The richest mile series in horse racing history was launched in Tokyo today with the announcement that the 2006 Asian Mile Challenge will be worth approximately US$12.6million in prize-money and bonuses.

The Asian Mile Challenge was first run in 2005 and incorporated the Hong Kong Jockey Club`s US$1,033,000 Champion`s Mile in Hong Kong and the Japan Racing Association`s US$2,000,000 Group 1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo.

But for 2006 the Asian Mile Challenge has been expanded to include Melbourne Racing Club`s Group 1 US$527,000 Futurity Stakes and Dubai Racing Club`s Group 1 US$5,000,000 Dubai Duty Free.

Open to horses from around the world, the Asian Mile Challenge will begin at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on March 4 before continuing at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai on March 25, Sha Tin in Hong Kong on May 7 and concluding at Tokyo Racecourse on June 4.

Collective prize-money for the four races totals approximately US$8,600,000 however a bonus structure has been put in place to further reward those willing to take on the challenge and travel their horses.

A bonus of US$4,000,000 will be paid should a horse win all four races in the Asian Mile Challenge, US$2,000,000 will be paid for three wins and US$1,000,000 for any two wins.

In announcing the expanded series, Mr Masayuki Takahashi, President and Chief Executive of the Japan Racing Association, said, "We are delighted that the Asian Mile Challenge will see a new start next year with four of the world`s best mile races from all corners of the Asian Racing Federation region. We are very proud to announce that it is growing into an enriched international series with the addition of the Futurity Stakes from the Melbourne Racing Club, Australia and the Dubai Duty Free from the Dubai Racing Club, Dubai."

"I strongly believe that horse racing must have such international development in order to obtain a wider following and more support from our fans. Thoroughbred racing is no exception and the Asian Mile Challenge will be a vehicle to share its spirit and excitement with fans by having the world`s top horses across the borders and compete in great international events."

Melbourne Racing Club Chief Executive Warran Brown said the Club was extremely proud to be involved in the 2006 Asian Mile Challenge series.

"One of our Club`s key objectives under our strategic plan is to gain increased recognition, both nationally in Australia, and on the international stage, for a commitment to, and the delivery of quality thoroughbred racing," he explained.

"For the past four years, our Club has enjoyed a successful racing alliance with the Dubai Racing Club, but the expanded Asian Mile Challenge series provides a wonderful platform on which to further build our international profile," he commented.

Mr. Brown believes the series will strengthen the Melbourne Racing Club`s ties with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Japan Racing Association and the Dubai Racing Club, who he describes as the three pre-eminent racing bodies in the Asian region. He congratulated those organisations for their commitment and passion in taking the Challenge Series to new frontiers and greater heights in 2006.

"Importantly, the series complements perfectly the elite racing programme our Club operates at our premier racing venue � Classic Caulfield," he continued.

Mr. Brown said that the leading local Australian trainers will be excited by the prospect of international competition at home and abroad and urged the trainers of Hong Kong, Japan and Dubai to take up the challenge of qualifying for the maximum US$4 million bonus by competing in the Futurity Stakes on March 4.

Mr Graham Duff Chairman of Racing Victoria Limited said "The Victorian Racing Industry has seen the rewards that international participation can bring to a racing jurisdiction and this exciting Challenge will further enhance our commitment and strategic direction in this regard. I wish all our Challenge partners every success for their Challenge races in 2006".

Mr Saeed Al-Tayer, Chairman of the Dubai Racing Club, said, "We are excited and honoured that the US$5,000,000 Dubai Duty Free will be the second race in the 2006 Asian Mile Challenge."

"The Dubai Duty Free, along with our Dubai Sheema Classic, is the richest turf race in the world and we recognise the Asian Mile Challenge, which brings together four of Asia`s leading racing nations, as the perfect vehicle to showcase the quality of racing in this part of the world."

Mr Frank Gabriel, Chief Executive of the Dubai Racing Club, said, "We currently find ourselves in an era of international racing and concepts such as the Asian Mile Challenge are the way forward. Co-operation between racing clubs around the world is paramount and the Dubai Racing Club is extremely pleased to be associated with this Series.

"In hosting the 2007 Asian Racing Conference in Dubai, we are firmly committed to the Asian region and are very proud to be part of the Asian Mile Challenge."

"The Dubai Racing Club is proud to be associated with such famous clubs as the Melbourne Racing Club, Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Japan Racing Association and we are excited that the Dubai Duty Free, one of the richest races on turf, is a part of the Asian Mile Challenge in 2006."

Mr Lawrence Wong, Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation and Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Jockey Club said, "The expansion of the series from two legs to four legs, the development of major multi million dollar bonus schemes for horses who can win multiple legs of the challenge and the commitment to a marketing and branding campaign could only be achieved through the commitment of the racing administrators in Japan, Dubai, Melbourne and Hong Kong to ensuring that the AMC becomes a world renowned racing series. To our partners here today I offer my thanks on behalf of both the Asian Racing Federation and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

"The commitment that all the partners share is to increase the international participation of thoroughbreds so that we can continue to grow the fan base. The competition from other sports is intense but through the combined efforts of these leading thoroughbred nations we will rise to the challenge and continue to position racing as the King of Sports.

To further emphasise the commitment and spirit of co-operation of all four Clubs to International racing, travel subsidies for horse, trainer, owner and jockey will be in place to further entice runners from around the world to the four jurisdictions.

The 2006 Asian Mile Challenge

Saturday March 4

Futurity Stakes

(Group 1) 1,600m (Turf)

approx US$527,000

Caulfield, Melbourne, Australia

Saturday March 25

Dubai Duty Free (Group 1) 1,777m (Turf)

US$5,000,000

Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sunday May 7

Champion`s Mile 1,600m (Turf)

approx US$1,033,000

Sha Tin, Hong Kong

Sunday June 4

Yasuda Kinen (Group 1) 1,600m (Turf)

approx US$2,000,000

Tokyo Racecourse, Tokyo, Japan

Bonuses

US$4,000,000 to the horse that wins all four races

US$2,000,000 to a horse that wins any three races

US$1,000,000 to a horse that wins any two races