US$2m Race Enters Second Season As Part Of Elite Worldwide Race Series
The Group 1 US$2m Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News, is to continue its inclusion in an elite list of races as part of the Global Sprint Challenge (GSC) series in 2013
Run on an all-weather surface on March 30, 2013 as part of the $27,25m Dubai World Cup day card, the Group 1, 1200m dash joined the GSC roster in 2012.
The Golden Shaheen was first run in 1996 and represents the third stop in the series of ten Group 1 races on the GSC. Australia’s Lightning Stakes in February marks the start of the Challenge which then moves on to Japan’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen and on to Dubai for the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
The world’s sprint stars then take in the Singapore’s Krisflyer International, the Kings Stand Stakes, Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the Darley July Cup in the UK before rounding off the year with Japan’s Sprinter’s Stakes, Australia’s Patinack Farm Classic and the Hong Kong Sprint.
As well as the significant prize money at stake for each race, the GSC separately offers a $1m bonus to any horse which claims three GSC contests in any three different racing jurisdictions.
Last season two horses came close to the bonus. Black Caviar, the all-conquering Australian mare, claimed the Lightning Stakes and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes while Japanese star, Lord Kanaloa took out the Sprinters Stakes and the Challenge-ending Hong Kong Sprint.
The 2012 Dubai Golden Shaheen was won by Krypton Factor, trained by Bahrain’s Fawzi Nass. Krypton Factor beat the fancied Rocket Man, who was defending his 2011 Golden Shaheen title into second.
“Ever since the Dubai World Cup was inaugurated in 1996, Dubai has been synonymous with truly international horse racing,” said Frank Gabriel, CEO, Dubai Racing Club. “The inclusion of the Dubai Golden Shaheen as part of the Global Sprint Challenge only adds to the international flavour of racing at Meydan Racecourse. Over the years the Golden Shaheen has attracted runners from 15 countries; evidence of its strong worldwide appeal.”
“The Dubai Racing Club and Meydan are extremely proud that the 2013 Dubai Golden Shaheen will be featured as part of the prestigious Global Sprint Challenge.
“The growth and popularity of the Dubai World Cup racing program is one of the greatest success stories in international racing.”
Krypton Factor, trained by Fawzi Nass, winning the 2012 Dubai Golden Shaheen under Kieren Fallon
No comments:
Post a Comment