2024 Hong Kong International Races: Early look at the main players

A perennial highlight on the racing calendar, the Hong Kong International Races now offer an even greater incentive to bettors: the four Group 1s will be World Pool events at Sha Tin Dec. 8.

The home team looks formidable in the Hong Kong Cup (G1), where reigning Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior bids for an historic three-peat, and in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1), with Ka Ying Rising advertising himself as the latest superstar to emerge from this jurisdiction. But the internationals historically hold the upper hand in the Hong Kong Vase (G1), and the Hong Kong Mile (G1) appears totally up for grabs following the retirement of the legendary Golden Sixty.

Here’s how the fields are shaping up ahead of the final declarations on Dec. 5:

Hong Kong Vase (G1)

Given the Europeans’ overall record of success in the Vase, it’s no surprise that a six-strong raiding party is assembling for the about 1 1/2-mile contest. 

Aidan O’Brien dispatches four-time Group 1 winner Luxembourg, most recently sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), and last year’s St. Leger (G1) hero Continuous, who’s had excuses when up the track in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) and Champion (G1) in his last pair. Flying the ever-dangerous French tricolor are versatile Group 1 veteran Iresine and Andre Fabre’s up-and-comer Marquisat, while British shippers Giavellotto and Dubai Honour also have significant form in the book. 

Yet Japan has struck more often over the past decade than any single European country, a trend that classic-winning filly Stellenbosch and multiple Group 2 scorer Pradaria will try to enhance.

The highest rated contender on paper is Australian-based Without a Fight, who turned the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup (G1) double in 2023. The European export was sidelined for a year before resuming with an encouraging third in the Mackinnon (aka Champions) (G1) at Flemington.  

Of the locals, Five G Patch and La City Blanche warrant mention as the respective second and third to Rebel’s Romance in the May 26 Champions & Chater Cup (G1) at this distance. Ka Ying Generation, best of the rest behind Romantic Warrior in the about 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Cup (G2), stretches back out.

Hong Kong Sprint (G1)

Ka Ying Rising, the Champion Griffin last term, has continued his meteoric rise during the new Hong Kong season that began in September. The David Hayes pupil extended his winning streak to seven with a track record-smashing performance in the Jockey Club Sprint (G2) last out. Although he’s untested at this level, Ka Ying Rising has stamped himself as a Group 1 winner in embryo. 

California Spangle, who famously denied Golden Sixty in the 2022 Hong Kong Mile, has since found his niche as his sprinter. But he hasn’t won since the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) back on Dubai World Cup night. Victor the Winner and Invincible Sage similarly won Group 1s at Sha Tin earlier in the year, but have been no match for Ka Ying Rising. Howdeepisyourlove and Helios Express, respectively second and third in the Jockey Club Sprint, likewise must improve to bridge the gap. 

The past two Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) victors, recent upsetter Starlust and Larry Rivelli’s 2023 alum Nobals, offer an international challenge along with multiple Australian Group 3 scorer Recommendation and Japan’s Lugal, Toshin Macau, and Satono Reve. Lugal and Toshin Macau just ran one-two in the Sprinters (G1) at Nakayama, where Satono Reve was seventh as the favorite.

Hong Kong Mile (G1)

Voyage Bubble, runner-up to Golden Sixty here a year ago, recently captured the key prep, the Jockey Club Mile (G2). Yet those beaten in the course-and-distance trial often move forward in the main event. Among the re-opposing rivals eligible to do so are Galaxy Patch, successful two back in the Oct. 13 Sha Tin Trophy (G2), and Beauty Eternal, winner of the April 28 Champions Mile (G1). Others coming off Jockey Club Mile losses are Red Lion, Chancheng Glory, Happy Together, Beauty Joy, and Taj Dragon.

Japan’s Soul Rush, a closing fourth in this race last year, arrives at the top of his game after a Group 1 breakthrough in the Mile Championship (G1). Compatriot Jantar Mantar has not raced since landing the May 5 NHK Mile Cup (G1) versus fellow three-year-olds. 

French expat Ramadan sold for the top price of more than $1.6 million at Arqana’s Arc Sale, hours after his victory in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2). The other French sophomore, Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) hero Lazzat, suffered his first career loss when runner-up in the lucrative Golden Eagle at Rosehill in Sydney. 

Also bringing Australian form are Antino and British-based Docklands. Antino, who romped in the Oct. 12 Toorak H. (G1) at Caulfield, just missed by a half-length to the venerable Mr Brightside in the Cantala (aka Champions Mile) (G1) at Flemington. Docklands was unplaced in both the Cox Plate (G1) and Mackinnon. Reverting to a metric mile could help since his marquee effort was a second to Charyn in Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne (G1).  

Hong Kong Cup (G1)

Romantic Warrior battled to a repeat victory here last year, despite a gut-busting decision in Australia’s Cox Plate in his prior start. This time, he’s coming into his three-peat bid in more orthodox fashion with a dominant score in the Jockey Club Cup. 

Romantic Warrior took the same course-and-distance prep in 2022 before running away with the Hong Kong Cup by 4 1/2 lengths, and chances are he’ll be in that sort of form again. The Danny Shum trainee has compiled an historic resume, with his current winning streak also featuring title defenses in the Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) and QEII Cup (G1) as well as a Tokyo coup in the Yasuda Kinen (G1). 

Japan sends two of its 2023 classic stars, Fillies’ Triple Crown champion Liberty Island and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1) victor Tastiera. Both are exiting losses in the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) to next-out Japan Cup hero Do Deuce. Tastiera ran up to form in second, but a fitness-challenged Liberty Island flamed out in 13th. 

British-based Spirit Dancer flies in from Bahrain, where he rolled in the International Trophy (G2) for the second straight year. German Group 1 victor Calif, third to Spirit Dancer, traveled over with him. The other British hope, The Foxes, ended a losing streak with a front-running tally in the Churchill S. over Newcastle’s Tapeta.

O’Brien relies on a pair of sophomore fillies last seen at the Breeders’ Cup – Content, the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) winner who was sixth in the Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and Wingspan, fifth versus males in the Turf. 

Their former stablemate Broadhurst, the gelding now known as Massive Sovereign, has not won since the March 24 Hong Kong Derby for four-year-olds. Other notable locals are Straight Arron, fourth in the 2023 Cup, and Nimble Nimbus, third to Romantic Warrior in the final prep. 

Stay tuned for more HKIR coverage featuring trends and storylines!