A truly international cast of 191 horses, among them 58 Group/Grade 1 winners, have been entered for the 2024 edition of the Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on Dec. 8. Billed as the 'Turf World Championships', the races will offer record total prize-money of HK$126 million (£12,521,226/€15,043,683/$16,215,920). Group 1 riches will be offered for the following quartet of races: the HK$40-million Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$36-million Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$26-million Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$24-million Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
The locals are well-represented, with Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) aiming to become the first horse to win the HK$40-million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup three times after taking it the past two years. The Danny Shum-trained G1 Cox Plate and G1 Yasuda Kinen winner will be a tough nut to crack for any of the challengers, while California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) seeks a second HKIR crown after winning the 2022 Mile. He is re-routed to the Sprint this year by Tony Cruz, after wins in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai and the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup back on home turf.
Hong Kong Group 2 winners Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}) and Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) are targeting the Mile and Sprint, respectively. This year's Hong Kong Derby scorer Massive Sovereign (Ire) (No Nay Never) is eyeing either the Cup or Mile, and Group 1 winners Beauty Eternal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) both carry entries for the Mile. The pair of Victor The Winner (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) and Invincible Sage (Aus) (Thronum {Aus}) are Sprint-bound.
Strong Bunch Of European Nominees
Denied his chance at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the gelding Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), a winner of the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes earlier in the year and Sunday's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris, has been dual entered in either the Cup or Vase by trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, but will start in the G1 Japan Cup first next month. Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), second to Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) in Saturday's G1 Champions Stakes, is also part of the HKIR entries. Besides the Aga Khan-owned King George winner is fellow green-and-red representative Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal), entered by Dermot Weld. William Haggas's dependable multiple Group 1 winner Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), already a three-time Hong Kong circuit participant, may return for the Vase.
A total of 15 horses were nominated by Aidan O'Brien, among them Derby and Breeders' Cup hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who is entered for the Cup and Vase. A three-time winner of the Vase, O'Brien also saddles undefeated G1 St Leger hero Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the Vase, while Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is dual entered for the Cup and Vase.
Charlie Appleby has nominated globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Rebel's Romance (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), while David Menuisier fields Group 1 winner and G1 Irish Derby second Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) for the Vase. Royal Ascot specialist Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is booked for the Sprint, while the Sir Alex Ferguson part-owned multiple group winner Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will try his hand in the Cup.
Some other European Group 1 winners entered for the HKIR include Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) (Mile), Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) (Vase), Facteur Chevel (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) (Cup), Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) (Cup/Vase), and Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) (Mile) from France. Germany's flag will be flown by Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) (Vase) among others.
Japanese Brigade Features Liberty Island
Japanese horses have been collected international prizes on the biggest stages for some years now, and their 2023 Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) looms large in the Cup. She is one of 55 horses entered overall from the Land of the Rising Sun, and is accompanied by no less than 12 other top-level winners.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi is sending a strong group, among them 2024 G1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) third Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), multiple group winner Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), and 2024 GI Kentucky Derby third Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), winner of the 2024 G3 Saudi Derby and G2 UAE Derby (1900m, dirt).
Trainer of the brilliant Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), Noriyuki Hori may seek further Sha Tin success with Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) to name one, while trainer Haruki Sugiyama's entry features Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) for the Vase.
G1 NHK Mile hero Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) will race in the Mile, and other Japanese Group 1 winners set to run include Brede Weg (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) (Cup/Vase), Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) (Cup/Vase), Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) (Mile/Sprint), Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) (Mile) and Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) (Cup/Vase).
Australasia Represented At HKIR
G1 Toorak Handicap hero Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) is gunning for the Mile, while Australian transplant Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) holds engagements in the Cup and Vase. Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) holds a Vase entry.
The North American entries are detailed here. For the full list of entries, please click here.
Andrew Harding, executive director of racing for the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), said, “We are beyond pleased with the entries for the 2024 Longines Hong Kong International Races. Hong Kong's very best horses and many more from around the world are nominated, setting the scene for yet another world-class day of sporting action on 8 December at Sha Tin.
“Romantic Warrior–Hong Kong's current banner horse–will aim to become the first horse to win three Longines Hong Kong Cups. Galaxy Patch and Ka Ying Rising–two of our most exciting horses–also feature and, we are very encouraged by the support we have received from our international friends around the world. We are confident that this year's list has the right mix to deliver another memorable Longines Hong Kong International Races–which boasts a record purse of HK$126 million for the four Group 1 races.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
