Today's Races
The Post Time for those of us in the states will be 11:35 PM ET on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9 with racing going into the early morning.
The Hong Kong Cup, Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Sprint, and The Hong Kong Vase attract leading horses, jockeys, and trainers from around the world, and are among the richest purses in racing.
View the latest Hong Kong International Race Results & TwinSpires Trend Handicapping Performance
Romantic Warrior wins the Hong Kong Cup during the 2024 Hong Kong International Races.
Senior racing analyst Kellie Reilly correctly whittled the field of contenders in the Hong Kong Cup to a focus on defending champion Romantic Warrior.
"Two-time defending champion Romantic Warrior furnishes the leading storyline going into the Dec. 8 Hong Kong Cup (G1) while illustrating recent trends in the Sha Tin feature...If Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year achieves the first-ever Cup three-peat, he would also surpass the all-time earnings record held by recently retired Golden Sixty. Moreover, Romantic Warrior’s connections are viewing the Cup as a springboard to a Mideast campaign in 2025, including ambitious plans to try dirt in the Saudi Cup (G1) and potentially advance to the Dubai World Cup (G1). Romantic Warrior already sports an incredible resume after plundering Australia’s Cox Plate (G1) in 2023 and Japan’s Yasuda Kinen (G1) in June. If he can add the riches of the Arabian dirt to his portfolio, he’d go straight into the pantheon of all-time greats."
Giavellotto wins the Hong Kong Vase during the 2024 Hong Kong International Races.
Senior racing analyst Kellie Reilly correctly highlighted winner Giavelotto's opportunity due to his cutback angle, obtaining a Hong Kong Vase win.
"Campaigned as a stayer for nearly his entire life, British shipper Giavellotto has excelled in the vicinity of 1 3/4 miles. He’s captured the past two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup (G2) while placing in the 2022 St. Leger (G1) at Doncaster and the Irish St. Leger (G1) (to the sublime Kyprios) in his latest. But when he dropped down to 1 1/2 miles for the Princess of Wales’s (G2) during Newmarket’s July Festival, Giavellotto dominated in the manner of a horse with greater range than first suspected. Trainer Marco Botti has noted that the five-year-old was in the form of his life this season, and now he looks for another big win on the cutback. "
Ka Ying Rising wins the Hong Kong Sprint during the 2024 Hong Kong International Races.
Senior racing analyst Kellie Reilly correctly identified winner Ka Ying Rising as the leader among runners in the Hong Kong Sprint.
"While the presence of the past two Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) upsetters, Starlust and Nobals, will attract the notice of North American racing fans, the center of gravity in Sunday’s Hong Kong Sprint (G1) lies with the locals led by Ka Ying Rising...By lowering Sacred Kingdom’s course record in the Jockey Club Sprint in almost nonchalant style, Ka Ying Rising has raised expectations sky-high going into his first Group 1 test. He’s won seven straight since immaturity contributed to his only losses, and even those were a pair of seconds. Trainer David Hayes has been around top-class horses in his storied career, so his palpable excitement speaks volumes as he plots out future targets. Ka Ying Rising is inspiring thoughts of stretching out for the Jan. 31 Hong Kong Classic Mile, but Hayes told the Idol Horse podcast that he’d rather not try him over as far as the Hong Kong Derby. Indeed, The Everest in Australia looms as his long-range goal for 2025. But first he’s got to get past Sunday."
Voyage Bubble wins the Hong Kong Mile during the 2024 Hong Kong International Races.
Senior racing analyst Kellie Reilly used trending information to correctly identify Hong Kong Mile winner Voyage Bubble.
"Last year’s Mile runner-up, Voyage Bubble, aims to inherit the mantle of Golden Sixty. The admirably consistent performer captured two-thirds of Hong Kong’s Four-Year-Old Series in 2023, the Classic Mile and Hong Kong Derby, and both of his Group wins came at this course and distance – the Jan. 21 Stewards’ Cup (G1) and the Nov. 17 Jockey Club Mile, defeating all of the other local contenders. Voyage Bubble’s only poor efforts have come abroad, suggesting that he’ll run his typical race here."
