With the start of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series now just over three weeks away, the stage is almost set for one of the most fascinating phases of the Hong Kong season with the emergence of an extremely interesting Classic Generation.
Unlike other racing jurisdictions which have their own breeding industries, Hong Kong relies on its passionate owners to source the best available equine talent from around the globe to sustain our world-class racing.
Advised by bloodstock experts and trainers, our owners compete around the world with syndicators and owners from other racing jurisdictions to secure high-class horses with the result that Hong Kong racing has one of the most cosmopolitan horse populations in the world.
Of the 1,353 horses currently in Hong Kong, 12 different nations are represented as the country of origin based on horse place of birth – Australia (805 horses), New Zealand (318), Ireland (124), Great Britain (55), France (14), Brazil (11), South Africa (nine), United States of America (eight), Argentina (three) and Chile, Germany and Japan (each two).
Of the higher-rated horses in the 2026 four-year-old crop in contention for the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 1 February, HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 1 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March, at least six different jurisdictions are represented as nations of origin – Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Horses such as SAGACIOUS LIFE, NUMBERS, LITTLE PARADISE, INVINCIBLE IBIS, PUBLIC ATTENTION, REGAL GEM, WINFIELD, BEAUTY BOLT, INFINITE RESOLVE, TOP DRAGON and ALL OUT FOR SIX have been imported to Hong Kong from around the globe in search of Classic success for our committed owners.
This makes the BMW Hong Kong Derby not only the race of ‘Once in a lifetime glory’ but also a World Derby with horses from the northern and southern hemisphere clashing at Sha Tin in search of the ultimate four-year-old achievement in our city.
The progress of our four-year-old crop over the next few weeks will prove crucial as they look to join a BMW Hong Kong Derby roll replete with the best of Ireland (ROMANTIC WARRIOR and DESIGNS ON ROME), Australia (GOLDEN SIXTY and VOYAGE BUBBLE), New Zealand (VENGEANCE OF RAIN and AMBITIOUS DRAGON) and the United Kingdom (VIVA PATACA and AKEED MOFEED).
These amazing horses, along with champion sprinters SILENT WITNESS (Australia) and KA YING RISING (New Zealand) and miler BEAUTY GENERATION (New Zealand) have become icons in Hong Kong because of their outstanding qualities as well as a unique ability to galvanise the interest of the Hong Kong racing community.
The diversity of their backgrounds adds another element to Hong Kong racing and reinforces our standing as a global leader in the sport. With so much to play for over the coming months, I wish all owners, trainers and jockeys the best of luck across the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
Tonight (Saturday, 10 January), we stage our first World Pool meeting of 2026 with King’s Plate Day from Kenilworth Racecourse, Cape Town in South Africa.
The first of 10 races will be simulcast from 6.25pm as S1-1, with the G1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship carded as S1-7 and run over 1000m at 10pm.
The pace will be good with the capacity field. BUFFALO STORM CODY (Gavin Lerena) is South Africa’s top sprinter with seven wins from his past eight starts. BUFFALO STORM CODY’S most recent defeat came at the hands of I AM GIANT (Oisin Murphy) and O’TENIKWA (Corne Orffer) on soft ground at Greyville in July. On firm ground at Kenilworth, he is a win and place chance.
I AM GIANT and O’TENIKWA continue to race well and are place chances along with TENANGO (Aldo Domeyer) and OUTLAW KING (Craig Zackey).
The G1 King’s Plate is carded as S1-8 and will be run over 1600m at 10.45pm.
First run in 1861 when it was known as the Queen’s Plate, the King’s Plate this year features eight individual Group 1 winners in the 14-horse field and is one of South Africa’s most prestigious races.
The pace will be good with DAVE THE KING (Ryan Munger) likely to lead from LEGAL COUNSEL (Chad Little). JAN VAN GOYEN (Callan Murray), EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (Oisin Murphy) and SAIL THE SEAS (Muzi Yeni) should settle close behind the leading pair. GARRIX (S’Manga Khumalo) is likely to settle midfield.
Three-year-old JAN VAN GOYEN impressively won the G1 Cape Guineas convincingly over this course and distance and he has drawn perfectly in gate two and should be able to trail his stablemate DAVE THE KING before making his challenge. He is a win and place chance.
DAVE THE KING is extremely consistent and returned to winning form last start in the G2 Green Point Stakes over this course and distance. He can never be ruled out and is a place chance.
Reigning South African Horse of the Year EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN won three Group 1s as a three-year-old and resumes after his narrow defeat in the G1 Durban July (2200m). He is also a place chance along with GARRIX, SAIL THE SEAS, THE REAL PRINCE (Craig Zackey) and SEE IT AGAIN (Andrew Fortune).
Comment
