'Global Sprint Challenge' expands

The first leg of the 'Global Sprint Challenge' is likely to be an all Australian affair, with no international runners due to line up at Flemington on February 19.

Next year's Global Sprint Challenge now consists of nine Group 1 races across five countries with prizemoney of over $US10 million, after the series expanded to include the 'KrisFlyer sprint' in Singapore.

But the huge money on offer in Dubai is likely to entice both 'J J The Jet Plane' and 'Rocket Man' for either the $2 million Golden Shaheen or the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint, both run on the Dubai World Cup program on March 26, providing a clash with the premiere Australian sprint.

Leigh Jordan, Racing Victoria's international scout, said the big money on offer in Dubai and avoiding Australia's superstar mare 'Black Caviar' on her home turf were reasons cited by connections of both horses to miss the first leg of 'Global Sprint Challenge'.

Flemington Tips (11/12)

Race One

9.Hot Spin - 3.Shenanigans - 1.Grand Britannia - 2.The Counterfeiter

Race Two

10.Marcellus - 7.Morely - 4.Belgietto - 8.Take The Moment

Race Three

9.Noetic - 6.Red Belly Black - 7.Koonoomoo - 10.Flourishing

Race Four

7.Lakedro - 4.Aloha - 2.Sadalbari - 6.Riveted

Race Five

2.Orchestra Stalls - 4.Right Fong - 1.Fast Future - 9.Lucky Eighty Eight

Race Six

15.War Ends - 14.Voile Rouge - 13.Tough Future - 4.Itsamonty

Race Seven

5.Offenders - 4.Gold In Dubai - 3.Commanding Hope - 10.Fugitive

Race Eight

6.Devils Party - 10.Livia - 9.Absolute Joy - 4.Maquina

Best Bet:
Race 6 No 15 War Ends

Best Roughie:
Race 2 No 10 Macellus, Race 5 No 2 Orchestra Stalls

'Ortensia' draws well in Hong Kong

Australian sprinter 'Ortensia' has drawn well for her international debut in Sunday's Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint.


At Thursday's draw, Tony Noonan's star mare came up with barrier five, with Singapore sprinter 'Rocket Man' drawn directly on her outside in barrier six.

Locally trained two-time winner of the race, Sacred Kingdom, also drew well and will start from gate two.

Ortensia will be the only Australian representative at the meeting, with Craig Williams, who has ridden Ortensia throughout most of her career, in the saddle.

Sha Tin's famous 'International Day' also features the running of the Hong Kong Cup run over 2000m, the Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and the Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

The Vase will feature the Melbourne Cup winner 'Americain', who has drawn barrier nine in the field of 14.

The French-trained, Australian-owned stayer is the highest rated horse in the race with an international rating of 121.

Top jockey in hospital

Lisa Cropp, the champion New Zealand jockey, is in a New Zealand hospital with a fractured skull following a freak accident yesterday.

Cropp was trapped beneath a pony that she was educating for her teenage daughter, when it ran through a fence railing.

It's then believed that the pony landed on top of the Cropp.

Cropp, one of the leading jockeys in New Zealand, holds the national record for the most winners in a season and has ridden 12 in the past fortnight in Australia.

Cropp has recently moved to Australia, basing herself in Melbourne, and has quickly established herself, including riding a treble at Sandown on November 28.

Cropp was due to appeal to the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board tomorrow against a careless riding charge incurred at Moonee Valley last Friday night.

The appeal has now been withdrawn.

Japanese plans for 'Al Garhood'

Ciaron Maher will target an invitation to compete against the best steeple chasers in the world with veteran 'Al Garhood' in next April's Nakayama Grand Jump.

He is extremely keen to get to Japan as he fears Al Garhood will be weighted out of the top races next year, after winning the 2010 Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool.

The 11 year old gelding also won the 2010 Von Doussa Steeplechase at Oakbank and has twice won the Brierly Steeplechase on his home track.

"He hasn't done all he can here, but he has probably done what they will allow him to do considering the weight he likely to get now", Maher said.

Al Garhood carried a massive 67kg in the Von Doussa and 66kg in the Grand Annual.

"I'm sure he will get a lot more weight in both those races if we stay home with him next year", Maher said.

Maher is planning to get Al Garhood fit for Japan with three flat runs in Victoria before the Pegasus Jump on April 9 as a lead up to the $1.75 million Grand Jump nine days later.

Al Garhood has raced 66 times for 13 wins and has earned more than $420,000 prizemoney.