After months of thorough preparation and planning, 45 world-class horses will face the ultimate competitive test at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 December) with the staging of our flagship meeting, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR).
With 20 individual Group 1 winners spread across the four Group 1 races, which carry a combined HK$130 million in prizemoney, the moment of reckoning has again arrived for champion horses, jockeys and trainers.
The quality of the assembled horses is outstanding with the winners of all four LONGINES Group 1 features from 2024 returning – GIAVELLOTTO (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase), KA YING RISING (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint), VOYAGE BUBBLE (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile) and ROMANTIC WARRIOR (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup).
The LONGINES HKIR showcases Hong Kong on the global stage and I am excited at what might unfold today when history beckons for ROMANTIC WARRIOR in his bid to become the first horse to win any of these glittering Group 1 features for four years in a row, while the reappearance of KA YING RISING in his quest for a 16th consecutive victory also shapes as a highlight.
We have already savoured some magnificent competition this week with an unforgettable staging of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on Wednesday (10 December) when Ryan Moore provided another reminder of his timeless skill and quality.
Despite having only five lead-up rides to prepare for competition against 11 fellow champion jockeys after suffering a serious leg injury, Ryan won the LONGINES IJC for the third time with his wins on CORLEONE and TRIUMPHANT MORE to crown an inspiring comeback.
I congratulate Ryan and I look forward to watching him compete at Group 1 level today aboard SATONO REVE, THE LION IN WINTER and LOS ANGELES.
Apart from the excellent horseracing this week, LONGINES HKIR also serves as the highlight of a very productive week during which we have hosted a wide range of meetings and seminars to discuss a wide range of issues including equine welfare, mental and physical health, integrity and handicapping.
On Friday night, we gathered for the LONGINES HKIR Gala Dinner to celebrate a tremendous week of racing and to acclaim James McDonald as the 2025 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award for his 12 wins in the world’s top 100 G1 races for the year.
In winning the award for the third time, James is now within one victory of joining Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori as a four-time winner of this highly-prized accolade which speaks to his amazing consistency and excellence.
Today brings the crown jewel of the week with LONGINES HKIR and the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase is the first of the four Group 1 races. Carded as Race 4, it will be run over 2400m at 2.10pm for prizemoney of HK$26 million.
The speed will be good with MOMENTS IN TIME (Hugh Bowman) likely to hold the lead from gate one, with EYDON (Oisin Murphy), LOS ANGELES (Ryan Moore) and GOLIATH (Christophe Soumillon) also likely to be prominent.
SOSIE (Maxime Guyon) has won two Group 1s and was an excellent third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe behind DARYZ in October. Andre Fabre has an outstanding record in this race, having won it with BORGIA, FLINTSHIRE and JUNKO, and SOSIE is a win and place chance.
Marco Botti has specifically targeted GIAVELLOTTO for the race this year and he comes into it in career-best form having run fourth in the Arc last start under Andrea Atzeni. GIAVELLOTTO has been working well since arriving and is a win and place chance.
AL RIFFA (Dylan Browne McMonagle) won the Irish St Leger for Joseph O’Brien in September before running well for seventh in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he carried top weight and made good ground in the closing stages. AL RIFFA is a place chance.
Aidan O’Brien has won the race three times and is represented by last year’s Irish Derby winner LOS ANGELES. He won the Tattersall’s Gold Cup earlier in the year beating ANMAAT and KALPANA and will improve dramatically off his unplaced run in the Arc when he wasn’t suited by the ground and he is also a place chance.
URBAN CHIC (Christophe Lemaire) and GOLIATH also have strong claims.
The G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint is carded as Race 5 and will be run over 1200m at 2.50pm with prizemoney of HK$28 million.
The speed will be good throughout with WIN CARNELIAN (Kosei Miura)going forward from gate 11 and BEAUTY WAVES (Alexis Badel) also vying for the early lead. KA YING RISING (Zac Purton) will be prominent from gate one along with WUNDERBAR (Craig Williams).
