Wong Wing-keung says the lure of first prize of 100 million yen ($6.9 million) and a bonus of US$1 million is of secondary importance at Tokyo racecourse this afternoon for his outstanding galloper Bullish Luck. There's a lot more at stake.
Wong, a successful businessman, is desperately hoping for Bullish Luck to win today's Group One mile race, the Yasuda Kinen, and emulate the effort of the great Hong Kong miler Fairy King Prawn in 1999.
'People at home think this is all about the prize money and the US$1 million bonus [for completing the Champions Mile-Yasuda Kinen double], but that's not it at all,' Wong said.
'They don't understand it's no longer about the money. It's really not. If Bullish Luck wins the Yasuda Kinen, I'm sure he will be Horse of the Year. And that would be more important to me than any amount of prize money. To be an owner in Hong Kong is a wonderful thing. A real privilege.
'Many people cannot even get their name drawn in a ballot to get a permit to race a horse. But we not only drew a permit, we were lucky enough to get Bullish Luck. And now, this horse is a champion. Last year, he was Hong Kong's champion miler and we felt very proud. But if we can win [today], he can go one better. A win in the Yasuda Kinen could mean Horse of the Year.'
Wong has spiced up the incentives for jockey Brett Prebble to land Japan's premier mile race. Apart from his love of racehorses, Wong is also a big car enthusiast and he has promised Prebble 12 months use of a yellow Lamborghini if he wins this afternoon against follow Hong Kong gallopers Joyful Winner and The Duke plus 15 of Japan's best milers.