In countries with breeding industries, the Triple Crown is run as three-year-old series and, in Great Britain, Ireland and Germany, the three legs are contested over distances of 1600m, 2400m and 2800m.
I was lucky during my time living in Germany to be associated with the only German Triple Crown winner, KONIGSSTUHL, who later became a very influential stallion in his stud career.
In Hong Kong, the Triple Crown is for horses of all ages and has three International Group 1 races as legs with the Stewards’ Cup over 1600m, the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m and the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup over 2400m. Last week in the Stewards’ Cup, we saw the exceptional ROMANTIC WARRIOR winning the first leg as he aims to become the third winner of the Triple Crown in Hong Kong history.
Because in Hong Kong all horses are imported and start their racing career a year later, we decided to create a Four-Year-old Classic Series to identify the future champions and to incentivise owners to bring world-class horses to Hong Kong.
The Four-Year-Old Classic Series will take centre stage over the next six weeks and the 2026 Classic Generation is competing for HK$13 million in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), which is run at Sha Tin today (1 February), and the same prize money in Hong Kong Classic Cup, run on 1 March over 1800m and last, not least, the BMW Hong Kong Derby, which is run on 22 March over a distance of 2000m with a prize money of HK$26 million.
With total prize money of HK$52 million on offer, this makes it one of the highest Classic Series in the world.
The recent history of the series has been distinguished by a constant theme – the emergence of champions – with triumphs across the three legs of the series by future Group 1 winners such as ROMANTIC WARRIOR, VOYAGE BUBBLE, GOLDEN SIXTY and CALIFORNIA SPANGLE and I am hopeful this year’s crop also contains future champions.
The Four-Year-Old Classic Series poses serious questions relating to speed, versatility and stamina and only a select few so far have been able to answer all three. Over the past 10 years, only GOLDEN SIXTY (2020) and RAPPER DRAGON (2017) have been able to triumph in all three legs, while ROMANTIC WARRIOR and VOYAGE BUBBLE were successful in two of the three races.
While the focus of many connections and the media is primarily the BMW Hong Kong Derby as the race of ‘once-in-a-lifetime glory’, the Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Classic Cup are prestigious and highly-sought races in their own right.
This season has been no exception with our owners sourcing the best available equine talent from around the world and the cosmopolitan nature of the 2026 Hong Kong Classic Mile field is underlined by the spread of nations involved with six horses from Australia, three from New Zealand, two from Brazil, two from Ireland and one from Great Britain engaged today.
I wish all connections the very best of luck today.
One of the most fascinating elements of this year’s race is Zac Purton’s decision to ride SAGACIOUS LIFE after having also won lead-up races on LITTLE PARADISE, INVINCIBLE IBIS, BEAUTY BOLT, PATCH OF COSMO and TOP DRAGON.
The Hong Kong Classic Mile is one of the few major races to so far elude Zac and it will be interesting to see if he has made the correct choice of rides in what would have been a very difficult decision.
The Hong Kong Classic Mile carded as Race 8 and will be run over 1600m at 4.05pm.
The speed will be good with CRIMSON FLASH, under Andrea Atzeni from gate seven, likely to go forward with ASKASHVANI, who is ridden by Luke Ferraris and will try to lead all the way as in his last start, and both will set good sectionals. PUBLIC ATTENTION, with Brenton Avdulla, should be ideally placed behind the speed with INFINITE RESOLVE under Alexis Badel on his outside with BEAUTY BOLT with James McDonald, who flies in for this race, at risk to be kept wide.
LITTLE PARADISE, with Vincent Ho, will be at the rail in midfield with WINFIELD and Lyle Hewitson beside him, which could force SAGACIOUS LIFE, with Purton on board, to be kept wide. TOP DRAGON, with Maxim Guyon, will be placed behind midfield with Matthew Chadwick and PATCH OF COSMO on the outside and keeping WINDLORD, with the talented Dylan Browne McMonagle, wide.
SHANWAH under Harry Bentley will come from the back with INVINCIBLE IBIS and Hugh Bowman well placed on his outside. CIRCUIT GRAND SLAM and Jerry Chau will have to come from last.
INVINCIBLE IBIS, with Hugh Bowman, who is one of the best jockeys in the world, will be suited by the good pace and gate 11 and his usual style of coming from the back should not be an issue. He is proven over 1600m with two impressive wins over the course and distance, plus his ability to run good last 400m sectional times makes him my first choice for win and place.
Zac Purton on SAGACIOUS LIFE will have to manage the risk of being kept wide and will be even more suited going further than 1600m being a Group 1 winner over 2400m in Brazil. He is working well and his last win over course and distance under top weight makes him my second choice for a win and place.
BEAUTY BOLT has James McDonald, the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey 2025, on board and will need to avoid being kept wide from gate 12. He is working very well and is, despite the risk of being kept wide, a place chance.
LITTLE PARADISE is working very well and, while stepping up from 1400m to 1600m for the first time, is another interesting competitor and a good chance for a place.
PATCH OF COSMO made a great winning comeback under top weight of 135lb after a 10-month injury break. When he won, his body weight and shape indicated he was not fully fit and he will have improved since his last start on January 18. He is reunited with Matthew Chadwick, his regular jockey, after Zac rode him in his last start. He has a lot of ability and could surprise everybody and see him at least as a place chance.
WINLORD is another improver with his encouraging debut, when beaten 2¾ lengths by SAGACIOUS LIFE. While he will be suited even more going up in distance, he will be suited by the good pace and can surprise for a place.
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