Hong Kong International Races 'A Celebration of Champions'

They poured into Sha Tin Racecourse and Happy Valley Racecourse, roughly 45,000 of them, to take in Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting, the largest crowd in over three years. Hong Kong has been tormented in recent years by social upheaval and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020, but an easing of Draconian virus-related restrictions a few months ago meant that increasing numbers of fans are now able to partake in one of the city's greatest pastimes with considerable freedom.

The connections of 24 foreign raiders accepted invitations from the Hong Kong Jockey Club for this year's HKIR, but the home team were not the most accommodating of hosts Sunday afternoon, with victories in three of the afternoon's Group 1 features. Japan did not go home empty-handed, while a single–but extremely important–Australian raider did his connections proud as well.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the CEO of the HKJC who has done wonders to hep keep Hong Kong racing afloat during the aforementioned crises, was duly pleased with what he witnessed Sunday.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank the Hong Kong Government for their tremendous support that we could hold such a global event–because this is a real global event which goes around 80 countries where people around the world who love horse racing focus on Hong Kong,” he said.

“I want to thank our team who have done an absolutely outstanding effort because what the team has pulled off has made me as the CEO extremely proud because this is the Hong Kong 'can do' spirit and this is excellence of the Hong Kong Jockey Club–and we never give up.

“Today is about the sport, today is about world-class racing and today is about celebrating champions,” Engelbrecht-Bresges continued. “Today, Hong Kong has shown that we have world-class quality. It's amazing that we have only 1,250 horses in training–that is 0.8% of the world's horse population and it is amazing how many quality horses we have in Hong Kong who are world leaders.”

Turnover for the afternoon's program was a record HK$1.729 billion (£181.1 million/US$222 million).

Isn't It Romantic?

Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) saved the best for last Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin, as he stormed away from a very classy group of international horses to crush in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, the city's richest race annually with prize money of HK$34 million (£3.56 million/US$4.37 million).

Most on hand expected Japan's Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) to lead the Cup field, and so it proved, though he was off to a tardy beginning and had to be rousted along to finally take up the running into the first turn. Romantic Warrior jumped with them, but Longines World's Best Jockey winner James McDonald–in the irons for Karis Teetan–wanted to ease back off the speed and Romantic Warrior acquiesced, albeit while tossing his head around at the first corner. The odds-on pop fought his rider a bit more as they raced to the back, but switched off once and for all and settled just ahead of midfield.

Positions were largely unchanged through the middle furlongs, with Panthalassa still the boss and Romantic Warrior traveling well in hand on the back of longshot Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) into the final three furlongs. Panthalassa had run his race 300 metres out, but, steered out four off the inside into the straight, Romantic Warrior was shaken up and was off and gone with the Cup, the first sub two-minute clocking since the distance of the race was changed in 1999. Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}) rallied from the back for third ahead of Money Catcher. Romantic Warrior is the first to complete the BMW Hong Kong Derby/Hong Kong Cup double as a 4-year-old since Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in 2014.

“I promise you, that was really as good as it looked,” McDonald said. “He was perfect from start to finish today and he's right up there with any of the other really good ones I've ridden, don't worry about that. This horse has a lot of great attributes but his greatest is that he's so adaptable at taking a position.”

Romantic Warrior, whose only career defeat to date came at the hands of California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) when pace-disadvantaged in last year's Hong Kong Classic Cup, turned the tables in the Derby and added the G1 FWD QE II Cup in his final start last prep. A minor setback delayed his seasonal debut, but he made the most of it when running out an easy winner of the G2 Jockey Club Cup Nov. 20.

With the Cup done and dusted, an audacious path forward could lie ahead.

“His owner Peter Lau said, 'Danny if we win this race we should target the Hong Kong Triple Crown over 1600m, 2000m and 2400m',” said trainer Danny Shum, winning his first race at the HKIR.

The first of those stops is next month's G1 Stewards' Cup, which could potentially also draw California Spangle and Golden Sixty for a potential clash of the titans. The Triple Crown continues with February's G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and the G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup in May.

