By Alan Carasso
A total of 56 horses from eight racing jurisdictions–some 26 of which have struck at the Group 1/Grade I level–including 31 overseas gallopers, have been extended invitations to the Longines Hong Kong International Races, to be staged Sunday, Dec. 8 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
With Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})–a top-level winner in Hong Kong earlier this season and last seen taking out the GI Breeders' Cup Turf–passing the meeting, Resolute Racing's Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is the biggest name among those invited from abroad. The on-the-bridle winner of the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, the 4-year-old added the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris Oct. 20 and his participation in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase will be dictated by his performance in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup at Tokyo. Should he make the trip, he could be joined by G1 Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}); G1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}); dual G2 Yorkshire Cup victor Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}); and Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}), who is slated to make a fourth trip to Hong Kong, but making his first appearance over the Sha Tin 2400 metres. After just missing in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is engaged for the Vase, as is his Classic-winning stable companion Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) won this year's G1 Oka Sho and is one of a pair of Vase chances for Japan.
Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) leads the home defence as he looks for an unprecedented third win in the Cup, at HK$40 million (£4.06m/$5.14m) the meeting's richest event. Victorious over the past weekend in the course-and-distance lead-up, he could face two-time G2 Bahrain International Trophy scorer Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Japanese Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and her compatriot Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), the 2023 G1 Tokyo Yushun winner and latest runner-up in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in late October. Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Wingspan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) are engaged for Ballydoyle, while The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) was given a supplemental entry on the back of his three-length defeat of Dubai Honour in the Listed Churchill Stakes over the Newcastle all-weather last Saturday.
The retirement of Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) dictates that no fewer than six foreigners are set to challenge the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. Nurlan Bizakov's Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) is a most intriguing proposition for trainer Jerome Reynier, having won six from six at home, including a three-length romp in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in August. He tasted defeat for the first time in his career when narrowly second in the 1500-metre Golden Eagle at Rosehill Nov. 2. Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), fourth to Golden Sixty in last year's Mile, returns to Sha Tin after posting his first elite-level success in last weekend's Mile Championship at Kyoto. Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) is one of a handful of Australian raiders and earned his ticket to the Mile with an eye-catching victory in the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield Oct. 12. Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) and Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}) rate the best chances among the locals.
Arguably the likeliest banker of the meeting comes in the form of Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, who ran his record to eight wins from 10 starts in last weekend's G2 Jockey Club Sprint. But that hasn't stopped the connections from a half-dozen international invaders from taking a crack, among them the last two winners of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) is set to become the first American runner in the HKIR since 2017, while Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) has been supplemented for the Arc-winning team of trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Rossa Ryan following his success at Del Mar on Nov. 2. A neck separated Lugal (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Toshin Macau (Jpn) in the G1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September, and the progressive Satono Reve (Jpn), a son of two-time Sprint winner Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), seeks to improve off his seventh in the same heat.
“The Longines Hong Kong International Races are one of the most important racing events on the global calendar and this year we look forward to hosting a decorated line-up from many corners of the globe,” said Andrew Harding, executive director, racing, for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “We are excited by the quality of selected runners for this year's Longines Hong Kong International Races and the presence of so many of the stars is in keeping with our long-held commitment to deliver sporting excellence.”
HERE THEY ARE! 🤩 Selected runners for ALL four G1 races at #HKIR worth a total HK$126 million… 👏
🏆 HK$26m Hong Kong Sprint
🏆 HK$36m Hong Kong Mile
🏆 HK$24m Hong Kong Vase
🏆 HK$40m Hong Kong Cup📍 Sha Tin, 8 Dec | #競馬 | @LONGINES | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/qaSUT5w6hM
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 20, 2024
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