Since winning this race last season, KA YING RISING has posted a further seven successive wins to advance his winning stretch to 15. He beat the best Australian sprinters in G1 The Everest in October before dominating the G2 Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin three weeks ago and he is the world’s best sprinter. Zac believes KA YING RISING is in career-best form and he is my win selection.
SATONO REVE (Ryan Moore) is a high-class sprinter and ran well when second at Royal Ascot in June when he looked a shade unlucky. He is a place chance.
HELIOS EXPRESS (Hugh Bowman) was second in this race last year and continues to race with great consistency, finishing third last start after making up good ground and is also a place chance, while FAST NETWORK (James McDonald) is an emerging sprint talent who ran second last start to KA YING RISING. FAST NETWORK is drawn ideally in gate three for James McDonald and can be placed.
The G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile is carded as Race 7 and will be run over 1600m at 4pm with prizemoney of HK$36 million.
The pace will be good with COPARTNER PRANCE (Maxime Guyon) leading from gate one along with PRAY FOR MIR (Alexis Badel) and THE LION IN WINTER (Ryan Moore) going forward from barrier 14. RED LION (Hugh Bowman) will settle in the leading group and MY WISH (Luke Ferraris) will hold a forward position from gate two.
VOYAGE BUBBLE (Zac Purton) won this race last year as part of a remarkable Triple Crown sweep. Last start, VOYAGE BUBBLE was gallant in defeat when runner-up to ROMANTIC WARRIOR over 2000m three weeks ago. Although he has a challenging draw in gate 12, VOYAGE BUBBLE is a win and place chance.
MY WISH won the Celebration Cup and Sha Tin Trophy before running fourth to GALAXY PATCH in the Jockey Club Mile on 23 November. MY WISH will be further improved by that run and, with a perfect draw in gate two, MY WISH is a win and place chance.
After finishing runner-up last December to VOYAGE BUBBLE, SOUL RUSH (Cristian Demuro) won the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) in April, beating ROMANTIC WARRIOR in a thrilling finish. Last start, SOUL RUSH drew wide and made good late ground to finish sixth to JANTAR MANTAR in the Mile Championship. SOUL RUSH is a place chance.
GALAXY PATCH (James McDonald) bounced back to winning form last start under a brilliant ride by James, dashing quickly along the rails to beat SUNLIGHT POWER and HAPPY TOGETHER. GALAXY PATCH is a place chance.
Several other high-class runners have chances including EMBROIDERY (Christophe Lemaire) and DOCKLANDS (Tom Marquand), SUNLIGHT POWER (Christophe Soumillon) and RED LION (Hugh Bowman).
The G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup is the world’s richest 2000m race on turf with prizemoney of HK$40 million. It is carded as Race 8 and will be run at 4.40pm.
The speed will be good with GALEN (Dylan Browne McMonagle) going forward from gate 7 to lead. ROMANTIC WARRIOR (James McDonald) will take up a position close to the lead, with BELLAGIO OPERA (Kazuo Yokoyama) also prominent.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR attempts to win the race for an unprecedented fourth time. He performed magnificently earlier this year winning the Jebel Hatta in Dubai and finishing a brave second in the Saudi Cup on dirt to FOREVER YOUNG in February. He resumed from injury in magnificent fashion when easily beating VOYAGE BUBBLE in the Jockey Club Cup (2000m) three weeks ago. He has drawn perfectly in gate two and is my win selection.
BELLAGIO OPERA won his second Osaka Hai over 2000m in April. His only run since he was second in the Takarazuka Kinen to MEISHO TABARU in June. BELLAGIO OPERA should not be underestimated and has been targeted for this race. BELLAGIO OPERA is working very well and is the main danger for ROMANTIC WARRIOR and is my second choice.
QUISISANA (Christophe Soumillon) won the Prix Jean Romanet before running ninth in the Arc to DARYZ. She was a creditable third to KALPANA in the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes over 2400m in October and comes back in distance here as a place chance, along with GALEN and ROUSHAM PARK (Christophe Lemaire), who have been working well.
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