Romantic Warrior demolished the Jockey Club Cup ahead of his three-peat bid in the Hong Kong Cup (Photo by Hong Kong Jockey Club)
2024 Hong Kong International Races: Early look at the main players: Read the complete Analysis by Kellie Reilly
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...read the complete analysis
Hong Kong International Cup
This 2000m (about 1 1/4-miles) event has been a much more internationally competitive race in its history than the Sprint or the Mile. In the 11 editions from 1999 to 2010, the only local victories went to Vengeance of Rain (2005) and Precision (2002).
2024 HKIR Cup Probables - final declarations are Thursday
| Horse | Age, Sex | Country | Trackwork Cloth | Arrival Date | Track Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY ISLAND | 4, f | JPN | 1 | 27/11 | AW(PR) |
| SPIRIT DANCER | 7, g | GB | 4 | 29/11 | AW |
| TASTIERA | 4, c | JPN | 6 | 1/12 | AW(PR) |
| CALIF | 5, g | FR | 7 | 29/11 | AW |
| CONTENT | 3, f | IRE | 9 | 30/11 | AW |
| WINGSPAN | 3, f | IRE | 11 | 30/11 | AW |
| THE FOXES | 4, c | GB | 12 | 1/12 | AW |
Romantic Warrior fends off Luxembourg in the 2023 Hong Kong Cup (Photo by Hong Kong Jockey Club)
2024 Hong Kong Cup: Trends and storylines: Read the complete analysis by Kellie Reilly
Hong Kong Cup trends
While international raiders had held the upper hand earlier in the race’s history, locals have won eight of the past 13 editions. The tide turned with California Memory (2011-12), who became the first two-time Cup champion, and Romantic Warrior (2022-23) emulated his feat.
Of the last eight Hong Kong-trained winners, seven graduated from the final course-and-distance prep, the Jockey Club Cup (G2). But only two turned the double – California Memory (2012) and Romantic Warrior (2022). The other five improved from prep losses to win the Cup...read the complete analysis
Hong Kong International Vase
Not surprisingly for a 2400m (about 1 1/2-mile) turf race, the Vase has been the best race for foreigners among the international races. Indeed, since 1999 there have been only two locally-trained victors: Dominant (2013) and Exultant (2018).
2024 HKIR Vase Entries - final declarations are Thursday
| Horse | Age, Sex | Country | Trackwork Cloth | Arrival Date | Track Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUBAI HONOUR | 6, g | GB | 1 | 30/11 | AW |
| GIAVELLOTTO | 5, h | GB | 4 | 30/11 | AW |
| IRESINE | 7, g | FR | 6 | 30/11 | AW |
| PRADARIA | 5, h | JPN | 8 | 27/11 | AW(PR) |
| STELLENBOSCH | 3, f | JPN | 9 | 1/12 | AW(PR) |
| WITHOUT A FIGHT | 7, g | AUS | 10 | 26/11 | TURF |
| MARQUISAT | 4, g | FR | 11 | 30/11 | AW |
| CONTINUOUS | 4, c | IRE | 12 | 30/11 | AW |
| LUXEMBOURG | 5, h | IRE | 14 | 30/11 | AW |
Junko (Photo courtesy of Race News and Hong Kong Jockey Club)
2024 Hong Kong Vase: Trends and storylines: Read the complete analysis by Kellie Reilly
Hong Kong Vase trends
Europeans have won 22 of 30 runnings, but to be precise, it’s historically been the French more so than the British or Irish. The tone was set straightaway when Red Bishop won the inaugural Vase in 1994, the first of 11 triumphs for France. Andre Fabre is himself responsible for three, from Borgia (1999) to the two latest French heroes, Flintshire (2014) and Junko (2023)....read the complete analysis
Hong Kong International Mile
Five of the first seven winners of this 1600m (about one mile) race were foreigners: Docksider (Great Britain, 1999), Sunline (New Zealand, 2000), Eishin Preston (Japan, 2001), Firebreak (Britain/UAE, 2004), and Hat Trick (Japan, 2005). Only Olympic Express (2002) and Lucky Owners (2003) scored for Hong Kong.
