 2011 Canadian International winners Joshua Tree and Sarah Lynx; Sprinters Stakes winner Curren Chan; July Cup and Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp winner Marchand D’Or; Dubai Golden Shaheen and KrisFlyer International Sprint winner Rocket Man, and dual Oaks, Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup and Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup winner Snow Fairy.

Among the entries are the first five horses home in the 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, while trainers represented comprise a global ‘Who’s Who’. They include Bob Baffert, Andrew Balding, Jim Bolger, Christophe Clement, Luca Cumani, Ed Dunlop, Andre Fabre, John Gosden, John Hammond, Freddy Head, Mark Johnston, Peter Moody, Aidan O’Brien, Todd Pletcher, Alain de Royer Dupre, Peter Schiergen, Patrick Shaw, Michael Stoute, Katsuhiko Sumii, Saeed bin Suroor, and Mahmood Al Zarooni … and that stellar cast, while giving some slight indication of the meeting’s extraordinary internationalism, is by no means comprehensive.

Ranged against the internationals is a home team of considerable power, led by Horse of the Year, Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby and Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner, Ambitious Dragon. The unbeaten Entrapment and the still dangerous veteran champion Sacred Kingdom will be among those confronting the visiting sprinters, while G1 BMW Champions Mile winner Xtension and reigning Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile champion Beauty Flash will not be easily overcome at their trip.