2008 - The international year

[NoChanceToDance]

From Racing Post

by Jon Lees
.


HONG KONG stars Sacred Kingdom and Good Ba Ba, plus Japan's top filly Daiwa Scarlet, featured on a provisional guest list that Ascot's big-race ambassador Nick Smith took with him as he set off on a trip to the Far East and Australia on Tuesday.

As a result of the successes of the likes of Miss Andretti, Takeover Target, Cape Of Good Hope and Choisir, Ascot's head of public relations should have no trouble selling the attraction of Royal Ascot, but this year his role will extend to promoting the July Cup and Nunthorpe Stakes, as well as the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Meetings have been scheduled with connections of Sacred Kingdom, rated the world's top sprinter following his stunning victory in the Hong Kong Sprint, where King's Stand Stakes winner Miss Andretti was among his victims, and Good Ba Ba, who won the Hong Kong Mile from Godolphin's Creachadoir.

Japanese owners arethought keen to re-establish their horses internationally, while Australian trainer Joe Janiak has already declared his enthusiasm for a third visit to Britain with Takeover Target.
Smith said: “I am going to Hong Kong and Japan and then toAustralia for the Lightning Stakes, which is on Saturday week.

“I'm seeing connections of various horses, like Good Ba Ba, Sacred Kingdom and Floral Pegasus. Those are the target horses in Hong Kong – and there are loads of potential horses in Japan this year.

“They are quite keen to be represented in Europe after a year out through the equine influenza problem. Daiwa Scarlet is one we are keen on, and in Australia we have the likes of Divine Madonna, who is their champion miler, while the sprinters are just starting to come out.”

The Lightning Stakes at Flemington is the first leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, to which the July Cup is a new addition this year, and Smith will advertise the availability of travel incentives on behalf of Ascot,Newmarket and York, host of the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Smith also confirmed that approaches would be made to the world's two winning most jockeys, Brazilian Jorge Ricardo and Russell Baze from the United States to ride at the Shergar Cup in August.