Singapore International Races Discontinued

The Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer International Sprint, both lucrative international group I events staged annually at Kranji Racecourse, have been discontinued, the Singapore Turf Club announced Sept. 28.

 

The races, introduced in 2000 and 2001, respectively, drew some top-class international performers over the years. 

 

Singapore Turf Club said in a release that the races were created to achieve several objectives, which have been attained.  

"These objectives include branding Singapore races internationally and uplifting the quality of Singapore horses and Singapore racing," the club said.

 

"Both international races together with Singapore racing have grown in stature and prestige over the years. As the objectives set out for the two races have been achieved, the Singapore Turf Club wishes to announce that the (two races) will be discontinued."

 

A Turf Club spokesman told Singapore's Today that it has no immediate plans to replace the two races. 

 

"However, we will be working to further develop our major feature races such as the Singapore Gold Cup and the Singapore Derby," he said.

 

Local owner Tang Weng Fei, partner in Jupiter Stable, said he was not disappointed the races were canceled.

 

"As an owner, I feel it's not a bad idea to squash it," said Tang. "It doesn't benefit local horse racers in terms of prize money as we can't compete with the international riders. We participate and just hope for the best."

 

The inaugural SIA Cup saw a local winner, but in 14 subsequent runnings the race has been captured by horses from England, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, France, and Hong Kong.

 

In the most recent editions of the races May 17, Hong Kong standouts Dan Excel scored a repeat win in the SIA Cup, a 1 1/4-mile race with a US$2.37 million purse, and Aerovelocity captured the six-furlong Sprint, which offered a US$790,000 purse.