After months of intricate planning and preparation the stage is set for an enthralling HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (2 March) when the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series will again feature a select group of talented and emerging horses.
A cursory glance at the Hong Kong Classic Cup’s honour roll reveals why this race is so important as one of the most prized contests on the Hong Kong calendar. A string of Hong Kong’s greatest champions feature has triumphed in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, underscoring the quality of horse required to win this prestigious race.
Across the past 15 years, champions such as GOLDEN SIXTY, AMBITIOUS DRAGON, DESIGNS ON ROME and CALIFORNIA SPANGLE have prevailed in the race before progressing to multiple Group 1 success in open-age company.
The difficulty of winning the Hong Kong Classic Cup is also illustrated in the number of future champions who contested the race without winning before advancing to greatness including Hong Kong’s global champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR, who was an unlucky fourth to CALIFORNIA SPANGLE in 2022, and VOYAGE BUBBLE, who was sixth to SUPER SUNNY SING in 2023.
While the Hong Kong Classic Cup is used by several horses as the final step towards the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 23 March, it has also proved historically to be a race within the grasp of future Group 1-winning sprinters and milers as well as stayers.
CALIFORNIA SPANGLE is now a Group 1 winner at 1200m, 1400m and 1600m and last year’s Hong Kong Classic Cup winner HELIOS EXPRESS has also since developed into a very good sprinter, finishing second four times this season to KA YING RISING, with three of those efforts at Group 1 level.
Another feature of the Hong Kong Classic Cup is presence of several elite international riders, who are in Hong Kong this weekend for the race including, Ryan Moore (MICKLEY), Blake Shinn (PACKING HERMOD), Tom Marquand (DIVANO), James McDonald (STUNNING PEACH), Craig Williams (CAP FERRAT) and Joao Moreira (PACKING ANGEL) to compete against Hong Kong’s finest jockeys.
From an equine perspective, the bulk of the field is comprised of Australian-bred horses – MY WISH, PACKING HERMOD, DIVANO, RUBYLOT, NOISY BOY, CAP FERRAT, CALIFORNIATOTALITY, STEPS AHEAD and SKY TRUST – while Ireland has provided STUNNING PEACH and MICKLEY with JOHANNES BRAHMS coming from Great Britain, MONDIAL from South Africa and PACKING ANGEL from New Zealand.
This cross-section of talent illustrates the significant efforts made by our owners to source the best available horses to race in Hong Kong and to sustain our world-class racing and I hope the Classic Generation of 2025 provides even more talent to shine across the international racing stage.
The 2025 Hong Kong Classic Cup is carded as Race 7 at 4.05pm and will be run over 1800m for prizemoney of HK$13 million and is probably one of the most open editions of the race we have seen.
The pace will be good with MY WISH (Luke Ferraris) likely to lead from barrier nine from PACKING ANGEL (Joao Moreira), SKY TRUST (Hugh Bowman) and CALIFORNIATOTALITY (Alexis Badel). NOISY BOY (Andrea Atzeni) has drawn gate 12 and will attempt to cross to find cover while MICKLEY (Ryan Moore) and DIVANO (Tom Marquand) are likely to settle at the tail of the field.
DIVANO (Tom Marquand) extended beyond 1400m for the first time in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and was taken to the tail of the field from the outside gate before charging late to grab second behind MY WISH. Although DIVANO again has barrier 11 to contend with, he is a win and place chance.
NOISY BOY (Andrea Atzeni) looks an outstanding staying talent and has won his last two starts over 2200m at Happy Valley in December and 2000m at Sha Tin on 19 January. NOISY BOY has trialled well since and although he will be even better suited by the distance of the BMW Hong Kong Derby in three weeks, NOISY BOY is also a win and place chance.
In the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Luke Ferraris had MY WISH in a perfect position stalking the speed, before he sprinted quickly at the 300m mark to take the lead and hold on well to beat DIVANO and PACKING HERMOD. Luke may be able to dictate terms from the front, helping ensure MY WISH runs the extra trip out strongly and he is a place chance.
PACKING HERMOD (Blake Shinn) rounded out the top three in the Hong Kong Classic Mile when he had a perfect run and stayed on strongly in the run to the line to be a close third to MY WISH and DIVANO. PACKING HERMOD has the tactical speed to take up a good position from barrier 13 and, as one of five runners in the race for champion trainer Francis Lui, he is also a place chance.
CAP FERRAT (Craig Williams) was one of the favoured runners going into the Hong Kong Classic Mile but had a torrid run and will run an improved race here, while the dark horse is PACKING ANGEL (Joao Moreira), who is stepping up to 1800m after his three very convincing wins at 1400m.
This is an incredibly deep race with several other runners having chances. JOHANNES BRAHMS (Karis Teetan) was an impressive winner two weeks ago and has drawn well, while CALIFORNIATOTALITY (Alexis Badel) and STEPS AHEAD (Lyle Hewitson) come into the race off impressive last-start victories.
Hong Kong newcomer MONDIAL is a three-time winner in South Africa up to 1800m and last ran in the South African Derby over 2450m when he was a close third to PURPLE PITCHER. He is an interesting starter but not yet fully fit in my view.
While the Hong Kong Classic Cup takes centre stage on Sunday, Race 9, the Class 3 Yan Tin Handicap (2000m), is a very interesting race featuring a group of BMW Hong Kong Derby hopefuls including TALENTS AMBITION, AGENDA, CAMBRIDGE and DEFINITIVE, among others.
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