Chasing the HK$62 million stakes

LOCAL HEROES ARE set to reap a fabulous harvest once again at the 2006 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races, despite playing host to some of the finest thoroughbreds on the planet chasing HK$62 million in stakes.

The CXHKIR meeting has become the world turf championships as envisaged by the former chairman of the Jockey Club, the late Alan Li Fook-sum, almost two decades ago. On one hand, that meant the races would become harder to win than ever, but that inspiration over the years has also brought Hong Kong's horses to a level of quality few others would have imagined when the international events began in the late 1980s with a single race.

That one invitation race - where visitors were vetted at selection time to ensure they were not so highly achieved as to make a farce of the contest - has become a four-race showpiece with 18 individual Group One-winning visitors where 'come one, come all' is the motto and local horses stand proudly toe-to-toe with the best from anywhere.

As always, the HK$20 million Hong Kong Cup over 2,000 metres will not only be the richest race of the day, but the hardest to win - regardless of where the runners hail from.

Hong Kong horses have bowed to the visitors most years since the race's inception, but last year Hong Kong's World Series champion Vengeance Of Rain overwhelmed the invaders and he is joined this year by Hello Pretty, Viva Pataca and others in a strong home defence.

Things can change quickly in horse racing, and even more so over six months. In May this year, Viva Pataca was right on top, fresh from wins in the Group One Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby and the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400 metres).