HK jockey club granted approval to operate with another ‘racing bubble’ but European participation still not possible
Australian and Japanese runners have been given the green light to compete at Champions Day on May 24, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club granted approval to operate another “racing bubble” which will see overseas participants able to travel to Hong Kong freely without completing mandatory hotel quarantine.
Those in the bubble will be allowed to travel in separate groups to Sha Tin to work their horses, however they will be required to spend any remaining time in their hotel rooms.
With travel from England and Ireland still banned by the Hong Kong government, the bubble will be restricted to countries such as Japan and Australia.
The Jockey Club have said they are not expecting an influx of nominations from Australia with Champions day clashing with The Championships in Sydney.
They are however expecting a strong presence from Japan for all three Group 1 races – the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr 1, 1200m), the Champions Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr 1, 2000m).