By Alan Carasso
A total of 16 individual horses from the United States and Canada have been handed entries for the 2024 Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse Sunday, Dec. 8. The four Group 1 races–the Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000mT, Longines Hong Kong Mile, Longines Hong Sprint (1200mT) and Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400mT)–offer record prize money of HK$126 million ($16.21 million).
No fewer than nine American-based short-track specialists have been entered for HK$26-million ($3.35-million) Sprint, including the record-setting Cogburn (Not This Time), who is expected to go favored in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 2. Also entered for the Sprint is reigning Turf Sprint hero Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) and Howard Wolowitz (Munnings), who earned his Grade I laurels in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs and who is already stabled at Del Mar ahead of his Turf Sprint appearance. Christophe Clement is no stranger to the HKIR and has a trio engaged in the Sprint–Big Invasion (Declaration of War), the mare Roses for Debra (Liam's Map) and Senbei (Candy Ride {Arg}), recent winner of the GIII Belmont Turf Sprint. South African Grade 1 winner BC Turf Sprint candidate Isivunguvungu (SAf) (What a Winter {SAf}) and could represent the Graham Motion stable.
With purse money of HK$40 million ($5.15 million), the Hong Kong Cup is the richest of the afternoon's main events, whose two-time defending champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) will try to make history with a third straight renewal in six weeks' time. Far Bridge (English Channel) has stamped himself as one of America's top middle-distance turf horses with victories in the GI Sword Dancer Stakes and GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and the 'TDN Rising Star' holds an entry for the Cup as well as the Vase. Also nominated to both races are the Phil d'Amato-conditioned Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}), Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), while MGSW mare Hang the Moon (Uncle Mo) is entered for the Cup only. Full Count Felicia (War Front), all-the-way winner of the GI E. P. Taylor Stakes, has been entered by Kevin Attard.
The recent retirement of three-time Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) leaves something of a void in the local Mile division and the HK$36-million ($4.63 million) contest has lured a pair of North American entries, GI Shoemaker Mile hero Johannes (Nyquist) and Win for the Money (Mohaymen), upset winner of the GI Woodbine Mile for Live Oak Plantation and Mark Casse.
Lukka (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky), a two-time Group 1 winner in Chile and a close third in the GII Hollywood Turf Cup on his lone U.S. appearance last November, is a fourth U.S.-based entry for the HK$24-million ($3.09 million) Hong Kong Vase.
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