Next season will see four internationally ratified Group One contests run in Hong Kong. December's International race spectacular will now feature three Group One and one Group Three contest as the Hong Kong Mile and Hong Kong Vase have been upgraded from Group Two to Group One by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee and will be worth $10 million. The Hong Kong Cup has already been afforded Group One status and next season will be run for a massive $14 million. April's $10 million Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup has also been upgraded to Group One, while the Hong Kong Sprint, run last December for the first time, has been promoted from Listed to Group Three status and will carry a purse of $6 million. The Jockey Club's chief executive, Lawrence Wong, said yesterday: 'The decision confirms Hong Kong's status as one of the most important international racing centres in the world. Our International races are now seen as some of the best in the world and that justifies our efforts in constantly improving the quality of racing in Hong Kong.' Frenchman Louis Romanet heads the International Cataloguing Standards Committee and he said yesterday: 'Our committee is giving recognition to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for its remarkable efforts to promote and develop international racing at the highest level.'
