The Global Sprint Challenge is now an all-turf series following a change to the leg that is run on Dubai World Cup Night, reports Brad Bishop at racing.com.
The Al Quoz Sprint, which will be run on March 25, is now the United Arab Emirates leg of the series that offers a US$1 million bonus to any horse that can win selected races in three different countries.
The Al Quoz Sprint has been increased in distance from 1000 metres to 1200m and replaces the Golden Shaheen.
The Golden Shaheen, which was run on the dirt track at Meydan, was the only leg not run on turf and takes to 10 the number of legs that make up the Global Sprint Challenge.
It joins the Chairman’s Sprint, run over 1200m in Hong Kong in May, as the most recent additions to the series that also includes races in Australia, England and Japan.
“The Global Sprint Challenge brings together the premier sprint races from around the world and offers prizemoney and bonuses in excess of US$12 million to connections of horses that target and perform well in these races,” Leigh Jordon, GSC Committee Chairman, said.
“The Al Quoz Sprint is another quality addition to the series and boasts a truly international honour roll befitting of a leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.
“The revamped 1200 metre Al Quoz replaces the Golden Shaheen, also run on Dubai World Cup night, in a move that will see the entire Global Sprint Challenge conducted on turf tracks.
The Al Quoz Sprint boasts a glittering international honour roll in recent years, won last year by Queensland superstar Buffering.
Ortensia is the other Australian to have won the race when it was over 1000m, while JJ The Jet Plane (2009 and 2011) and Sole Power (2015) are among the other recent winners.
The Al Quoz Sprint replaces the Golden Shaheen as the second leg of the series, which kicks off with the $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 18.