With only 15 days until FWD Champions Day, preparations are now in the final phase for our spring international showpiece at Sha Tin on 26 April when 38 selected runners are slated to vie for glory in three elite Group 1 contests in one of the highlights of the 2025/26 season.
With 13 individual Group 1 winners featuring among the selected runners, excitement is already building over the prospect of watching champions such as KA YING RISING, ROMANTIC WARRIOR, MASQUERADE BALL and MUSEUM MILE competing at Sha Tin.
With a record HK$78 million in prizemoney on offer across the HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m), HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and HK$24 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), it will be also fascinating to monitor the performances of Hong Kong’s four-year-old generation, spearheaded by BMW Hong Kong Derby victor INVINCIBLE IBIS, NUMBERS, LITTLE PARADISE and STORMY GROVE, against older, established horses.
I am very much looking forward to ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s clash in the FWD QEII Cup with fellow Group 1 winners MASQUERADE BALL, MUSEUM MILE, ROYAL CHAMPION and SOSIE, among others.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR has been among the very best 2000m horses in the world for five seasons – which is a remarkable feat in terms of both excellence and durability – and there is no doubt his quest for a record fourth QEII Cup is among the greatest challenges of his decorated career given the quality of the opposition.
History also awaits KA YING RISING as he chases a record-extending 20th successive victory in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize against SATONO REVE and HELIOS EXPRESS while the FWD Champions Mile is an intriguing race with five proven Group 1 stars – VOYAGE BUBBLE, JANTAR MANTAR, RED LION, DOCKLANDS and LUCKY SWEYNESSE jostling for glory.
The first of the visiting horses are due to arrive in Hong Kong next Friday (17 April) and I would like to wish all connections the very best of luck.
International focus will be on Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia today (Saturday, 11 April) for the second day of The Championships with the first of 10 races to be simulcast as part of our World Pool operation from 9.45am.
The G1 Sydney Cup is carded as S1-7 and will be run over 3200m at 1.15pm on yielding ground.
RIVER OF STARS will be ridden by James McDonald for Chris Waller and, while she is yet to win in Australia, she has performed well at the highest level and has the pedigree to suggest 3200m is in her grasp.
By SEA THE STARS out of ADLERFLUG mare AMAZONE, RIVER OF STARS ran second in last season’s G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), third in the 2025 G1 Sydney Cup and fourth in last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). She is my win and place selection.
MR MONACO (Jamie Melham) is one of three strong contenders in the race for Ciaron Maher along with PIGGYBACK (Zac Lloyd) and JUJA KIBO (Craig Williams). Jamie is riding in great form, and MR MONACO is also a win and place chance despite drawing the outside barrier.
SOUL OF SPAIN (Tommy Berry), NEWLOOK (Rachel King), LITZDEEL (Tyler Schiller) and WHISKY ON THE HILL (Damian Lane) are all place chances.
The G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes is carded as S1-9 and will be run over 2000m at 2.35pm.
The race features formlines through several different countries and regions including England, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Australia, and six of the eight runners have won at Group 1 level.
AUTUMN GLOW is unbeaten in 11 starts and steps to 2000m for the first time in her career for James McDonald and Chris Waller. While AUTUMN GLOW is yet to race beyond 1600m, she gives the impression she will cope with the extra 400m. This is her toughest challenge so far, but she is a win and place chance.
SIR DELIUS (Craig Williams) thrives on rain-affected going and, now at peak fitness, is the obvious threat.
DUBAI HONOUR (Tom Marquand) won this race in 2023 and was only narrowly beaten by AELIANA last start and he cannot be ruled out.
Comment
