The 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) on Sunday (8 December) was an incredible success and capped a wonderful week with an outstanding day of racing at Sha Tin, where 52 champion horses, jockeys and trainers showcased our sport to the world.
From a sports perspective, the victory of ROMANTIC WARRIOR in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) was both historic and inspiring. There is no doubt ROMANTIC WARRIOR is the premier 2000m horse in the world and he is a credit to his owner Mr Peter Lau, trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald.
With 17 wins from 22 starts, this amazing graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale has now accumulated a world record HK$177,322,706 in prizemoney, overtaking the great GOLDEN SIXTY (HK$167 million) and also includes nine Group 1 triumphs in his imposing portfolio.
Danny has managed ROMANTIC WARRIOR with tremendous skill, while James’ tactical display on Sunday was supreme as he faced – and defeated – decorated overseas and local opponents, including Japan’s LIBERTY ISLAND (second) and TASTIERA with an inspired ride.
Having posted seven wins in succession, dating back to his historic G1 W. S. Cox Plate (2040m) triumph at Moonee Valley in October, 2023, it is clear ROMANTIC WARRIOR is at the peak of his incredible powers.
While Hong Kong snared three of the four Group 1 features with the victories of KA YING RISING and VOYAGE BUBBLE, I was delighted for Marco Botti and Oisin Murphy for GIAVELLOTTO’s success in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m). It was on Oisin’s recommendation that GIAVELLOTTO be prepared for Sha Tin and his advice – along with a nerveless ride, especially late in the race when he had to change course – was a masterstroke.
Great Britain has been a strong supporter of LONGINES HKIR and it was wonderful to watch the performances of DUBAI HONOUR, who ran second in the Hong Kong Vase on his third visit to Sha Tin, and THE FOXES, who finished fourth behind ROMANTIC WARRIOR.
Ka Ying Rising’s winning margin of half a length in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) was not what many people envisaged pre-race but, as his jockey Zac Purton explained, this very exciting young horse managed to overcome adversity.
He was only fairly away from the start and then endured sustained pressure from VICTOR THE WINNER but still managed to hold off SATONO REVES and HELIOS EXPRESS, who enjoyed kinder runs. KA YING RISING may not have been as explosive as he has previously been, but there were significant factors against him and his effort to overcome those obstacles for David Hayes is the hallmark of a very good horse.
Like many other quality milers in Hong Kong, VOYAGE BUBBLE spent part of his career in the shadow of GOLDEN SIXTY, but his performance to win the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) over outstanding horses from Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and France sealed his reputation as a top-class galloper in his own right.
Ricky Yiu has restored VOYAGE BUBBLE to his very best form and James gave him a peerless ride to beat SOUL RUSH, who had to overcome a wide barrier for Joao Moreira and was then bumped at the 400m.
The combined attendance at Sha Tin and Happy Valley of 80,691 was the largest since 2018 and the fifth largest since 1997. Sunday’s attendance also contained a record Sha Tin attendance by Mainland customers of 6,511 – an increase of 40% on 2024.
The atmosphere created was phenomenal, starting with the performance of Rain at the opening ceremony, and built throughout the day.
The feedback from our overseas guests, owners, trainers, jockeys and visiting media was extremely positive regarding not only the exceptional on-track competition, but also our hospitality and the overall organisation.
This is a credit to the incredible dedication and skills of the Club’s many teams, who worked tirelessly to make HKIR a success and I am deeply gratified for the ongoing support of our raceday partner LONGINES.
We were delighted with the business performance on Sunday with betting turnover of HK$1,716.3 million, including a commingling record of HK$473.8 million – an increase of 10 percent on last year’s LONGINES HKIR.
LONGINES HKIR was staged for the first time on Sunday under the World Pool banner, allowing more racing followers from around the world to engage with Hong Kong racing and further promoting our racing on a global platform as an elite sporting product.
The attraction of world-class international racing remains powerful and on Sunday this was evidenced in Japan where the popularity of Hong Kong racing generated turnover on the four LONGINES Group 1 races of approximately HK$250 million, demonstrating the enduring passion Japanese racing enthusiasts have for Hong Kong’s racing.
There are currently only 31 foreign races approved for wagering in Japan and Hong Kong provides seven of those races, which reflects tremendously on the quality and integrity of our racing.
LONGINES HKIR was broadcast live into 29 different countries and regions, which allows us to promote Hong Kong racing and our amazing city globally and, from a personal perspective, to hear so much positive feedback from people from around the world at Sha Tin on Sunday was immensely gratifying.
Sir Alex Ferguson, whose horse SPIRIT DANCER finished eighth behind ROMANTIC WARRIOR, was among the visitors and there is no doubt he was enthused by what he experienced in Hong Kong and he promised to return.
Last week also provided the opportunity to host the global racing community in Hong Kong with meetings of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, Asian Racing Federation and International Horse Sports Confederation.
We also hosted a spectacular Gala Dinner, which was a fantastic success with James McDonald being acclaimed as the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey for the second time.
Hong Kong racing continues on Wednesday night (11 December) at Happy Valley where the Class 3 Sea Eagle Handicap is carded as Race 9 and run at 10.50pm for prizemoney of HK$2,050,000.
The speed is expected to be slow. SIMPLY MAVERICK has drawn the rails and may hold the lead with I CAN going forward from his middle draw. HAMERON and IVY LEAGUE should also settle on the speed.
SIMPLY MAVERICK has had three runs this season and last start taken back by James McDonald from an outside gate and ran home strongly in the straight to finish fifth to LOVERO. James and Ricky Yiu combined to win the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile with VOYAGE BUBBLE and SIMPLY MAVERICK is a win and place chance from his inside gate.
CHAIN OF GOLD was placed in three starts this season and ran on well behind ROCKET SPADE when drawn wide on 27 November. CHAIN OF GOLD is also a win and place chance for Zac Purton
I CAN has been consistent in five runs this season, including a win over this course and distance in October. Last start, he didn’t have a lot of luck obtaining a run in the straight and was a close up fourth to LOVERO. Regular rider Andrea Atzeni goes back aboard here and I CAN is a place chance.
HAMERON hasn’t won for a while but was unlucky at his most recent run when he didn’t get clear ground in the straight and was beaten just over a length by ROCKET SPADE and SAMARKAND two weeks ago. HAMERON if a place chance for Vincent Ho.
OUR LUCKY GLORY has run on strongly over 1200m in his two starts this season, finishing fourth on both occasions and is a place chance for Chris So and Harry Bentley, stepping up to 1650m here.
There are a number of other runners with place chances in an open race to finish the card and GLORIOUS JOURNEY (Matthew Chadwick) and SETANTA (Luke Ferraris) will both run well.
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