Al Quoz Sprint part of Global Challenge

The Group One Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai, won in recent years by Australian sprinters Ortensia and Buffering, will form part of the Global Sprint Challenge in 2017.

The Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night in March was previously run over 1000m but has changed to 1200m and will replace the Group One Golden Shaheen in this year's Global Sprint Challenge.

It means all 10 legs of the Global Sprint Challenge will now be run on turf tracks.

Ortensia won the Al Quoz Sprint in 2012 while Buffering won the event last year.

The 10 races in the series includes events in five countries with a $US1 million bonus on offer to the connections of any horse which wins a GSC race in three countries.

The 2017 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE:

Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m), February 18, Australia

Al Quoz Sprint (1200m), March 25, UAE

Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m), March 26, Japan

Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m), May 7, Hong Kong

King's Stand Stakes (1000m), June 20, UK

Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m), June 24, UK

July Cup (1200m), July 15, UK

Sprinters Stakes (1200m), October 1, Japan

Darley Classic (1200m), November 11, Australia

Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), December 10, Hong Kong