The 2012 Global Sprint Challenge (GSC) will be the most expansive yet as the
series extends to 10 legs with the addition of Dubai Racing Club’s Group 1 Dubai
Golden Shaheen. The introduction of the Dubai Golden Shaheen, to be run on the
synthetic Tapeta surface at Meydan Racecourse on March 31 next year, takes to
six the number of countries hosting GSC races.
First conducted in 2005, the GSC now takes in races across Australia, Japan,
Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Singapore and now the United Arab Emirates.
GSC Chairman, Leigh Jordon, said it was fitting that the Challenge would now
enjoy a presence at the world’s richest race fixture.
“The Dubai Golden Shaheen is one of the world’s top sprints with a proven
record of attracting horses from multiple jurisdictions and will be a welcome
addition to the Global Sprint Challenge,” Jordon said.
In addition to the Dubai Golden Shaheen’s inclusion in the series, changes to
the $1 million GSC bonus structure to make it more attainable were also
announced.
To be eligible for the lucrative bonus in 2012, a horse must win a GSC race
in three countries which can include the horse’s country of origin. This differs
from 2011 when a horse had to register three GSC wins outside its own racing
jurisdiction to be eligible for the prize.
The bonus will be split 75 percent to the owners and 25 percent to the
trainer, with the $1 million pool split equally if more than one horse achieves
the feat in 2012.
“We hope that the combination of an additional sixth host country within the
Global Sprint Challenge, coupled with the changes announced to the bonus
structure, will see owners and trainers actively target what is a very
achievable bonus when planning the campaigns of their star sprinters,” Jordon
added.