The extraordinary globe-trotting feats of ROMANTIC WARRIOR continue to reflect positively on the Hong Kong International Sale (HKIS) and I am excited to see what unfolds at the 2025 HKIS at Sha Tin’s Parade Ring from 6.30pm on Friday (7 March).
Entrenched as a global middle-distance champion, ROMANTIC WARRIOR was sold for HK$4.8 million at the 2021 HKIS and has since accumulated world record prizemoney of $206,931,497 with 18 wins – including 10 at Group 1 level in four different racing jurisdictions – from 24 starts.
I attended last Saturday’s (1 March) HKIS Breeze Up session at Sha Tin and was impressed by several of the well-bred youngsters on display, including Lot 17 (LOPE DE VEGA x MAGICAL FIRE), who galloped nicely on the turf and handled themselves well during Parade Ring inspections.
Our teams in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are to be commended on the way these horses have been educated ahead of racing careers in Hong Kong and I wish all prospective buyers the best of luck.
The 2025 Horse Ballot opened on Monday (3 March) and the Club has once again demonstrated its commitment to further enhancing owner value proposition with a string of initiatives for the 2025/26 season.
To support the substantial investments made by Owners in equine talent acquisition, the Club will freeze livery fees for a second consecutive season by again absorbing a considerable portion of training costs.
Additionally, the Club will next season introduce an extension to the current PP (Previously Raced Horse) Bonus scheme, whereby a horse with a rating higher than or equal to 70 at the time of import is eligible for a HK$1.5 million bonus when they record a first Class 3 win within their first two years of racing – further extending eligibility for Owners to maximise returns with previously raced imports.
The extension to the initiative will be available to all horses currently racing in Hong Kong who received an import rating of 70 or higher. The two-year period of opportunity will start from the horse’s date of import into Hong Kong.
The PP Bonus Scheme will next season encompass two categories of horses in Class 3 – the existing criteria of those with a rating of 63 or above at the time of import who first win before the age of five and those with a rating of 70 or above at the time of import who first win within a two-year window (meaning a four-year-old rated 70 or higher at the time of import is eligible to secure a bonus until they turn six).
Since the current format was introduced for the 2022/23 season, 118 horses have earned a Class 3 PP Bonus, totalling HK$154 million in returns for owners. Including the PPG (Privately Purchased Griffin) Bonus, ISG (International Sale Griffin) Bonus, Class 2 PP Bonus and Top-Up Bonuses, HK$225.5 million has been paid to owners for wins by 179 horses.
Additionally, with immediate effect there will be a new cap of seven (up from four) syndicates any one Member can join and a new cap of seven horses (up from five) Owners can own at any one time.
One of the positive trends of horse ownership in Hong Kong has been the success of syndicates with Group 1 winners KA YING RISING (Ka Ying Syndicate), VOYAGE BUBBLE (Sunshine And Moonlight Syndicate) and INVINCIBLE SAGE (22/23 David Hall Training Syndicate) and Hong Kong Classic Cup winner RUBYLOT (HK Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate).
Our World Pool operation will simulcast 12 races from three meetings in New Zealand and Australia on Saturday (8 March). The first of the Group 1 features is the HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), which is carded as S1-1 and run at 9.47am at Ellerslie.
The pace will be good and will suit LEGARTO (Ryan Elliot) from gate three. LEGARTO resumed with a brilliant win in the Champagne Stakes (1400m) on 15 February and is a win and place chance.
KONASANA (Joe Doyle) is trained by Chris Waller and travelled to New Zealand to win the G2 Westbury Classic on 25 January and also ran well when fourth to EL VENCEDOR in the Otaki-Maori Classic (1600m) last start. KONASANA is also a win and place chance.
PROVENCE and ACQUARELLO are place chances.
The G1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) is carded as S1-2 at 10:22am.
The pace will be moderate. EL VENCEDOR (Wiremu Pinn) has been dominant at three runs this year, easily beating LA CRIQUE and WHANGAEHU in the Herbie Dyke (2000m) on 8 February and then winning the Otaki-Maori Classic. Trainer Stephen Marsh is aiming EL VENCEDOR at the G1 FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin on 27 April and he is my win and place selection.
