Fans of top class international racing will be looking forward to an exciting Asian Mile Challenge (AMC) in 2010, judged on the initial nominations that include a record number of Group 1 winners for the US$11.2m series to be held between February and June.
An impressive tally of 402 nominations have been received for this year's Challenge comprising four Group 1 races in Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong and Japan and featuring some of the very best milers in training worldwide. The nominations come from horses trained in 19 different racing jurisdictions and include a record total of 63 individual Group 1 winners.
Among the great star names is the record-breaking, three-time Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile winner Good Ba Ba. Three of last year’s AMC winners are also on the list: Dubai Duty Free winner Gladiatorus, Champions Mile conqueror Sight Winner, and reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and Yasuda Kinen champion Vodka.
Other high-profile entrants include Heart Of Dreams, dual Group 1 winner from Australia; Weekend Hussler, Australia’s Horse of the Year for 2007/08; Irish Lights, prolific Australian filly and Schweppes Thousand Guineas winner; Gio Ponti, last year's Eclipse Award winner for Champion Turf and Champion Older Horse in North America; Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris winner Cavalryman; Prix d’Ispahan champion Never On Sunday; and Japanese Oaks winner Red Desire.
Prize money and bonuses worth US$11.2m, the richest collective prize-money in the sport, are on offer. Since 2009, winning trainers have also been factored directly into the bonus structure to encourage a wider spread of competition. A horse winning two AMC legs will net a total bonus of US$1m, with US$750,000 going to the owner and US$250,000 to the trainer. Should a horse succeed in three legs, the rewards will be doubled to US$2m, with the owner receiving US$1.5m and the trainer US$500,000.
As horses do not have to compete in each leg of the AMC to be eligible for these bonuses, it is possible for more than one horse to secure the two-win award.
The Challenge promises exciting racing action from some of the world's top milers at four prominent racecourses spread across the Asian Racing Federation region. The first leg commences in Australia on 27 February with the Futurity Stakes. The series then moves to the spectacular and futuristic new Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on 27 March for the US$5m Dubai Duty Free, one of the richest turf races on the planet.
The third leg, the Champions Mile, follows four weeks later in Hong Kong on 25 April. The AMC concludes in Japan on 6 June with the Yasuda Kinen.
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