A stunning collection of world-class horses led by Romantic Warrior, Ka Ying Rising, Goliath, Liberty Island, Voyage Bubble, Antino, Without A Fight, California Spangle and Galaxy Patch highlights 56 gallopers from Hong Kong, Japan, Great Britain, Australia, France, Ireland, Germany and the United States of America chosen for the HK$126 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 8 December.
Romantric Warrior – chasing history in December! (Pic – HKJC)
26 individual Group 1 winners will bid for a share of the combined record prizemoney purse of HK$126 million across the four Group 1 races at the ‘Turf World Championships’ – the HK$40 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$36 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$26 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$24 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
Upholding Hong Kong’s standing as a world leader in horse racing, international support for the showpiece meeting sees 31 of the selected runners arrive from overseas as global champion Romantic Warrior aims to become the first triple winner of the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup after victories in 2022 and 2023 and end his deadlock with California Memory (2011 & 2012).
The victor of eight Group 1s, Romantic Warrior can make more history at LONGINES HKIR by leapfrogging Golden Sixty (HK$167.17 million) as the world’s highest-earning racehorse by adding HK$22.4 million to his current HK$154.92 million prize money with a third LONGINES Hong Kong Cup triumph.
The incredible Hong Kong International Sale graduate will be challenged by Liberty Island, winner of the Japanese Triple Tiara in 2023 following victories in the Gr1 Oka Sho (1600m), Gr1 Yushun Himba (2400m) and G1 Shuka Sho (2000m). Sporting the iconic Sunday Racing silks, Liberty Island was second to Equinox in the 2023 Gr1 Japan Cup (2400m) and also grabbed third in the 2024 Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) last March.
Joining her from Japan is Tastiera, a fellow Classic winner in 2023 having collected the Gr1 Tokyo Yushun (2400m). The Noriyuki Hori-trained runner finished second to Do Deuce in October’s Gr1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) at Tokyo.
Co-owned by legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Spirit Dancer is aiming to add to his nine career wins – the best of these coming twice in the Gr2 Bahrain International Trophy (2000m) in 2023 and 2024 – for trainer Richard Fahey.
Calif was third in the Bahrain International Trophy recently and the five-year-old will follow his adversary to Hong Kong with Zarir – purchased by Yulong’s Zhang Yuesheng – engaged for trainer Francis Henri Graffard.
Irishman Aidan O’Brien returns in search of a fourth triumph at Sha Tin’s year-end fixture with 3yo’s fillies Content and Wingspan leading the trainer’s charge.
The Foxes hails from Great Britain for King Power Racing and was a late entry after beating Dubai Honour at Newcastle in Listed level last weekend.
Straight Arron, Ensued, Encountered, Nimble Nimbus and Massive Sovereign join Romantic Warrior for the home side chasing LONGINES Hong Kong Cup glory.
Ya King Rising is all speed! (Pic -HKJC)
Ka Ying Rising broke a 17-year-old track record last Sunday (17 November) in the HK$5.35 million BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) and there’s no shortage of foes trying to upstage the horse who is 0.07s faster than Sacred Kingdom over 1200m at Sha Tin.
David Hayes’ youngster faces the Japanese pair Lugal and Toshin Macau, who finished first and second, respectively, in September’s Gr1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m). Joining the duo from Japan is Satono Reve, a dual Group 3-winning rising star among Japan’s sprinting ranks for trainer Hori.
The United States of America will be represented in Hong Kong for the first time since 2017 when Nobals ships to the Far East. The Larry Rivelli-trained gelding has won seven times from 15 starts, notably capturing the 2023 Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1000m).
British-trained Starlust tackles the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint after claiming the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1000m) at Del Mar this month for the 2024 Gr1 Prix de’l Arc de Triomphe (2400m) combination of Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan, while Ciaron Maher – formerly in a training partnership with Hong Kong-based David Eustace – will have his first runner in Hong Kong when Recommendation lines up in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint.
California Spangle, Victor The Winner, Helios Express, Invincible Sage, Lucky With You, Howdeepisyourlove and Beauty Waves bolster Hong Kong’s defence.
Voyage Bubble leads local hopes for the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and joining him are Galaxy Patch, Beauty Eternal, Beauty Joy, Happy Together, Red Lion, Chancheng Glory and Taj Dragon.
Voyage Bubble is a one-time Group 1 winner (Pic – HKJC)
Group 1-winning Voyage Bubble is aiming to go one better than his second to Golden Sixty in the 2023 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. He’ll face exciting Australian galloper Antino, who takes aim at the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. An 11-time winner, Antino turned heads in last month’s Gr1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield with victory by six and a half lengths.
Soul Rush won last Sunday’s (17 November) Gr1 Mile Championship (1600m) and the 2023 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile fourth returns on 8 December to Sha Tin. He will be joined by fellow Japanese runner Jantar Mantar, winner of the G1 NHK Mile Cup (1600m) in May.
Trained in France, Lazzat arrived in Hong Kong from Australia along with Docklands this week, and will aim to build on his six wins from seven career starts in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. Docklands was fifth in the Gr1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) in Australia.
The LONGINES Hong Kong Vase features contenders from Hong Kong, Japan, France, Australia, Germany and Ireland, spearheaded by Goliath, who is now a titan of the turf following his smashing Gr1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m) win at Ascot over subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking, as well as Rebel’s Romance and Auguste Rodin.
Co-owned by Resolute Racing, Goliath is scheduled to head to Hong Kong following his run in the Japan Cup on Sunday, 24 November at Tokyo.
2023 Gr1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and 2023 G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hero Without A Fight also contests the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, along with Dubai Honour, who returns for a fourth time to Sha Tin. Triple Group 2 winner Giavellotto also hails from Great Britain.
Japan fields Group 1 winner Stellenbosch and also Pradaria, a recent fourth placegetter in June’s Gr1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m). French racing legend Andre Fabre seeks consecutive wins in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase after Junko (2023). He saddles Marquisat for Godolphin with 15-time winner Iresine also shipping from France for trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin.
The European contingent also includes Fantastic Moon, a dual Group 1 winner in Germany for Sarah Steinberg as well as Classic winner Continuous and 2023 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup second Luxembourg – both for O’Brien. Hong Kong’s hopes in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase are Five G Patch, La City Blanche and Ka Ying Generation.
Mr Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races are one of the most important racing events on the global calendar and this year we look forward to hosting a decorated line-up from many corners of the globe.
“We are excited by the quality of selected runners for this year’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and the presence of so many of the stars is in keeping with our long-held commitment to deliver sporting excellence.
“With the selection of 56 elite horses the stage is now set for the 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and an exhilarating afternoon of sporting action on Sunday, 8 December at Sha Tin. We look forward to once again welcoming the titans of world racing to our beautiful city.”
