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Hong Kong ranks highly in World��s Top 100 G1 Races

05/03/2015

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) released the annual World’s Top 100 G1 Races on Tuesday, 3 March. All six of Hong Kong’s Group 1 races staged last season made the list, with four featuring in the top 25.

Only the UK, with eight races, has more elite contests in the top 25, while France is Hong Kong’s equal with four. Both Japan and the USA have three races apiece in that high bracket.

“This is a phenominal achievement when you consider that we only have six international Group 1 races eligible for consideration,” said Mr William A Nader, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director of Racing.

“We have made a strategic investment in our major races, supported by great quality from our relatively small population of 1,200 horses.  Our marquee events have gained worldwide recognition for excellence and enjoy the further benefit of being run at a fabulous venue in Sha Tin Racecourse.”

The World’s Top 100 G1 Races are ranked by taking an average rating of Group 1 races (for three-year-olds and upwards) over the past three years. The Champions Mile comes out best of Hong Kong’s six G1 races as 17th on the list with a three-year average of 120.58.  The most recent Champions Mile was a vintage affair as South Africa’s champion Variety Club won the contest from Able Friend to produce a 2014 race rating of 122.50, making it one of the 10 highest-rated races staged in the world last year.

The Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, won by Hong Kong Horse of the Year Designs On Rome last April, ranks 19th  in the World’s Top 100 with a three-year average of 120.42. The race’s 2014 rating of 123.25 was the joint seventh highest achieved anywhere in the world last year.

The LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (three-year average of 119.92) comes in at equal 22nd, the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (119.83) is joint 25th, the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase is co-45th and the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint is equal 82nd.

Mr Nader continued: “Our races are trending in a positive way and next year, for the first time, we will have 10 races eligible for inclusion as international Group 1 contests, with the upgrading this year of the Stewards’ Cup, Hong Kong Gold Cup, Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and Champions & Chater Cup.”

The Juddmonte International Stakes at York (UK) in August takes the top spot. The race achieved a rating of 126.75 when the great Frankel succeeded in 2012, and after dipping to 121.50 in 2013 the race posted 124.25 for the edition won by Australia in 2014. That produced a three-year average of 124.17. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (123.67) at Longchamp (France) is ranked second with the Champion Stakes (123.50) at Ascot (UK), another race boosted by Frankel’s victory in 2012, in third.

Asia is well-represented at the top with the Japan Cup ranking eighth and the Arima Kinen 11th*.

Taking the Top 100 in its entirety, Australia is the country/jurisdiction with the most races in the list. Australia’s 26 topped the USA’s 23, with the UK being next best as home to 16 of the races listed. Hong Kong positions well in sixth, its six races being one more than the UAE’s five and three less than France’s nine.

The World’s Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races:
http://www.ifhaonline.org/Default.asp?section=Racing&area=3

*Remark: The IFHA has updated the ratings for the Arima Kinen and Tenno Sho (Autumn)

 

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