Pedigree Notes:

Romantic Warrior is one of six Group 1 winners for Rathbarry Stud's Acclamation and is the third foal from his dam, a daughter of Folk Opera, whose biggest racetrack success came in the 10-furlong GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine and whose resume also includes a victory in the G2 Darley Prix Jean Romanet. Folk Melody is the dam of the 2-year-old colt Operation Gimcrack (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who fetched 160,000gns from Bryan Smart Racing at last year's Tattersalls October Sale, and foaled a colt by Showcasing (GB) this season.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG CUP-G1, HK$34,000,000, Sha Tin, 12-11, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:59.70, gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
(300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum C S; J-James McDonald; HK$19,380,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo-HK, 10-9-0-0, $7,769,720. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.  Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Danon the Kid (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Just A Way (Jpn)–Epic Love (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (¥100,000,000 Fl '18 JRHAJUL). O-Danox Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Takayuki Yasuda; J-Yuichi Kitamura; HK$7,480,000.
3–Money Catcher (NZ), 126, g, 5, Ferlax (NZ)–Warren's Sister (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (NZ$13,000 Wlg '18 NZBMAY; NZ$60,000 2yo '19 NZBRTR). O-The Sunflower Syndicate; B-Haunui Bloodstock Ltd; T-Frankie Lor F C; J-Silvestre de Sousa; HK$3,400,000.
Margins: 4HF, 3/4, 1. Odds: 4-5, 14-1, 43-1.
Also Ran: Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), Russian Emperor (Ire), Geoglyph (Jpn), Jack d'Or (Jpn), Ka Ying Star (GB), Lei Papale (Jpn), Panthalassa (Jpn), Order Of Australia (Ire), Savvy Nine (Fr).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

Spangle Plays Spoiler In the Mile

California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) had done his part to validate the form of last year's Classics with a pair of wins at group level this season before just failing to hold off Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) when favoured in the G2 Jockey Club Mile Nov. 20. That was his second defeat to the dual Horse of the Year, having finished two lengths adrift in the G1 FWD Champions Mile back in May. The second choice and the only other horse in the market in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, the bay–carrying the silks of two-time Cup winner California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr})–was given a supremely poised ride by Zac Purton and managed to claw his way home first, denying Golden Sixty a third straight win in the race.

Ideally drawn gate two, California Spangle found his way to the front and was able to slow the pace through an opening 400 metres in :25.01, but Golden Sixty and Vincent Ho were intent on not allowing him to get too far away and settled in fourth, covered by the temperamental Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}). The latter duo raced in tight quarters five furlongs out and Golden Sixty was steadied off the heels of Australia's Laws of Indices (Ire ) (Power {GB}) at about the same time Hugh Bowman sent Beauty Joy to tackle his pacesetting stable companion. Purton did not panic as he steered California Spangle to the outside and he roused his mount to the lead in upper stretch. Golden Sixty was produced four wide into the lane and kicked hard, but the wire came a couple strides too soon. Laws of Indices, the first overseas runner for trainer Annabel Neasham, covered himself in glory in third.

“It was pretty straightforward early,” said Purton, who was riding a 10th HKIR winner. “Tony pre-race asked me if I could just let the horse roll along a little bit more than we did last time. He's a lot more relaxed this season and he kept coming back underneath me. I kept trying to click him along but he was waiting for the other horses, I think we've seen today that he is a little bit versatile. When Beauty Joy came around him, he was happy to let him go and it helped him think about what was going on. He got into a lovely rhythm in behind and wanted to chase him.

“Then when he got clear of him he wanted to wait a little bit which was a worrying time for me when I could feel Golden Sixty breathing down my neck again. Today I thought he had me at the 200m and then at the 100m I thought, 'he hasn't quite got me yet.' We kept trying and we were lucky to get the result today,” Purton added.

Pedigree Notes:

California Spangle becomes the fifth Group 1 winner for his sire, whose recently retired son State of Rest (Ire) took this year's Prince of Wales's S. to become a top-level scorer in four different countries. Out of a half-sister to G2 Hungerford S. and G3 Solario S. winner Shakespearean (Ire) (Shamardal) and from the family of highweight Sainte Marine (Ire) (Kenmare {Fr}) and multiple group winner Josr Algarhound (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), California Spangle has a 2-year-old half-sister named Alchimia (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$30,000,000, Sha Tin, 12-11, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.41, gd.
1–CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Paimpolaise (Ire), by Priolo
3rd Dam: Basilea (Fr), by Frere Basile (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Zac Purton; HK$17,100,000. Lifetime Record: 14-9-5-0, $6,068,602. *1/2 to Wychwood Warrior (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), MSP-Ire, SP-UAE. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.  Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Golden Sixty (Aus), 126, g, 7, Medaglia d'Oro–Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor. (A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis Lui K W; J-Zac Purton; HK$6,600,000.
3–Laws of Indices (Ire), 126, c, 4, Power (GB)–Sampers (Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). (€8,000 Ylg '19 GOFOCT). O-Aquis Farm Stallions, D P Hickey et al; B-N Hartery; T-Annabel Neasham; J-James McDonald; HK$3,000,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 11-5, 1-2, 54-1.
Also Ran: Beauty Joy (Aus), More Than This (GB), Danon Scorpion (Jpn), Excellent Proposal (Aus), Waikuku (Ire), Schnell Meister (Jpn). Scratched: Salios (Jpn). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

