SINGAPORE,  Jun 7, 2010

As an incentive for horse owners to buy an Australian bred youngster, a series of two-year-old races will be introduced next year.

Backed by three Australian companies — Aushorse (which represents the breeders of Australia) and leading sales companies William Inglis & Son Ltd (Inglis) and Magic Millions Sales Pty Ltd (Magic Millions) — two-year-olds in Singapore will next year be running in a series of races worth a total of S$1 million.

Six lead-up races, beginning in February and continuing through until the end of April will be followed by the Group 2 Aushorse Singapore Golden Horseshoe over 1200m in middle May.

Commented Peter McGuaran, CEO Aushorse Marketing: “The progress of Singapore racing to world status has been as rapid as it has been exciting. The Singapore Turf Club (SNTC) takes its place now amongst the world’s leading racing jurisdictions renowned for its standards of integrity, innovativeness and excellence. Australian breeders are proud to join in partnership with the SNTC to bring racegoers an exciting new development with the launch of a two-year-old race series culminating in the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe.

“Aushorse Marketing, as the Australian breeders marketing and promotions body, congratulates the STC on its newest racing attraction. We have found the SNTC to be deeply committed to bringing patrons a first class racing entertainment experience which will appeal to one and all. Australian breeders embrace the SNTC culture of continuous improvement and expansion in the interests of trainers, owners, stakeholders and racegoers.”

Singapore Turf Club President and Chief Executive Yu Pang Fey said: “We are delighted to join forces with Aushorse in developing this great initiative for a series of two-year-old races next year. With a number of Singapore’s best performed racehorses over the years, including current stars ROCKET MAN and BETTER THAN EVER, being Australian bred we can look forward to watching future stars from this new batch of young horses on our shores for many years to come.”

Magic Millions and Inglis will each sponsor two of the lead-up races with Aushorse arranging sponsorship of the remaining two with each race having a bonus attached.

The six races will be open to all two-year-olds trained in Singapore, but only Australian sired horses offered for sale through one of the two auction houses will be in contention for any of the bonus’ on offer.

Total sum for the series will be S$1 million made up as follows:

a) Inglis race in February - S$100,000 (S$75,000 base stake plus S$25,000 Bonus) over 1000 metres on Polytrack

b) Magic Millions race in February - S$100,000 (S$75,000 base stake plus S$25,000 Bonus) over 1000 metres on Polytrack

c) Inglis race in March - S$75,000 (S$55,000 base stake plus S$20,000 Bonus) over 1100 metres on Polytrack

d) Magic Millions race in March - S$75,000 (S$55,000 base stake plus S$20,000 Bonus) over 1100 metres on Polytrack

e) Australian sponsored race in April - S$125,000 (S$95,000 base stake plus S$30,000 Bonus) over 1200 metres on Turf

f) Australian sponsored race in April - S$125,000 (S$95,000 base stake plus S$30,000 Bonus) over 1200 metres on Turf

g) Singapore Group 2 Aushorse Singapore Golden Horseshoe in May - S$400,000 (S$325,000 base stake plus S$75,000 Bonus) over 1200 metres on Turf

If a non-Australian sired or sold horse wins any of the six lead-up races, the bonus will then jackpot to the Aushorse Singapore Golden Horseshoe.

Should a non-Australian sired or sold horse win the Aushorse Singapore Golden Horseshoe then the remaining bonus money, taking in any previous bonus prizemoney not having been paid-out, will then be paid to the connections of the Australian sired and sold horse that won the greatest amount of prizemoney during the series.