Macau is to send its first runner to Hong Kong next month when Royal Treasure lines up in the $18 million Hong Kong Cup - the showpiece of the four International Races at Sha Tin.
The surprise news was yesterday hailed as 'a big breakthrough' by the Macau Jockey Club (MJC) in its attempt to gain wider international recognition and will be seen as a thawing of the frosty relations between it and its bigger neighbour, which have been at loggerheads in recent months over betting revenue.
Royal Treasure's inclusion was announced yesterday when the 14 runners selected for each race were unveiled by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). The Macau Derby winner secured the last berth in the 2,000-metre Cup even though he has no official international rating, which is normally the basis for selection. The Macau representative will join a star-studded cast from 11 other countries on December 15 at a meeting billed by the HKJC as the 'turf world championships'.
'The Macau Jockey Club is very happy that Royal Treasure has been invited to run in Hong Kong and we think this is a big breakthrough,' said Ian Paterson, the MJC's director of racing. 'This is one of the most important race meetings in the world and it is a good opportunity for Macau. We are only a small [region] and it is exciting to be part of such a big event.' Paterson praised the HKJC's decision to include Royal Treasure. 'Hong Kong has made the right decision for the right reasons,' he said. 'They could easily have justified leaving Royal Treasure out, but to their credit they have taken a chance with him. It is good for Macau and I think it will be good for the whole of racing in this region if we can help each other.'
Macau has made a bid for wider international exposure in recent years, with leading sprinter Active Bo Bo becoming its first overseas campaigner with trips to Dubai and Singapore last year. 'Active Bo Bo established half a benchmark for us when he beat Nuclear Debate [who has been selected for the Hong Kong Mile] in Dubai and Royal Treasure will tell us more about where we stand,' Paterson said.
The first step towards Macau's admission to the International Races came last year when three horses were entered from Macau, though none made the final fields, and Royal Treasure's selection is the latest indication of improving racing relations between the two clubs. But the move comes against the backdrop of the row which erupted earlier this year when Hong Kong's amended Gambling Ordinance was blamed for a slump in betting turnover in Macau, which responded with a threat to bet on Hong Kong's races. The two sides have since agreed an uneasy truce over the issue pending further top-level talks.