Cathay Pacific HKIR Prize-Money Swells To HK$62m The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races have received a significant prize-money boost to consolidate the December meeting´s position as the Turf World Championships. An injection of HK$6 million takes overall prize-money for the four international Gr.1 races to HK$62 million (US$8 million). Meanwhile the distance of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint stretches to 1200m from 1000m to attract participation from the best international sprinters. 'The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races Day has earned reputation for prestige and excellence, but we cannot rest on our laurels. To maintain its status as the Turf World Championships, it is our duty to upgrade prize-money and amend the programme where necessary,' said Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club´s Executive Director of Racing. 'The world´s leading owners and trainers have increasingly recognised the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races as the end of year championship for the world´s best turf thoroughbreds and it has helped place Hong Kong Jockey Club as one of the global leaders of international racing,' he added. Mr Charlie Stewart-Cox, General Manager, Marketing for Cathay Pacific said: 'Cathay Pacific is delighted that the increase in prize-money announced today will further cement the position of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races as the Turf World Championships. There is no doubt that this day of international racing, of style and glamour has become one of the greatest days in sport in Hong Kong. Fans from all around the world are drawn to Sha Tin and we are proud to be the official sponsor of such a world class event.'Several of international racing´s brightest stars have, down through the seasons, contributed towards positioning the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races as the Turf World Championships. Turf greats the quality of Sunline, Ouija Board, Falbrav, Silent Witness, Fantastic Light, Eishin Preston et al have created some of the defining moments in Hong Kong sport and Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges is confident enhancing the meeting´s prize-money will foster more memorable days in the future - especially with HKJC partners Cathay Pacific lending their support for a third year. Now worth HK$12 million from HK$10 million – HK$10,000 per metre, the same as the Mile and the Cup - the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint has been extended to six furlongs to attract higher-quality speed horses from overseas for the final leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. The Club believes extending the race to 1200m and improving total prize-money will result in stronger international competition. Hong Kong-based sprinters have dominated over the specialist five-furlong distance of late, winning the race for the last four years and filling the first five positions in 2005. On the other hand, none of the top European and Japanese sprinters to contest the seven renewals to date have finished better than fourth. The quality of the overseas challenge is set to improve considerably, but this is necessary given the depth of local sprinting ranks. The HK$16 million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile also regains its richest turf mile ranking from the Yasuda Kinen and the Breeders´ Cup Mile, while the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase will continue to be valued at HK$14 million. The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup has been Hong Kong´s richest race since its inception as an international event in 1988 and with its purse now lifted to HK$20 million, it reasserts its standing as the richest turf event in the world – and one of the very best - over 2000m. The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races will be the world´s richest day of turf racing with between 35 and 40 elite international stars facing up to the cream of the Hong Kong crop. These horses are partnered by champion jockeys and prepared by champion trainers. It is a fantastic and unique sporting occasion, the greatest on the Hong Kong calendar and, in the opinion of many, the best international day of racing in the world.
