The 2024 Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) has received two supplementary entries for the 8 December flagship meeting at Sha Tin with the nominations of Group 1 winners Celestial Legend and Sol Oriens.
The entry of Celestial Legend, a dual Group 1 winner of the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and the Doncaster Mile (1600m), and Sol Oriens, winner of the G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas (2000m), boosts the number of individual Group 1 winners nominated for LONGINES HKIR to 60 and the overall nominations to 193.
Celestial Legend, Celestial Legend (AUS), a grandson of National Colour (SAF), is trainedby Les Bridge and has been entered in the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), while Sol Oriens has been entered for the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
Sol Oriens created Japanese racing history in 2023 with his success in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, 2000m) when he became the first colt to win the prestigious race at only his third start.
Trained by Takahisa Tezuka, Sol Oriens subsequently finished second in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2400m) in 2023 and will run in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) on Sunday (27 October). The Tenno Sho will be simulcast into Hong Kong.
Supplementary entries for LONGINES HKIR close at 6pm (HKT) on Monday, 18 November with a selection announcement for the four Group 1 features – the HK$40 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup, HK$36 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, HK$26 million LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$24 million LONGINES Hong Kong Vase – to be made on Wednesday, 20 November.
