80 Group One winners nominate for HK International Races

Early nominations, including Cirrus des Aigles, only a clue to the final field for International Races

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Frankel races ahead of Olivier Peslier on Cirrus des Aigles, which has been nominated for the International Races. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:00am, 30 Oct 2012Updated: 3:00am, 30 Oct 2012

The Jockey Club has announced early nominations for the HK$72 million on offer in the Longines Hong Kong International Races on December 9, with 80 Group One winners among the names.

"We are delighted with the depth of quality at the nomination stage," the club's executive director of racing, Bill Nader said.

"Such star names are what we have come to expect from our flagship race day, an event that is one of Hong Kong's most famous sporting spectacles.

"With Longines joining us for the first time, we are confident that this great occasion, now widely recognised as the Turf World Championships, can only enhance its standing as the sport's annual international finale."

There are 267 nominations from 13 different racing jurisdictions for the four races - the HK$22 million Hong Kong Cup, 2,000m; , the US$20 million Hong Kong Mile, 1,600m; the HK$15 million Hong Kong Sprint 1,200m; and HK$15 million Hong Kong Vase, 2,400m.

The early nominations offer only minor clues as to the likely ultimate make up of the fields, but Cirrus des Aigles, the world's second highest-rated horse this year behind Frankel, has been here for the past three December international meetings and is again prominent among the nominations.