imaufo
16-03-2006, 17:26
Japanese stars may join Australians at Ascot this year 21 Feb 2006
By Rob Burnet
Japanese horses Deep Impact and Heart’s Cry may join the Australian stars at Royal Ascot this year The Racing Post reports.
Nick Smith, Ascot's head of public relations, recently visited the Far East and Australia for talks with connections of several of the world's leading racehorses, including Japan's Triple Crown winner Deep Impact and the only horse ever to have beaten him, the Japan Cup runner-up Heart's Cry, both of whom took high rank in the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.
“Deep Impact's connections are very keen to come to Europe, but the question is whether they run in the King George or Arc,” said Smith.
“They want to run in two races and we are hoping that the likelihood of a faster surface at Ascot might persuade them to run in the King George. I would say it's 50-50 between the King George and Arc.”
Deep Impact, a national icon at home, is set to have two races in Japan in the spring, after which a decision on future targets will be made. A race at Royal Ascot, perhaps the Prince of Wales's or Hardwicke, could be taken in before the King George.
Heart's Cry, who defeated Deep Impact in the prestigious Arima Kinen Grand Prix on Christmas Day, will contest the Dubai World Cup and then a Group 1 event back in Japan in June.
“We are working very hard to get both of them. This year we have tried to specialise a little, we're actively targeting the very best there is on offer in each category outside Europe,” said Smith.
“With middle-distance horses, that means Japan. It is getting harder and harder with regard to American turf horses, but one we're interested in is Shakespeare, whose connections are worried it might be too soft. We are suggesting that is unlikely to be the case.”
Two races at Royal Ascot, the King's Stand and Golden Jubilee, form part of the Global Sprint Challenge, a series that also takes in contests in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. Australia's Choisir and Hong Kong's Cape Of Good Hope having already left their mark on the Royal meeting, and Smith is confident of an influx of international sprinters this year.
Written Tycoon, Glamour Puss, Stratum and Takeover Target are all Australian possibilities, but the Flying Spur colt Jet Spur who was also under consideration for a trip to Ascot was retired due to injury after racing in the Group I Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
If Hong Kong’s Silent Witness recovers from his recent virus illness in time then connections are also thought likely to want to make the northern summer trip to Ascot.
http://www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz/international/Default.asp?id=22402&page_no=0&trainer_id=0&stud_id=0
By Rob Burnet
Japanese horses Deep Impact and Heart’s Cry may join the Australian stars at Royal Ascot this year The Racing Post reports.
Nick Smith, Ascot's head of public relations, recently visited the Far East and Australia for talks with connections of several of the world's leading racehorses, including Japan's Triple Crown winner Deep Impact and the only horse ever to have beaten him, the Japan Cup runner-up Heart's Cry, both of whom took high rank in the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.
“Deep Impact's connections are very keen to come to Europe, but the question is whether they run in the King George or Arc,” said Smith.
“They want to run in two races and we are hoping that the likelihood of a faster surface at Ascot might persuade them to run in the King George. I would say it's 50-50 between the King George and Arc.”
Deep Impact, a national icon at home, is set to have two races in Japan in the spring, after which a decision on future targets will be made. A race at Royal Ascot, perhaps the Prince of Wales's or Hardwicke, could be taken in before the King George.
Heart's Cry, who defeated Deep Impact in the prestigious Arima Kinen Grand Prix on Christmas Day, will contest the Dubai World Cup and then a Group 1 event back in Japan in June.
“We are working very hard to get both of them. This year we have tried to specialise a little, we're actively targeting the very best there is on offer in each category outside Europe,” said Smith.
“With middle-distance horses, that means Japan. It is getting harder and harder with regard to American turf horses, but one we're interested in is Shakespeare, whose connections are worried it might be too soft. We are suggesting that is unlikely to be the case.”
Two races at Royal Ascot, the King's Stand and Golden Jubilee, form part of the Global Sprint Challenge, a series that also takes in contests in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. Australia's Choisir and Hong Kong's Cape Of Good Hope having already left their mark on the Royal meeting, and Smith is confident of an influx of international sprinters this year.
Written Tycoon, Glamour Puss, Stratum and Takeover Target are all Australian possibilities, but the Flying Spur colt Jet Spur who was also under consideration for a trip to Ascot was retired due to injury after racing in the Group I Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
If Hong Kong’s Silent Witness recovers from his recent virus illness in time then connections are also thought likely to want to make the northern summer trip to Ascot.
http://www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz/international/Default.asp?id=22402&page_no=0&trainer_id=0&stud_id=0