3 minute read

Winx is the best we have, and Chris Waller says she has nothing to prove by racing overseas.

But is she the world’s best? Maybe, maybe not, and no end of ratings, rankings and raving will ever resolve the issue either way.

Whatever your personal view, it will remain racing’s great debate until the time, if ever, Winx gets to meet the horses those in the northern hemisphere claim to be at least her equal - if not better.

California Chrome, Almanzor, Found, Songbird and Winx.…what a race it would be if they could ever be drawn together for one glorious showdown!

Others on a short list would have to include A Shin Hikari, Arrogate, Postponed and Frosted.

They have all been pretenders, at one time or another, to being world number one if considered on their career best performances that are akin to what Winx produced at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

When, where and how such a race could take place remains unfathomable, especially as most of the aforementioned stars will be in retirement if ever the logistics of such a pipedream could become reality.

It will always be racing’s impossible dream….unless….

HOW?

First and foremost, the ability to stage such a monumental match of champions is way beyond the realms of one race club, due largely to the costs involved.

What could make it happen, if ever, is money. In this respect the only way I envisage we could ever possibly get the best racehorses on the planet together for one monumental climax is for a cashed up global entrepreneur to take the bull by the horns and underwrite what would be the biggest racing promotion the world has seen.

WHO?

The entrepreneur must be allowed to control all aspects of such a massive promotion. Being what they are, no entrepreneur/promoter would it take on unless they held all the management aces.

Think someone of the standing and wealth of a James Packer or Rupert Murdoch. Or perhaps Frank Stronach or Sheikh Mohammed, racing moguls with the necessary resources who have already spent millions on promoting their own pseudo ‘world championship’ races.

Dare I say even Donald Trump (heaven forbid!).

WHERE?

The promoter would need to have the power and wealth to court a leading race club for the most suitable venue.

I have to come down in favour of Hong Kong over Dubai – neutral ground for all candidates and the most accessible for each contender in terms of air travel from their home bases.

WHEN?

Timing is all important. May/June is the perfect fit as it’s the time of the year that suits both northern and southern hemisphere training schedules.

THE FORMAT?

A select field of no more than 6-8 runners. Obviously weight-for-age conditions over 2000 metres, the universally recognised championship distance.

THE SURFACE?

It has to be turf. It will be argued that turf disadvantages America’s best but any top grade horse should have no problems adapting to the excellent Sha Tin surface.

THE MONEY?

The most crucial component and why the whole promotion has to be turned over to a global entrepreneur who can do the sums and run the show for a profitable bottom line.

Firstly, each competitor must be guaranteed an appearance fee of $US2 million plus all travel expenses for horses, owners, trainers and jockeys. No expense can be spared to secure their participation – after all we are dealing with the best in the world!

Secondly, the prize pot must be a minimum $US8 million winner take all – no place money - so the horse coming out on top is not only crowned world champion but takes home the biggest prize ever offered in world racing.

FUNDING?

So how does the entrepreneur recoup his money – TV rights of course!

It’s a no-brainer that such a fantastic race could not be on-sold to a vast range of TV networks around the world for fees covering far more than the bottom line prizemoney and expenses.

Again Hong Kong or Dubai are best located to suit international time zones for maximum exposure.

If such a dream promotion could not be sold to the world then racing has no chance of ever commanding a global audience in future years.

HOST CLUB?

The host club/venue gets its pay off from a cut of the TV rights, betting turnover and the race day gate, which in Hong Kong would be guaranteed to be more than 100,000.

DREAM ON

OK, maybe it’s all a dream and is way beyond the realms of reality, but surely if such an event has any remote chance of coming together could this not be a logical and workable formula?

Afterall dreaming never hurt anybody….sometimes they do come true!