Asian Mile Challenge

No single horse dominated the Asian Mile Challenge in 2008, but we can still reflect on four brilliant individual races and, even better, look forward to much stronger competition next year now that the bonus system has been revamped to encourage a greater spread of competition across its four constituent races.

Offering the best collective prize-money the sport has to offer since its inauguration in 2005, the AMC has helped created international legends of the turf. Bullish Luck and Admire Moon stand out from its early years and last year they were joined by Niconero in Australia, the South African-trained Jay Peg in the Dubai Duty Free, Good Ba Ba for Hong Kong in the Champions Mile and Vodka’s cruise for the home team in the Yasuda Kinen.     

All told, nine of the 14 AMC events since its inception have been shared by founding partners Hong Kong (five wins) and Japan (four). Australian horses have retained all three renewals of the Futurity Stakes since it turned international and only the US$5m Dubai Duty Free has gone to a horse trained outside the home nations, namely David Junior’s success for Britain in the Dubai Duty Free of 2006.

A restructuring of the AMC bonus system and a 50 per cent cash injection to the Champions Mile in Hong Kong looks set to ensure even stronger fields in 2009.

Up until now, owners have been the exclusive recipients of the US$1m bonus for two series’ victories - owner Wong Wing-keung via Bullish Luck in 2006 is the sole beneficiary to date. 

From next year, however, trainers will be factored directly into the reward system for the AMC. 

Trainers of the winners of two legs will receive US$250,000 with the remaining US$750,000 going to the owner. Should a horse succeed in three legs, the trainer’s reward will double to US$500,000 with the owner netting US$1.5m. 

Horses do not have to compete in every leg of the AMC to be eligible for a bonus. The fund for two victories can also be awarded to different horses with each collecting US$1m. 

It is hoped the promise of handsome rewards going straight into their pockets will lure more trainers into seeing the Asian Mile Challenge as a series of four hugely lucrative races, not just one isolated event in their own country.

The ultimate aim is for the winners of the Futurity, the Dubai Duty Free and Champions Mile all going to the Yasuda Kinen and gunning for a multi-million dollar bonus. The owners and trainers will be main winners.

But so, too, will fans of top class international racing.

The Races