The Hong Kong Jockey Club has released putative fields for the Longines-sponsored International Races (HKIR) at on Sunday Dec 11, when a world-class array of equine talent is set to be on show at Sha Tin.
With local superstar Golden Sixty heading the home team as he attempts to complete a hat-trick in the Mile, horses from Japan, Europe, Singapore and Australia feature among the 49 selected for the four-race series billed as the ‘Turf World Championships’.
Indeed, no fewer than 26 individual G1 winners are on the list for the HK$110 million (about $14m/£11.8m) jamboree, with 24 selected runners from overseas – compared to only five at the COVID-denuded 2021 meeting.
• Selected field for Hong Kong Cup
• Selected field for Hong Kong Mile
• Selected field for Hong Kong Vase
• Selected field for Hong Kong Sprint
Golden Sixty renews rivalry in the HK$30m Mile with California Spangle, who nearly upset the champion in a G2 prep on Sunday. Japanese G1 winners Schnell Meister and Danon Scorpion are out to thwart the highest-earning horse in HK history, along with last year’s third Salios. Dual G1 winner Saffron Beach is set to represent Britain in a field that may also feature Laws Of Indices from Australia.Japan has five engaged in the Hong Kong Cup – ostensibly the highlight at HK$34m – bidding to resist Romantic Warrior, devastating first-up in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup last weekend.
Tenno Sho runner-up Panthalassa brings his exhilarating front-running tactics to Sha Tin for the HK Cup, while Jack D’Or – Chukyo’s 2000-metre track record holder – features as well as G1 winners Geoglyph, Danon The Kid and the returning Lei Papale.
Intriguingly, Aidan O’Brien could step the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Order Of Australia up in trip for the HK Cup, while Ballydoyle will seek a record fourth win in the Hong Kong Vase via a potential triple assaunt with Broome, Bolshoi Ballet and Stone Age.
Japan’s Glory Vase is out to become the only three-time winner of the race following his victories in 2019 and 2021. Compatriot Win Marilyn joins him in a 1m4f contest also set to feature French and German interests.
Hong Kong’s invariably strong sprinting ranks are looking to continue their domination of the Hong Kong Sprint with an eighth win from the past nine editions. The home team is led by Wellington, Lucky Sweynesse and last year’s winner Sky Field, while three individual G1 winners from Japan feature in the shape of Gendarme, Naran Huleg and Resistencia. Three-time G2 winner Meikei Yell will also represent Japan.
“Once more, we are delighted that the quality of selected runners for this year’s Longines Hong Kong International Races is in keeping with our long-held commitment to deliver sporting excellence,” commented Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club executive director of racing.
“This is highlighted with strong groups from Japan and Europe headed for Hong Kong to compete against Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and more,” he went on.
“Golden Sixty is Hong Kong’s hero and his legion of fans will be out in force at Sha Tin as he aims for a record-equalling third straight Longines Hong Kong Mile – a feat achieved only by the great Good Ba Ba.”
• Visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website
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