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.
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 |
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.
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