VRC joins push to host global champions showdown as ATC makes Sydney bid

The Australian Turf Club and the Victoria Racing Club have both thrown their hats in the ring amid growing calls for an international blockbuster featuring Ka Ying Rising, Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi.

The concept has gathered momentum after Ka Ying Rising’s trainer David Hayes and Autumn Glow’s managing owner John Messara publicly entertained the prospect of a clash between the Hong Kong sprint sensation and Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year.

The Australian Turf Club made a strong case for Sydney to host the event on Wednesday, while the VRC’s Chief Racing Officer Leigh Jordon said Flemington would welcome the opportunity to stage a unique champions-versus-champions contest.

“VRC would love to host the world’s biggest match race here at Flemington,” Jordon told Giddy Up With Gareth Hall.

“Ka Ying Rising, Sheza Alibi, Autumn Glow, what a match race that would be.

“I think the important thing is it needs to be a match race. If it’s a race, you’ve got 10 or 12 horses. You don’t want them saying, ‘I got blocked for a run, I got caught wide, there was track bias’.

“If there’s three champions, champions v champions, in a match race at Flemington, whether it’s over 1400 metres or whatever the distance, we know the track plays fair, there’s no excuses. It’s going to see the best horse win.”

The comments follow a public pitch from ATC CEO Steve McMahon, who believes Sydney is the natural home for such a contest.

McMahon has called on racing’s key stakeholders to explore a historic clash between Ka Ying Rising, Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi, arguing the addition of the star four-year-old mare would elevate the concept beyond a two-horse showdown.

“While much of the discussion has centred around Ka Ying Rising and Autumn Glow, let’s not forget Sheza Alibi,” McMahon said.

“She was outstanding in the Winx Stakes and deserves her place in the conversation. If we’re going to create something truly historic, why not bring together three of the most exciting horses in world racing and let the public enjoy a genuine championship contest?”

McMahon proposed either a standalone “Race 11 International Challenge” on TAB Golden Slipper Day or a special edition of the George Ryder Stakes over 1500 metres at Rosehill Gardens in 2027.

“Imagine this: Ka Ying Rising, Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi lining up over 1500 metres at Rosehill Gardens on Golden Slipper Day in front of a packed house,” he said.

“That’s the type of sporting spectacle people would talk about for decades.

“The world’s best sprinter from Hong Kong, Australia’s Horse of the Year and one of our elite mares all competing on one stage. Racing simply doesn’t get much bigger than that.”

McMahon said Sydney’s rising international profile and the strength of its Autumn Carnival made it ideally positioned to host a race capable of attracting global attention.

“You wouldn’t just have Australian racing fans watching. You’d have the eyes of the racing world on Sydney. Hong Kong, Japan, Europe, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and North America would all be tuning in.”

Jordon said an event of that scale would capture the imagination of both racing and sporting audiences around the world.

“I think that’s what our racing fans, and not just racing fans but sporting fans, would love. It would bring the sport back into the headlines around the world for the right reasons.”

While acknowledging the horses’ existing spring programs, Jordon said autumn provided the most logical opportunity, potentially on Australian Cup Day.

“I think you’re talking autumn,” he said.

“March seems logical. Is it Australian Cup Day? What a fitting day, being called Australian Cup Day, to have such an event that would get worldwide attention.

“Whether it’s that day or Super Saturday, autumn would be the most logical.”

The VRC believes any proposal would require the backing of Racing Victoria, wagering partners and international stakeholders, but Jordon said the event’s appeal could be enormous.

“I think the attention this would get, not only in Australia but around the world, would be amazing,” he said.

“I could see it tripling our crowd on the day. We could have special promotions for people attending this special event.”

“We are definitely very, very keen to make this happen and we’d love to have those three champions in a match race at Flemington.”

“I think Flemington is the right track. As we know, it plays so fair, whether it’s 1400, whether it’s a mile, whether it’s even down the straight, it’s the perfect venue, and we can definitely put on a world-class show, and it’s the place to have it.”