Louis ROMANET, Chairman : France Galop, 46 place Abel Gance, 92655 Boulogne Cedex, France; Tel: + 33 1 49 10 20 12; Fax : + 33 1 47 61 93 32; E-mail:intl@france-galop.com

Carl HAMILTON, Secretary : The Jockey Club Information Systems, Inc., 821 Corporate Drive, Lexington, Ky 40503, USA; Tel: 1 859 224 2800; Fax : 859 224 2810; E-mail: chamilton@jockeyclub.com

International races upgraded

The INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUING STANDARDS COMMITTEE upgrades seven international races run in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates and promotes in Part I of the ICS booklet ten international races run in Japan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates

At the time of its last meeting held in London on 18 June, the I.C.S.C. has decided to upgrade the following races :

United Arab Emirates (from the 2001/2002 racing season) :

• Dubai Duty Free, from Group 2 to Group 1
• Dubai Sheema Classic, from Group 2 to Group 1
• Dubai Golden Shaheen, from Group 3 to Group 1
• UAE Derby, from Group 3 to Group 2
• Godolphin Mile, from Group 3 to Group 2
• Maktoum Challenge Round III from Group 3 to Group 2

Hong Kong (from the 2001 racing season):

• Hong Kong Sprint, from Group 3 toGroup 2

Japan (from the 2001 racing season):

• Takarazuka Kinen, with Group 1 status
• Keio Hai Spring Cup, with Group 2 status
• Mainichi Okan, with Group 2 status

Singapore (from the 2002 racing season):

• Singapore Airlines International Cup, with Group 1 status
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Sprint, with Group 3 status
• Singapore Cup, with Group 3 status

United Arab Emirates (from the 2001/2002 racing season):

• UAE 2000 Guineas, with Group 3 status
• Maktoum Challenge Round I, with Group 3 status
• Maktoum Challenge Round II, with Group 3 status
• Jebel Hatta, with Group 3 status

All these races have been fulfilling the criteria required and have justified their new grouping by the quality of their runners.

The Committee underlined the exceptional quality of the field of the last running of most of these races including many international runners as well as Group 1 winners.

All these decisions have been ratified by the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers.

Mr Louis ROMANET, Chairman of the I.C.S.C., declared :

« I am pleased with these promotions and upgradings which award the constant efforts made by the Emirates Racing Association to promote and develop international racing at the highest level, and by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Singapore Turf Club to build an international racing day with top quality runners ; these two targets are a priority for our Committee.

I am personally delighted of the promotion to Part I of the ICS booklet of three Japanese races, which are the first to be promoted since the Japan Cup in 1992. This decision awards the efforts made by the Japan Racing Association to open its racing to the international competition. »