Australian-bred horses took star billing at the China Equestrian Association (CEA) meeting at Wuhan last Sunday winning five out of the seven races on the program.

Wuhan is a city of 9 million situated between Hong Kong and Beijing.  The Australian-bred winners won over distances ranging from 1000m to 5000m and from 2YO to Open class.

Aushorse Marketing CEO Peter McGauran attended the meeting which was staged in front of an enthusiastic 6,000 strong crowd.  “It was competitive and highly professional racing,” McGauran said.  “There was no gambling at the meeting – in line with the Chinese Government’s official policy.

“China is a complex and largely unpredictable market in the early stages of its development,” McGauran added.  “However, it’s important Australia remains engaged and supportive for the long term.  We want to build a lasting partnership based on mutual benefit and respect with racehorse owners and breeders in China as well as racing authorities.”

The Wuhan race course is one of Asia’s newest and largest with a seven story high, 200 metre long grandstand and state of the art IT.  The giant TV screen is equal to the best in the world and 11 cameras are positioned around the track to record the action.

The Australian bred winners came from such established studs as Arrowfield, Stratheden and Wood Nook Farm.  Each race carried prizemoney of AUD 8,000.

McGauran also met with quarantine and biosecurity officials in Beijing to encourage the streamlining of import protocols which presently presents barriers to trade.