The Singapore Turf Club (SNTC) is inviting Malaysian trained horses, including those based at Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, to participate in the $300,000 MRA Cup to be run over 1200m at Kranji on March 12.

SNTC has designated the weight-for-age event an "Open Race" and will allow up to a maximum of six Malaysian runners in the maximum 14-horse field.

The MRA Cup is staged annually on rotation between the four member clubs which make up the Malayan Racing Association (MRA). The date and race distance is decided by the club hosting the event.

This year’s race also coincides with the MRA Awards night and 110th anniversary celebrations of the MRA which will be held in Singapore on March 10. Champion owners, trainers, jockeys and apprentices in the 2005 racing season will receive their awards that night. The Horse of the Year for both Malaysia and Singapore will also be announced.

Since the resumption of cross-border racing last September, only Penang based horses have been invited to take part in "Open Races" at Kranji as the Penang Turf Club is the first and only Malaysian club to stage such races.

But the MRA Cup will be incomplete without the participation of horses from Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, which is perhaps why SNTC is inviting horses from these two centres for the race.

Conditions for the selection of Malaysian-based horses.

1. Up to a maxinum of six Malaysian-based horses may be selected for the race.

2. Malaysian-based horses selected will be guaranteed a start.

3. Malaysian horses will be selected based on their ratings and recent form.

4. Not withstanding (3), any Malaysian horse which merits consideration may be selected at the discretion of the Handicapper.

5. Malaysian-based horses must have raced at least once in Malaysia within the past two months before they can be entered so that their form can be assessed.

6. Selected Malaysian-based horses that are subsequently withdrawn or scratched will be replaced by Singapore horses selected as emergency acceptors, if any.