 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the CEO of Hong Kong Jockey Club, plans to urge the Australian government to alter the quarantine requirements for elite sports horses. This change is aimed at encouraging more international competition among horses.
Currently, the quarantine requirements are exhausting, and it takes almost two weeks at either end of the event, which led to no horses representing Australia in Sunday's Hong Kong International Races. The connections of Zaaki cited this issue when they explained why they chose to compete in the Group One Northerly Stakes in Perth instead of Sha Tin.
Engelbrecht-Bresges, who is also the chairman of the Asian Racing Federation, understands the reluctance of connections to make HKIR a priority when it means they will be at a disadvantage for the profitable autumn carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne.
"Owners and trainers have to make a choice currently – if you come to Hong Kong you have to miss one or two races in Australia. It's very difficult," Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
"It's easier to come to Hong Kong in April (for Champions Day), because there's nothing else around that.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of HKJC, delivers his remarks during the post-race press briefing at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, in December 2010.
"What I want to see is a special health status developed with the World Organisation for Animal Health for top equestrian and top race horses.
"They are the most monitored horses on the planet and you can do multiple tests and hopefully that gives them comfort – especially for Australian quarantine authorities – to have a different protocol for these top horses in the world.
"It's not a show in Canberra, we're talking about the top 100 horses in the world and we want them to compete internationally.
"With all the monitoring we do, hopefully we can convince governments that they deserve a different health status, but that will take another two or three years."
Engelbrecht-Bresges believes that the Hong Kong International Races cannot be considered complete without the participation of an Australian sprinter. However, he is surprised that many fail to recognize the significant positive impact that success at the meeting can have.
"I would like to see a top-class Australian sprinter at this meeting – we're missing it to be truly global," he said.
"I really feel the Australian industry misses a point to showcase and compete against the best in the world.
"That should enhance the stallion value. I was talking to (leviathan Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida), one of the reasons he sends his horses, like Lord Kanaloa, here is because it enhances his stallion value if you win against the world's best."
It has been 22 years since a horse trained in Australia triumphed at the meeting. The last time was in 2001, when Falvelon successfully defended his Hong Kong Sprint title.