The hopes and dreams of connections involved with the 14 horses selected to compete in the 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 23 March are a vital step closer to reality – and “once in a lifetime glory” – after the official field selection process.
Now just over eight days away from the staging of the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby, there are detectable levels of excitement and anticipation as 14 of city’s finest four-year-olds bid for career-changing success next weekend.
On Friday (14 March), the 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby selection announcement took place at Happy Valley – the Classic’s birthplace in 1873 – with a special ceremony involving a glittering fleet of BMW’s finest vehicles, laying the foundations for the running of the 148th Derby.
It is apparent from the incredible passion and excitement of all connections that their BMW Hong Kong Derby aspirations and ambitions are very strong. Without exception, all the owners have invested considerable time and resources to acquire the best available talent to run in the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
The history of the Derby shows it takes an outstanding horse to succeed and the honour roll is crammed with champions who advanced to Group 1 glories on the international stage, not least ROMANTIC WARRIOR who on Thursday night (13 March) rose to No. 2 in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR is now rated 127 internationally, only one point lower than JAPANESE dirt champion FOREVER YOUNG (128), who narrowly won the pair’s dramatic clash in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) last month. ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s achievement in reaching 127 matches the career-high figures of former Hong Kong greats ABLE FRIEND and BEAUTY GENERATION.
It is pleasing to see Hong Kong so strongly represented among the global elite with KA YING RISING (124) joint third with American WHITE ABARRIO, while 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby winner VOYAGE BUBBLE (120) has risen to sixth in a remarkable endorsement of Hong Kong racing’s quality.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR is, in my view, the best 2000m horse in the world and it is no coincidence that his rise to status as a global champion encompassed a memorable victory in the 2022 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). Rated 101 at the time, ROMANTIC WARRIOR has since won 10 Group 1 races in four different countries and soared to a domestic rating of 134 – the highest of any horse in Hong Kong – while earning world record prizemoney of HK$206.9 million.
The 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby field contains three runners with ratings of 95 and higher – Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner RUBYLOT (100), Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) victor MY WISH (97) and JOHANNES BRAHMS (95) – while connections of the remainder of the field will be hoping for a repeat of MASSIVE SOVEREIGN’s electrifying 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby triumph when he was rated 82.
This is certainly one of the most open BMW Hong Kong Derbies in memory, especially when the claims are considered of STUNNING PEACH (87), BUNDLE AWARD (86), PACKING ANGEL (86), MICKLEY (85), NOISY BOY (84), CAP FERRAT (83), STEPS AHEAD (83), CALIFORNIATOTALITY (81), MARKWIN (81), LO RIDER (78) and BEAUTY ALLIANCE (77).
The last-start wins of BUNDLE AWARD and BEAUTY ALLIANCE for John Size certainly add intrigue and excitement and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all connections the very best in the Derby.
At Sha Tin on Saturday, the Class 2 Kowloon Tong Club Trophy is carded as Race 7 at 4.05pm and will be run over 1600m for prizemoney of HK$3,120,000.
The speed will be good with VOYAGE SAMURAI (Derek Leung) setting the pace. TOURBILLON PRINCE (Ben Thompson) and WOODFIRE BRO (Keith Yeung) are also likely to be in the leading group.
SUNLIGHT POWER (Hugh Bowman) posted an effortless win against similar opposition over this class and distance on 26 January when he drew the inside and had a lovely run through to beat YELLOWFIN and KARMA. At his next run, SUNLIGHT POWER got further back in running and made good ground in the straight to finish a close third to JOHANNES BRAHMS and SPEED DRAGON on 16 February. SUNLIGHT POWER is my win and place selection.
THE GOLDEN SCENERY (Angus Chung) won the G3 Celebration Cup (1400m) at the start of the season and has raced consistently since without being placed. At his most recent run, he went forward from the outside gate over 1650m at Happy Valley before fading to finish seventh to MOMENTS IN TIME on 26 February. THE GOLDEN SCENERY should be in a perfect spot in running from gate three and he is a place chance.
VOYAGE SAMURAI should be able to dictate the race from the front. VOYAGE SAMURAI has been very consistent throughout his career and last start fought on well after again leading before finishing fourth to JOHANNES BRAHMS on 16 February. VOYAGE SAMURAI is also a place chance.
KARMA (Harry Bentley) has been settling closer to the speed than usual at his past three runs. Last start, he drew gate three and settled just behind the leaders before staying on for sixth behind JOHANNES BRAHMS. KARMA has been at Conghua since and is also a place chance.
With 35 meetings remaining in the 2024/25 season, the trainers’ championship has developed into a good competition between John Size (39) and David Hayes (37) with Danny Shum (32), Pierre Ng (32), Mark Newham (32), Ricky Yiu (30), Caspar Fownes (29), Francis Lui (29) and Frankie (28) all having good campaigns.
Comment
