The Australian Turf Club remains undeterred by a potential $1 million-plus hole left in their bottom line by the failure of any Japanese runners to travel for Sydney's autumn carnival and hope strengthening ties with the Hong Kong Jockey Club will partially supplement a shortfall in Asian betting turnover.
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The Japan Racing Association last year agreed to open up wagering on the George Ryder, Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes pending the participation of a local runner, with each race alone capable of delivering in the region of $500,000 to $1 million in revenue to the ATC.
But after a number of 11th-hour withdrawals of Japanese autumn carnival contenders last week – 14 initially nominated –organisers will focus on bolstering ties with Hong Kong in the interim.
It will be the second straight year there won't be any Japanese wagering on Sydney's biggest races – Tosen Stardom suffered a bleeding attack while in quarantine at Canterbury in 2016 and was ruled out of the autumn carnival with a mandatory three-month ban from racing.
He was later bought by Melbourne Cup-winning syndicator Australian Bloodstock, which sent the entire to Victoria's leading trainer Darren Weir.
But the ATC will still reap revenue streams from Hong Kong wagering on the Golden Slipper meeting and the two days of The Championships in 2017.
"We have a very strong relationship with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and they've consistently been covering those meetings in the past and we ran our first reciprocal race this year with the Hong Kong Jockey Club at Happy Valley and we'll look at doing one here," ATC general manager of racing, wagering and international James Ross said.
"Turnover is enhanced with the presence of leading Hong Kong riders and the ATC always welcome them, whether it's Joao Moreira or Zac Purton.
"It's important to note we did receive 14 high-quality entries from Japan and it shows the growing interest we've got and we just need to translate that interest [into horses travelling]."
Luring Hong Kong-based jockeys, such as Moreira and Purton, to the Slipper and The Championships meetings will no doubt boost the coffers of the ATC, much like the Melbourne Racing Club saw turnover in the racing-mad nation soar when Moreira rode at the Blue Diamond card at Caulfield on Saturday.
International breeding and racing giant Godolphin will send Sydney Cup hopefuls Polarisation and Penglai Pavilion into the quarantine centre at Canterbury, the only overseas autumn carnival presence in the absence of Asian runners.
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby's maiden Australian trip during the Melbourne spring carnival annexed the Geelong Cup, Bendigo Cup, Lexus Stakes, Queen Elizabeth and Sandown Cup during a stunning four-week run.
Meanwhile, Racing NSW stewards are yet to schedule a date for a hearing into another cobalt positive after a horse trained by Gold Coast conditioner Kent Fleming exceeded the threshold prior to winning at Ballina on Boxing Day.
Pitbull recorded his first win in more than a year when leading from start to finish in a class 2 race, but testing of a sample taken prior to the race has shown illegal levels of cobalt.
