The last match race of its kind - the duel between Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure and what many considered to be the greatest thoroughbred filly of all time -Ruffian - at Belmont Park on Long Island (New York) on July 6, 1975 saw the horrifying result of Ruffian breaking down shortly after the start (and having to be humanely destroyed the following day). Whether as a result of the nationwide response to the tragedy - or the public relations minefield that is inevitable when an accident of this magnitude occurs - there have been no further match races that have involved champions.

Almost 30 years on, that may all be about to change (the renewed interest perhaps courtesy of the movie Seabiscuit which featured another famous match race between the rags-to-riches colt, and the regally bred and performed War Admiral; or the potential PR [and financial] mileage for the respective countries/owners).

The South China Morning Post ("SCMP") reported late this week that Hong Kong's world champion sprinter Silent Witness may in fact meet Ghostzapper - a horse currently ranked the best in the world courtesy of his 3-length victory in the 2004 Breeders Cup Classic (which also secured the track and stakes record) when he completed the 1 ¼-mile event in 1:59.02 to break Skip Away’s previous stakes-record time of 1:59.16 set in 1997.

The match race, to be held in Santa Anita, would be worth a reported $US3 million ($A3.87 million) to the winner.

It was surprising news, not least because of the way this horse has been managed by owner Archie Da Silva and the kid gloves that attend this horse's every move. Even David Raphael, the English commentator who calls Silent Witness' races in Hong Kong, has unconsciously fallen into the same trap of late - typically starting his calls with "and Silent Witness is safely away".

Da Silva has certainly mooted the possibility of considering an international campaign for his local legend once the Australian-bred gelding has faced the challenge of securing the world record for consecutive victories (a win in tomorrow's Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m would crown Silent Witness with that title) but the SCMP's comment that the owner "is considering the proposition [of a match race" was astonishing to say the least.

One also wonders at what distance the horses would meet given Silent Witness is only stepping out over 1400m for the first time tomorrow and GhostZapper is best known for success between 1600-2000m.