Wellington Back To Championship Form in Sprint

Badly hampered by the spill that marred last year's running of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) was under a cloud of uncertainty for this year's event after he was found to be lame following a sixth to Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) in the Nov. 20 G2 Jockey Club Sprint. Pronounced fit to run by trainer Richard Gibson, the 6-year-old bounced back to his best with a 3/4-length defeat of longshot Sight Success (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) Sunday afternoon.

Sight Success was first to break the line and fought out a moderate early tempo alongside Singapore raider Lim's Kosciuszko (Aus) (Kermadec {NZ}), with the heavily favored Lucky Sweynesse just in behind and Wellington between rivals and in back of midfield. Given a bit of rein midway on the turn by Ryan Moore, who was replacing the injured Alexis Badel, Wellington raced in clear air and slipstreamed Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}). Tipped outside of that one with a quarter mile to sprint, Wellington let down beautifully and reeled in a very game Sight Success for the victory. Defending champion Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) closed off nicely for third. Lucky Sweynesse was ridden for luck in the straight, but was blocked at a crucial stage and was unlucky not to finish better than sixth.

“It was very straightforward from my horse, he took me there comfortably and had the race sewn up with 200m to go really,” said Moore, registering an eighth HKIR win. “To me, he has looked the best sprinter in Hong Kong for some time now and obviously it's very harsh on Alexis, but I'm very thankful to pick up the ride and have a go on him today.”

With the biggest local sprint in the bag, connections may set their sights on overseas targets.

“All our energy has been focused since last year for this race,” trainer Richard Gibson said. “We really wanted to win it for Hong Kong and for the owners, who have been so supportive to me and were my first owners in Hong Kong. I'm delighted I've delivered one of our biggest races here and it's fantastic for Hong Kong to have horses of this ability. There is a programme for him during the coming months, but if that goes well, we will look at Ascot.”

Gibson saddled Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {Ire}) to a runner-up effort to Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in 2016.

Pedigree Notes:

One of four Group 1 winners for Black Caviar (Aus)'s half-brother All Too Hard (by Casino Prince {Aus}), Wellington is out of a Group 2-placed mare bred on the wonderfully productive Danehill cross over the late More Than Ready. Third dam Solo de Lune was responsible for the listed-winning L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), second in the G1 Darley Irish Oaks and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The latter's produce include Group 3 winner and G1 Gold Cup third Master of Reality (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and French Group 2 winner Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Wellington's 3-year-old half-sister Rotorua (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) broke her maiden at Nowra in New South Wales Dec. 4 and Mihiri's most recent produce is a yearling full-sister to Wellington.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT-G1, HK$24,000,000, Sha Tin, 12-11, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.76, gd.
1–WELLINGTON (AUS), 126, g, 6, by All Too Hard (Aus)
1st Dam: Mihiri (Aus) (GSP-Aus, $123,433), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Danoise (Aus), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Solo de Lune (Ire), by Law Society
(A$70,000 Ylg '19 MMGCYS). O-Mr & Mrs Michael Cheng Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong; B-Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, David Paradise, Steve McCann (NSW); T-Richard Gibson; J-Ryan Moore; HK$13,680,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Sprinter-HK, 19-12-1-0, $6,866,036. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.  Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Sight Success (Aus), 126, g, 6, Magnus (Aus)–Tarp (Aus), by Bletchley Park (Ire). (A$45,000 Ylg '18 MGCFEB). O-Tam Wing Kun; B-G R Daws (WA); T-John Size; J-Christophe Lemaire; HK$5,280,000.
3–Sky Field (Aus), 126, g, 6, Deep Field (Aus)–Laravissante (NZ), by O'Reilly (NZ). (NZ$175,000 Ylg '18 NZBJAN). O-Kwan Shiu Man, Jessica Kwan Mun Hang & Jeffrey Kwan Chun Ming; B-M Ryan (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Blake Shinn; HK$2,400,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, NK. Odds: 31-10, 14-1, 33-1.
Also Ran: Courier Wonder (NZ), Meikei Yell (Jpn), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ), Cordyceps Six (Aus), Super Wealthy (Aus), Stronger (Aus), Naran Huleg (Jpn), Duke Wai (NZ), Gendarme, Resistencia (Jpn), Lim's Kosciuszko (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