2024 HKIR Mile Entries - final declarations are Thursday
| Horse | Age, Sex | Country | Trackwork Cloth | Arrival Date | Track Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANTINO | 6, g | AUS | 1 | 26/11 | AW |
| DOCKLANDS | 4, c | GB | 4 | 19/11 | TURF |
| JANTAR MANTAR | 3, c | JPN | 6 | 27/11 | AW(PR) |
| LAZZAT | 3, g | FR | 7 | 19/11 | AW |
| SOUL RUSH | 6, h | JPN | 10 | 27/11 | AW |
| RAMADAN | 3, c | GB | 12 | 30/11 | AW |
Voyage Bubble won the key prep, the Jockey Club Mile (Photo by Hong Kong Jockey Club)
2024 Hong Kong Mile: Trends and storylines: Read the complete analysis by Kellie Reilly
Hong Kong Mile trends
Hong Kong-based milers have kept the trophy at home 18 of the past 22 years. Eight of those victories came courtesy of repeat winners. Good Ba Ba (2007-09) scored an unprecedented treble, eventually matched by Golden Sixty (2020-21, 2023). In between, Beauty Generation (2017-2018) hoisted back-to-back trophies.
Fifteen of those 18 local winners prepped in the Jockey Club Mile (G2). Seven won both the prep and the main event...read the complete analysis
Hong Kong International Sprint
First raced over 1000 meters in 1999, it became a 1200-meter (about six-furlong) race in 2006, and it has been dominated by locally-trained gallopers. Of the 22 previous editions, only six have been won by horses trained outside Hong Kong.
2024 HKIR Sprint Entries - final declarations are Thursday
| Horse | Age, Sex | Country | Trackwork Cloth | Arrival Date | Track Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUGAL | 4, c | JPN | 6 | 27/11 | AW |
| NOBALS | 5, g | USA | 7 | 1/12 | AW |
| TOSHIN MACAU | 5, h | JPN | 8 | 1/12 | AW(PR) |
| RECOMMENDATION | 5, g | AUS | 10 | 26/11 | AW |
| SATONO REVE | 5, h | JPN | 11 | 1/12 | AW(PR) |
| STARLUST | 3, c | GB | 12 | 30/11 | AW |
Record-breaking Ka Ying Rising brings sky-high expectations into the Hong Kong Sprint (Photo by Hong Kong Jockey Club)
2024 Hong Kong Sprint: Trends and storylines: Read the full analysis by Kellie Reilly
Hong Kong-based milers have kept the trophy at home 18 of the past 22 years. Eight of those victories came courtesy of repeat winners. Good Ba Ba (2007-09) scored an unprecedented treble, eventually matched by Golden Sixty (2020-21, 2023). In between, Beauty Generation (2017-2018) hoisted back-to-back trophies.
Fifteen of those 18 local winners prepped in the Jockey Club Mile (G2). Seven won both the prep and the main event...read the complete analysis
LEGEND:
| AW – All Weather Track |
| Turf – Turf Track |
| QS – Quarantine Stables |
| GS – Barrier Gate Practice |
| PR – Parade Ring Schooling |
A look into Japan's contenders for the HKIR event
The Post Time for those of us in the states will be 11:35 PM EST on Saturday, Dec 7 and Sunday, Dec 8 with racing going into the early morning.
Hong Kong International Raceday Trends
3 trends to consider when betting Hong Kong racing
Visit the TwinSpires.com Edge for up to date coverage of the Hong Kong International Races.
TWINSPIRES HORSE RACING BETTING, ODDS & LIVE VIDEO
TwinSpires Horse Racing is a leading destination for legal wagering in the United States. TwinSpires' parent company, Churchill Downs — the home of the Kentucky Derby — has a 148-year history and has been a leader in betting since 1875.
The premier online betting experience of TwinSpires caters to several exciting industries, offering advance-deposit wagering for horse racing, live track video signals and more. It also offers mobile apps and easy-to-use desktop experiences that are always being improved.
TwinSpires strives to support racing fans of all levels; longtime racing fans, sharps, newcomers, and veterans alike. TwinSpires also benefits bettors with data-driven insights and rich offerings of educational content, handicapping, picks, analysis editorial, and strategies through all platforms.
Discover our offerings in global horse racing from the North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia! Whether you are seeking free picks and offers for today's horse racing, expert insight, or the variety of strategies involved with handicapping, we have you covered. Check out race tracks near you, now!