LA CRIQUE (Michael McNab) is a top-class mare and will run well along with QALI AL FARRASHA (Blake Shinn), ORCHESTRAL (Craig Grylls) and WHANGAEHU (Michael Dee).
The G1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) is carded as S1-5 and will be run at 12.07pm.
The pace should be good to slow with BOURBON PROOF (Michael McNab) the likely leader.
THEDOCTOROFLOVE (Daniel Moor) won impressively over 2000m at Flemington on 11 January before travelling to New Zealand to win the Avondale Guineas (2100m). The extra distance shouldn’t be an issue and THEDOCTOROFLOVE is a win and place chance.
OCEANA DREAM (George Rooke), TUXEDO (Joe Doyle) and BOURBON PROOF are all place chances.
Attention then turns to Flemington for the running of the G1 All-Star Mile (1600m) which is carded as S2-1 at 12:30pm.
The pace will be slow to moderate as MR BRIGHTSIDE (Craig Williams) chases his tenth Group 1 win. MR BRIGHTSIDE worked hard when resuming with an excellent second to ANOTHER WIL in the Orr Stakes (1400m) on 8 February. Last start, he raced on the speed and fought strongly to hold off TOM KITTEN in the Futurity Stakes (1400m). MR BRIGHTSIDE a win and place selection.
ANOTHER WIL (Jamie Melham) again looms as a big danger to MR BRIGHTSIDE. TOM KITTEN (Ben Melham) narrowly failed to catch MR BRIGHTSIDE in the Futurity Stakes when resuming. He is a place chance along with ATISHU (Damian Lane) and RISE AT DAWN (Mark Zahra).
The G1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) is carded as S2-3 and will be run at 1.50pm.
The pace should be good. GROWING EMPIRE (Mark Zahra) finished out of the placings for the first time in his career when he struck trouble early in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) on 15 February. He has drawn well in gate five and GROWING EMPIRE can bounce back from that disappointing run and is a win and place chance.
REY MAGNERIO (Jye McNeil) has an excellent record down Flemington’s straight course and followed an impressive win in the Rubiton Stakes with a third to JIMMYSSTAR in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield. REY MAGNERIO is a place chance along with JOLIESTAR (Damian Lane), BENEDETTA (Ben Melham), MAHARBA (Billy Egan) and STRETAN ANGEL (Lachie Neindorf).
Karis Teetan rides GATSBY’S for Chris Waller. GATSBY’S takes on the older horses here but has a light weight and has drawn nearest to the grandstand. We wish Karis good luck in the race.
Turning to the feature meeting in Sydney, the G1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) is carded as S3-1 at 12.50pm.
The pace should be good to moderate. BROADSIDING made a strong return when beating SWIFTFALCON and AELIANA in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) on 22 February. BROADSIDING should get the run of the race from gate four. He is a win and place selection.
SWIFTFALCON (Tyler Schiller) finished strongly for second behind BROADSIDING when resuming and is a course and distance winner. He will be suited by the extra distance and is a place chance.
AELIANA (Jason Collett) is the lone filly in the race and she was competitive against the males in the Hobartville and will run well again.
The G1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and is carded as S3-2 at 1.30pm.
The pace should be good. SWITZERLAND (James McDonald) was beaten when resuming favourite in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) when fourth to SKYBIRD and STRETAN ANGEL. SWITZERLAND will improve off that first-up run and is my win and place selection.
Hardest for SWITZERLAND to beat will be MAGIC TIME (Jordan Childs) who made a winning return when she beat IOWNA MERC and JOLIESTAR in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) on 15 February. MAGIC TIME is a place chance.
CEOLWULF (Adam Hyeronimus) was outstanding last campaign winning the Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes at G1 level over 1600m and is a place chance along with SUNSHINE IN PARIS (Chad Schofield), who has a good record fresh although she has a wide gate.
Hong Kong-owned runner CELESTIAL LEGEND (Jason Collett) is a dual G1 winner of the Randwick Guineas and Doncaster Mile Handicap and resumes here as a place chance.
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