As we bade farewell to a momentous 2025, highlighted by the extraordinary deeds of Hong Kong’s champion horses, trainers and jockeys, 2026 already shapes as another exciting year with the emergence of our classic generation.
The towering standards set by Hong Kong’s three Heavenly Horses Kings’ – KA YING RISING, ROMANTIC WARRIOR and VOYAGE BUBBLE – stand as a measure of the excellent quality of Hong Kong’s world-class racing and also a constant reminder of the importance of nurturing future generations.
While KA YING RISING was quickly identified by his trainer David Hayes as the rarest of sprinting talents and kept to short-course contests, ROMANTIC WARRIOR (2022) and VOYAGE BUBBLE (2023) are both successful graduates of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, a proofing ground which laid the foundation for amazing Group 1 feats.
Before advancing to international acclaim, a combined 17 Group 1 wins and prizemoney of HK$368.8 million, ROMANTIC WARRIOR and VOYAGE BUBBLE first demonstrated immense talent in winning the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in their respective four-year-old campaigns, having suffered rare defeats in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).
In those formative days, as they clashed with future Group 1 winners including CALIFORNIA SPANGLE and BEAUTY ETERNAL and several other subsequent Group victors, ROMANTIC WARRIOR and VOYAGE BUBBLE demonstrated the enduring value of the Four-Year-Old Classic series, which carries HK$52 million in prizemoney and, in the case of the BMW Hong Kong Derby, the chance of once in a lifetime glory.
As the Classic generation of 2026 begins to take shape, I was impressed by the win of NUMBERS in the Class 2 Long Ke Handicap (2000m) last Saturday (27 December) for Frankie Lor and Derek Leung.
A four-year-old by TIVACI out of ZABEEL mare, SHEEZABABE, NUMBERS displayed good early tactical speed and then telling stamina in outstaying the older horses over the BMW Hong Kong Derby course.
The authority of the win has seen the gelding rise to 90 in the ratings – joint third with SAGACIOUS LIFE behind only COLOURFUL KING (98), PATCH OF STARS (92).
Several other highly-rated horses are also in the upper echelon of the four-year-old standings, including MASSIVE CONTENDER (88), LITTLE PARADISE (87), CRIMSON FLASH (85), INVINCIBLE IBIS (83), WINFIELD (83), PUBLIC ATTENTION (83), BEAUTY BOLT (82) and TOP DRAGON (81).
With competition intensifying for places in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile on 1 February, HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup on 1 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby on 22 March, the next month will be critical to the hopes of several well-bred contenders, including some with imposing overseas form.
WINFIELD, a dual Group 1 winner in Brazil up to 2000m who is now trained by Mark Newnham, is entered in a Class 2 over 1600m on Sunday (4 January) at Sha Tin along with WINDLORD, a Listed winner in the United Kingdom at 1990m and now trained by Cody Mo.
Their performances this weekend, and those of many other horses in coming weeks, will be fascinating ahead of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
The New Year’s Day meeting is always an auspicious occasion in Hong Kong with world-class racing and a vibrant atmosphere as tomorrow (1 January) will be no exception as we celebrate Lucky Start 2026 Raceday with a wonderful array of off-track entertainment and experiences for attendees.
With public admission gates to open from 10.30am, racegoers have the chance to receive a Lucky Start Tote Bag, the opportunity to test their racing knowledge in the Luck Catcher Quiz Challenge for the chance to win a limited-edition Champion Horse Pen while enjoying fabulous food and beverage options.
To mark the start of the New Year, a combined HK$128 million in potential rewards will be offered across our New Year fixtures with the 1 January Raceday carrying a HK$28 million grand jackpot, while the New Year celebrations continue on Saturday (3 January) with a special Mark Six New Year Snowball when the First Dividend Prize Fund for that draw could reach an estimated HK$100 million for a single HK$10 winning unit.
The competitive highlight at Sha Tin on Thursday is the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap, which is carded as Race 8 and will be run over 1400m at 4.05pm with prizemoney of HK$4.2 million.
The pace will be good with TOMODACHI KOKOROE (Harry Bentley) likely to lead from gate one. PACKING HERMOD (Maxime Guyon) has good early speed and will be prominent, along with GUSTOSISIMO (Andrea Atzeni), AERIS NOVA (Derek Leung) and SKY TRUST (Matthew Chadwick).
PACKING HERMOD resumed with a close fourth to MY WISH in the G3 Celebration Cup (1400m) on 28 September, before finishing third to TOMODACHI KOKOROE and RAGING BLIZZARD in the G2 Premier Bowl (1200m) on 26 October. PACKING HERMOD has had several trials since, winning them all, and will get the run of the race from gate three. He is a win and place chance.
PATCH OF THETA (Hugh Bowman) won this race last year carrying 115lb. Last start, PATCH OF THETA drew wide in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and made good ground in the straight to finish seventh to VOYAGE BUBBLE. PATCH OF THETA has drawn wide again in gate 11 but is racing well and is a place chance.
LIGHT YEARS CHARM (Zac Purton) won four races last season over this trip and at his second run this preparation beat AERIS NOVA on 9 November, winning impressively. He finished eighth to GALAXY PATCH in the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) last start and, from barrier six, he is a place chance.
TOMODACHI KOKOROE won the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) three runs back and ran well last start in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) behind KA YING RISING, finishing sixth. TOMODACHI KOKOROE extends to 1400m here and has 135lb but will get a good run from the inside gate and is a place chance.
AERIS NOVA and SKY TRUST both come off impressive last-start victories in easier company but can run well and have place claims.
Finally, I would like to wish all racing fans the very best for 2026 and I hope the New Year brings good health, happiness and prosperity.
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