More 'Vase' Time For Japan

The money kept pouring in on GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the final minutes of betting prior to Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, nudging him past defending champion Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) for favouritism in the first of the day's four international Group 1 events. But at the end of 12 furlongs, neither of the market leaders truly figured in the finish, as Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Aus}) swooped them all in the final 150 metres to give Japan a third victory in the last four years and its fourth win in the last seven runnings.

The 11-2 chance settled behind midfield and raced outside of Glory Vase and Joao Moreira down the back straight as Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) was allowed to gallop them along at a very leisurely pace. Held together on the back of Ballydoyle's Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) as the Vase field raced into the final three furlongs, Win Marilyn was steered out with no straw in her path off the home corner and she covered her final 400 metres in a sharp :23.33 to win decisively. Botanik (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), who beat Japan's Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville in August, sat up handy to the soft pace and stayed on well for second ahead of Glory Vase, who split horses and looked a winning chance late before finishing off at one pace. Stone Age was well spotted, but keen for Ryan Moore, and couldn't go with the top ones in the final stages. Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), this year's G1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner, refused at the break and took no part.

“She travelled sweetly. You can ride her wherever you want and I was happy to take a sit because I knew with her turn of foot she could finish over them,” said winning jockey Damian Lane. “There was a little sense of relief I suppose, I've had a few goes here with no success. I think the 2400m really suits her and the horse who beat her the other day [Geraldina {Jpn}] in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup] was something special so I was confident that Win Marilyn could hold her form today. It's a privilege to be a part of Japanese racing and getting on these horses.”

Win Marilyn was winning for the first time this term, having finished a close third to Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen ahead of her runner-up effort in the QE II. She becomes the fifth female to defeat the boys in the Vase, joining Borgia (Ger), 1997; Vallee Enchantee (Fr), 2003; the late Ouija Board (GB), 2005; and Daryakana (Ire), 2009.

Pedigree Notes:

Win Marilyn is the third Group 1 winner for her sire, who is also responsible for 2015 Mile and 2016 Cup hero Maurice (Jpn). She is one of seven winners from eight to the races for her dam, an A$170,000 purchase out of the 2005 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and a half-sister to Group 3 winners Shorblue (Aus) (Bluebird) and Classic Allure (Aus) (Bellotto {Aus}). Cosmo Cielo is also the dam of a gelded yearling half-brother to Win Marilyn by connetions' 2019 Hong Kong Cup victor Win Bright (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) and is due to Epiphaneia (Jpn) next year.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG VASE-G1, HK$22,000,000, Sha Tin, 12-11, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:27.53, gd.
1–WIN MARILYN (JPN), 122, m, 5, by Screen Hero (Jpn)
1st Dam: Cosmo Cielo (Aus), by Fusaichi Pegasus
2nd Dam: Shorwon (Aus), by Buena Shore
3rd Dam: April Wonder (Aus), by Newtown Wonder (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Win Co Ltd; B-Cosmo View Farm; T-Takahisa Tezuka; J-Damian Lane; HK$12,540,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & MG1SP-Jpn, 17-6-2-1, $4,725,187. *1/2 to Win Malerei (Jpn) (Matsurida Gogh {Jpn}), GSW-Jpn, $701,941. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Botanik (Ire), 126, g, 4, Golden Horn (GB)–Autumn Lily, by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Godolphin; T-Andre Fabre; J-William Buick; HK$4,840,000.
3–Glory Vase (Jpn), 126, h, 7, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Mejiro Tsubone (Jpn), by Swept Overboard. (¥52,000,000 Ylg '16 JRHAJUL). O-Silk Racing Co Ltd; B-Lake Villa Farm; T-Tomohito Ozeki; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,200,000.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 11-2, 79-10, 27-10.
Also Ran: Panfield (Chi), Stone Age (Ire), Bubble Gift (Fr), Senor Toba (Aus), Broome (Ire), Butterfield (Brz). TNP-Mendocino (Ger). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.