PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday 4 October 2005

WORLD POISED TO WITNESS HONG KONG’S PRIDE AND JOY

• CONNECTIONS OF SILENT WITNESS OUTLINE PLANS FOR GLOBAL ASSAULT
• HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB BECOMES THE FOURTH GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE PARTNER.
• US $1 MILLION BONUS ON OFFER FOR 2006 SERIES 

Silent Witness returned to his very best to land Sunday’s Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse, the sixth and final leg of the 2005 Global Sprint Challenge, and owner Archie Da Silva quickly told the assembled massed media that the 2006 challenge could now be on the cards:

“Let’s say the Global Sprint Challenge is now very much on the agenda and the Lightning Stakes at Flemington is most definitely a strong possibility,” said Da Silva, who had earlier looked on as connections of Cape of Good Hope were awarded the trophy for winning the inaugural challenge with victories in Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley and at Royal Ascot at York.

“The series is a good idea and I’d now like to run once before this year’s Hong Kong International Sprint in December, then we’d like to go to Flemington for the Lightning Stakes (leg one), back to Hong Kong for the domestic sprint series there, then on to Royal Ascot (legs three and four). Hopefully after that we’ll be back in Japan for this race again (leg six) and finish off in Hong Kong in December (leg seven) – where hopefully we’ll get the bonus!”

After a successful inaugural year for the Global Sprint Challenge, Hong Kong’s premier sprint, the group one Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint, joins the series in 2006, for which there will be a US $1 million bonus for winning a group one challenge leg in three out of four participating nations. 

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Executive Director, Racing, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club,   said   “It is with great pleasure that we are taking part in this joint venture with Racing Victoria Limited, Ascot Racecourse and the Japan Racing Association. 

 "Hong Kong has a strong team of sprinters with international experience, and we look forward to seeing some exciting competition in 2006.”

Cape of Good Hope wasn’t disgraced in the Sprinters Stakes, running better than his eleventh place suggests with his finishing time for the 1200m race clocked at 1m 8.6s, and trainer David Oughton added his backing for the emerging challenge concept:

“The fact that it is a global challenge brings people and horses together and creates a lot of interest in sprinters around the world. 

“Cape of Good Hope’s performances this year have meant a lot to both myself and the connections. It was quite an achievement for him to run in three different countries, including Hong Kong, and win in two of them,” Oughton said.

Stephen Allanson, Director of Racing Operations for Racing Victoria Limited, said:

"Cape of Good Hope is a true example of what this series is all about and we were delighted to see the ambition of his team rewarded - they can now lay claim to the accolade of being the inaugural winner of the Global Sprint Challenge - hopefully he and Silent Witness will clash at next year’s legs of the Challenge in Australia.

 “The Hong Kong Sprint now in the 2006 renewal of the Challenge, is one of the most important and best supported sprint races of the season and a natural climax to the challenge. The existing members are looking forward to working with the Hong Kong Jockey Club as we continue to set the framework for a coherent and credible international pattern for the world's elite sprinters. “

For further information:

Stephen Allanson, Director Racing Operations, Racing Victoria Limited: +61 3 9258 4661

Nick Smith, Ascot Head of Public Relations: +44 (0)7771 791449 or via Milly Baker +44 (0)7717 851566

Yoshinobu Nagasawa, General Manager of International Dept: JRA +81 3 5785 7373

Mark Player, Manager International Races, Sale and Development, Hong Kong  Jockey Club: +852 29668952