Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Expands
 

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...e-series-to-73

World championships indeed.

Why are Singapore and Hong Kong snubbed?

You think those horses ever would consider coming to the states?

Yeah of course I do.

Some people were very happy in HK when Able One qualified (this was in like 2007? 2008? and yeah he didn't come, but...).

(It was considered though).

The occassional horse comes from Japan... why not? Why does this seem far-fetched?

As far as Singapore the KrisFlyer always draws a big international field (as does the SIA Cup come to think of it).

Do they want this to be the World Championship or not?

Either spread the love or stop pretending it's something that it's not.

With the BC at SA again this year and some of the best milers in the world in HK it's really a ****ing shame.

One race from South Africa, one from Japan... world championship my ass.

The Series is a joke-it will be news when the BC makes it a requirement that if a horse wins 1 of these races he MUST race in the BC unless injured.

The Melbourne Cup is practically on top of the BC now. I think we're looking at 3-4 days difference. I'd love a top American horse to go there, or one of their top routers to come here, but I suspect they'd each stay closer to home for at least their first attempt at the home prize. I guess they might show if we're talking Lasix or dirt. Right now, the Aussie challenge races are a turf sprint and a mile race.

If they wanted to come I'm sure that arrangements would be made to bring them. But with the International races in HK in early december I'm sure that most would be discouraged from coming.

What American horse would possibly be considered as having even the slightest chance in the Melbourne Cup?

Heavy Breathing????

You're talking about four races with a 14 horse limit and a set number of spaces put aside for international runners. Keeping in mind the locals have to be chosen by a selection panel that leaves out a good number of them.

I know for a fact it's been considered by a couple of trainers (the races at SA anyway).

They are so proud of their horses in other parts of the world and things like the silly international rankings list mean so much.. they WANT to be considered up there with the best (of course I think they are anyway).

Yes. Be more accomodating and they will come.

Maybe only one or two but still... they'd show up.

As far as Singapore goes I'm sorry but we need to start showing other countries the respect they deserve. I look at some of the qualifying races and then at fields over there and in places like New Zealand (I realize they don't get international runners coming over but my God they have some brilliant horses) and find it ridiculous.

Like I said either make it international or don't but if not stop pretending.

As I said if a horse from Hong Kong wanted to come and had the credentials they would make space for them.

What?

Not thinking of a specific horse or this year's Melbourne Cup. It's just a hypothetical situation. I'd love to see an American owned/trained/bred horse capable of doing well in the Melbourne Cup go take on the Aussies one day. (While I'm making fantastical requests, I'd also like a unicorn.) It's just one of those races I've always been fond of, and it's an opportunity to do something history making on top of it.

It would be a huge challenge simply because we dont have any races which would indicate that our horse would stand a chance. I guess maybe the San Juan Capistrano but lets face it most of our turf marathon type horses are 2nd rate.