Australian star NICONERO (Danzero) is heading for Dubai this month in pursuit of a
$1 million bonus on offer in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1).
The David Hayes-trained seven-year-old was an impressive winner of Saturday’s Futurity
S. (Aus-G1) at Caulfield in Melbourne. That mile test is the first leg of
the 2008 Asian Mile Challenge (AMC), with the next coming up on Dubai World Cup
night on March 29 in the Dubai Duty Free.
If the Australian raider is successful in the about nine-furlong contest,
he’ll earn not only the winner’s share of $3 million but also the $1 million bonus
for any contender successful in two of the four AMC legs.
“He’s definitely coming,” Hayes said on Sunday. “He won the Futurity
really well and he’ll go to Dubai at his peak — he’s in the form of his life
right now. It’s going to be tough, but we’ve got be hopeful.”
After Dubai, the Asian Mile Challenge moves to Hong Kong for the Champions
Mile (HK-G1) on April 27, before the final leg, the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1) in Japan on June 8.
The bonuses offered for those who win more than one leg are:
| Four wins: | $4 million | |
| Three wins: | $2 million | |
| Two wins: | $1 million |