The triumphant return of global champions ROMANTIC WARRIOR and KA YING RISING at last Sunday’s (23 November) Bank Of China (Hong Kong) Raceday has set the scene perfectly for 2025 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) next month and I am delighted with the official selection of world-class horses for our showpiece meeting.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR and KA YING RISING crown a total of 22 individual Group 1 winners in the overall selection of 51 horses – a tally which features 22 invited runners from abroad and I am grateful at the continuing support of the global horseracing community.
Offering a record HK$130 million in prize money across the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), LONGINES HKIR is now only just over two weeks away on 14 December.
With the overall entry headed by CALANDAGAN, who is currently rated the No 1 in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, LONGINES HKIR will feature champion horses, trainers and jockeys from around the world who will vie with elite locals for overall glory.
The visiting band of equine stars includes, among others, SOUL RUSH, SOSIE, SATONO REVE, LOS ANGELES, AL RIFFA and DOCKLANDS, who is scheduled to arrive at Sha Tin tonight as the final phase of preparations starts.
I wish connections of all horses the best of luck at LONGINES HKIR and I look forward to celebrating what shapes as an incredible afternoon of racing at Sha Tin next month.
Bank Of China (Hong Kong) Raceday has long held a reputation as the ultimate LONGINES HKIR dress rehearsal and last weekend’s meeting was no exception with the stunning performances of ROMANTIC WARRIOR and KA YING RISING.
With James McDonald riding a treble, including an impressive victory on GALAXY PATCH in the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m), his reaction to ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s devastating display to win a third BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) summed up the phenomenal quality of this horse.
Having ridden champion horses all around the world, James struggled to find the words to adequately describe ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s extraordinary effort to win first-up after 232 days off because of injury – and subsequent surgery – while clocking 21.73s for his final 400m.
I cannot think of another 2000m horse in the world who is capable of such acceleration and ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s repatriation from injury is a credit to trainer Danny Shum and his team and Club veterinarian, Dr Lawrence Chan, who has been integral to the champion’s successful recuperation.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR is a truly remarkable horse and it is great to have him back in action again and, although relegated to second, I believe VOYAGE BUBBLE will improve again from the run.
We were also privileged to witness the supreme return to Sha Tin of KA YING RISING after his historic triumph in the G1 The Everest (1200m) in Sydney, Australia in October.
Travelling horses abroad requires a high level of expertise and David Hayes’ management of KA YING RISING – much like Danny’s handling of ROMANTIC WARRIOR – was pivotal to another incredible victory in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), where despite being eased down by Zac Purton, KA YING RISING still clocked 1m 07.33s – marginally slower than his own track record of 1m 07.20s.
If anything, KA YING RISING is a better horse than last season when he was acclaimed as Hong Kong Horse of the Year and he could easily have lowered the track record on Sunday had Zac desired. Instead, he was allowed to cruise to the line with a view to the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint.
With his unbeaten sequence now at 15 races, KA YING RISING could equal GOLDEN SIXTY’s feat of winning 16 races in a row – and sit only one win shy of SILENT WITNESS’s all-time record of 17 – if he defends his crown in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, adding another element of excitement.
GALAXY PATCH delivered on the potential he has always shown for Pierre Ng under a masterful ride by James and is he is in top form ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and I believe MY WISH will be better for the run on Sunday, when he tended to over-race.
Another horse who caught my eye on Sunday was BUNDLE AWARD, who clocked 21.40s for the last 400m in finishing fifth behind ROMANTIC WARRIOR. He is one of several talented horses in John Size’s care and is shaping well towards LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.
One of the highlights of LONGINES HKIR week is the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday (10 December) with defending champion Mickael Barzalona, Zac Purton, James McDonald, Christophe Lemaire, Joao Moreira, Umberto Rispoli, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King, William Buick and Ryan Moore already selected.
The final two places will be allocated after the Happy Valley meeting tonight (26 November) with several riders competing for the final two places – one as the top-ranked jockey behind Zac and the other for the leading homegrown rider.
Luke Ferraris leads Hugh Bowman by only one win – 15 to 14 – in the first category and has four rides tonight with his best chance appearing to be CHARMING BABE (Race 9), while Hugh’s five mounts include HAKKA RADIANCE (Race 5). With 19 seconds to Luke’s seven, Hugh would take the lead on countback with one more win.
The tussle for the final place as leading homegrown rider is similarly tight with Vincent Ho (11) leading Jerry Chau (10) by a solitary win with both jockeys having four rides tonight.
Vincent’s best hope appears to be KING MILES (Race 9), while EMBRACES (Race 8) looks to be Jerry’s best ride.
At Happy Valley tonight, the Class 3 Culloden Bridge Handicap is carded as Race 9 and will be run over 1200m at 10.50pm.
The speed will be good with CANDLELIGHT DINNER (James Orman) and LUCKY PLANET (Matthew Poon) vying for the early lead. AKASHVANI (Zac Purton) should be prominent from gate 1 with CHARMING BABE (Luke Ferraris) and NORTHERN FIRE BALL (Angus Chung) also prominent.
AKASHVANI proved too strong in the straight for TRIUMPHANT MORE over this class and distance on 22 October. He has been in Conghua since and produced a pleasing trial effort there two weeks ago. AKASHVANI is a win and place chance.
KING MILES (Vincent Ho) won impressively over STORM RIDER on 15 October when resuming and followed that with a fighting second to CHATEAUNEUF. KING MILES has drawn a little awkwardly in gate nine but if Vincent can get him into a good position, he is a place chance.
SPICY GOLD (Alexis Badel) battled on strongly in the straight to finish second to REGAL GEM in this class and distance on 5 November. SPICY GOLD should be in a striking position again here from his middle draw and he is a place chance.
Last-start winner KYRUS DRAGON (Karis Teetan) is drawn well in gate four and has claims again, while CHARMING BABE is also last-start winner and, despite rising in class, can run well and is a place chance.
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