With just over two weeks until the 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), the selection of a string of elite world-class horses for the four LONGINES Group 1 features at Sha Tin on 8 December signals the start of the final phase of preparations for our showpiece meeting.
A total of 26 individual Group 1 winners crowns the overall selection of 56 horses with 31 of the invited runners hailing from abroad, demonstrating once more the ongoing support Hong Kong enjoys from the global racing community.
With a record HK$126 million in prize money on offer across the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), exceptional racing can be expected based on the quality of horses entered.
The visitors, representing Japan, France, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Ireland and the United States of America, shape as a force to be reckoned with entrants of the highest calibre including LIBERTY ISLAND, GOLIATH, TASTIERA, WITHOUT A FIGHT, STARLUST and LUXEMBOURG, to name only a few.
The world-class performances of ROMANTIC WARRIOR and KA YING RISING at Bank of China (Hong Kong) Race Day last Sunday (17 November), along with the great win of VOYAGE BUBBLE, have set the stage perfectly for next month’s spectacular.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s triumphant return for Danny Shum and James McDonald in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) confirmed once more his standing as an elite competitor and, even short of full fitness, ROMANTIC WARRIOR was unextended in winning by four and a quarter lengths in 1m 59.70s – only marginally outside of his own class record of 1m 59.23s.
With eight Group 1 wins already to his credit, ROMANTIC WARRIOR will attempt to become the first horse win the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup three times but, as Danny pointed out post-race on Sunday, the level of competition is about to rise steeply with the presence of LIBERTY ISLAND, TASTIERA, SPIRIT DANCER and CALIF, among others.
KA YING RISING’s effort to break SACRED KINGDOM’s course record with a brilliant display of power and speed in the G2 BOCHK Private BankingJockey Club Sprint (1200m), clocking 1m 07.43s, was a phenomenal performance.
As only a four-year-old, he seemingly still has even more to offer and he is certainly in tremendous form ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint for David Hayes and Zac Purton.
The performances of both KA YING RISING and ROMANTIC WARRIOR shows once more the incredible quality of Hong Kong’s horse population and both KA YING RISING and ROMANTIC WARRIOR have claims to be the world’s best over Sprint and Middle Distance ranges, respectively.
James portrayed ROMANTIC WARRIOR, who has 16 wins from 21 starts including eight Group 1s in three different countries and regions, as the best horse he has ever ridden, while Zac believes KA YING RISING, with eight wins from 10 starts, is among the most progressive horses he has ever ridden with all the attributes necessary to succeed at the highest level.
Voyage Bubble has been one of Hong Kong’s premier milers for some time and, after finishing second to GOLDEN SIXTY in last season’s LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) victor showed his class by winning the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) for Ricky Yiu and James.
While Zac took riding honours on Sunday with a three-timer, James made a successful start to his latest stint in Hong Kong with a Group 2 double. James is currently leading the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey rankings and it is great to have him back in Hong Kong.
The international strength in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile certainly looks formidable with ANTINO, JANTAR MANTAR, LAZZAT and SOUL RUSH – all individual Group 1 winners – looking to become the first foreign-trained winners of the race since Japan’s ADMIRE MARS in 2019, while the overseas runners in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, including GOLIATH, WITHOUT A FIGHT and FANTASTIC MOON look very strong.
Overall, I am excited about what might unfold next month, especially with the number of world-class trainers and jockeys travelling to Hong Kong and I wish all participants the best of luck.
One of the highlights of LONGINES HKIR week is the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday (4 December) with Vincent Ho, Zac Purton, Ryan Moore, William Buick, James McDonald, Colin Keane, Yuga Kawada, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King and Michael Barzalona already locked in for the 12-rider competition.
The final two places will be allocated after the Happy Valley meeting tonight with five riders still in contention based on the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship – Hugh Bowman (19), Karis Teetan (14), Matthew Poon (14), Matthew Chadwick (11) and Luke Ferraris (11).
The feature race at Happy Valley is the Class 2 Chek Lap Kok Handicap, which is carded as Race 8 at 10.15pm and will be run over 1200m with prizemoney of HK$2.84 million.
The speed will be good to fast with I GIVE (Matthew Poon) the likely leader from barrier six. GLORY ELITE will go forward from gate 10 for Derek Leung to settle on the pace. LUCKY ENCOUNTER (Andrea Atzeni) and HARMONY N BLESSED (Keagan de Melo) will also be prominent.
RAGING BLIZZARD won four races last season over this trip at Sha Tin and Happy Valley. RAGING BLIZZARD went back from a wide gate when resuming here on 27 October and made good ground in the straight to finish a close third to COPARTNER PRANCE. RAGING BLIZZARD returned to Conghua after that run and from a good draw and, with Zac Purton riding, RAGING BLIZZARD is my win and place selection.
GLORY ELITE led easily last start from gate three and was never in danger of defeat, beating LADY’S CHOICE and ALSONSO over this distance at Sha Tin on 3 November. This is GLORY ELITE’S first look at the Happy Valley circuit and he is a place chance for if he can get into a forward position from his wide gate.
LUCKY ENCOUNTER jumped well and settled just behind the speed and ran home strongly to just miss beating COPARTNER PRANCE on the line on 27 October. LUCKY ENCOUNTER has drawn well again and has place claims for Andrea Atzeni.
In that race, SING DRAGON went back at the start and was a clear last coming to the home turn before running home to finish a close-up fifth for Harry Bentley. SING DRAGON has gate three and will be suited by a strong tempo. He is a place chance.
This is a very competitive race and horses such as GORGEOUS WIN, BUNDLE OF CHARM, I GIVE and JAMES TAK, who races at Happy Valley for the first time, are all in good form and can figure in the finish.
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