Sha Tin

The second winner on the Sha Tin card to have parlayed a win in the 2024 Longines Hong Kong International Races to Group 1 glory on Sunday, Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) secured the 2000-metre HK$13-million Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, although not without some trouble in running. Reunited with James McDonald after he returned from taking second in the G1 Saudi Cup aboard Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) on Saturday, the 3-10 crowd's pick settled in midfield as Winning Dragon (Chi) (Ivan Denisovich {Ire}) established a pressured advantage....

The world's highest rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) added his third Group 1 on the bounce and 10th victory in a row in Sunday's 1400-metre HK$13-million Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin. Missing in action was his regular jockey Zac Purton, who has been sidelined with a foot injury. Step forward Karis Teetan, and the show went on. Keeping a close eye on last year's winner California Spangle (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) from the bell, the 1-5 favourite never let his rival have a moment's ease. He...

Hong Kong sprinter extraordinaire Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) headlines the HK$13-million G1 Queen's Silver jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. Trained by David Hayes for the Ka Ying Syndicate, the likeable gelding is operating on a nine-race winning streak, and had the re-opposing Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) and Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) second and third when he took the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup last month over his pet distance of 1200 metres. The world's highest rated turf sprinter in 2024, the gelding will be partnered...

World Pool returns this weekend with 14 races across meetings in Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Hong Kong, with the world's richest race, the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup the jewel in the crown. Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) will be trying dirt for the first time in that 1800-metre affair. The globally commingled pools powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club will be in operation for the third time on Saudi Cup Day, with seven races set to be globally commingled. In 2024, a total...

The progressive My Wish (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) sat a trip handy to the pace, took over with 200 metres left to run and held off a rails rally from the outposted Divano (Aus) (Brave Smash {Jpn}) to take out the first leg of the 4-year-old Classic series in Hong Kong, the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile on Friday's Chinese New Year program at Sha Tin. It was a first feature win in the ultra-competitive environment for Australian ex-pat trainer Mark Newnham in his second season and for South Africa's...

Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), runner-up as the favourite in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes before filling the same spot in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes while under the care of Aidan O'Brien in 2023, is among a full field of 14 for the first leg of the 4-year-old Classic series in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Classic Mile. The HK$13-million event anchors Friday's Chinese New Year meeting at Sha Tin. Acquired privately after finishing third in the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2YO Stakes at Doncaster in September 2023, the Tattersalls October...

At some point, the superlatives run dry. Just two races after lowering the Sha Tin 1200-metre track record previously held by the outstanding Sacred Kingdom (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) shaved another chunk off that mark when dominating from the front in Sunday's HK$13-million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup. It was a ninth win on the trot for the 4-year-old, his 10th in just 12 career starts and has his connections pondering exactly what 'heights' he may be able to achieve. "It's the richest turf...

While G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup hero Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) is tucked away neatly in Dubai preparing for next Friday's G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan, the two other locally based gallopers to salute during the international races meeting six weeks ago return to action on what could be an historic day of racing Sunday at Sha Tin. Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) goes in search of his ninth consecutive victory and his 10th from 12 career outings when he looks to consolidate his stranglehold on the local...

It isn't that they weren't expected to perform--each was sent away at 1-10 favouritism--but reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and new sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) gave the Sha Tin faithful and a broader audience worldwide exactly what they wanted at Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting. Romantic Warrior, purchased by Mick Kinane for 300,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale as a prospect for the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Hong Kong International Sale, took out the G1 Longines...

Entering Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, the first of the four Group 1 events at the Longines Hong Kong International Races, trainer Marco Botti and jockey Oisin Murphy were a combined naught for 10 at the meeting, but the 5-year-old stayer GIAVELLOTTO (IRE) (h, 5, Mastercraftsman {Ire}--Gerika {Fr}, by Galileo {Ire}) overcame some trouble turning in, weaved his way between horses inside the final furlong and streaked clear to take the 2400-metre contest. Settled behind midfield and saving ground as Japan's Pradaria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) galloped them along...

One of the more remarkable characteristics of Hong Kong racing is that for a jurisdiction that is home to roughly 1,200 Thoroughbreds, invariably the torch gets passed and the town is never wanting for world-class athletes. Going back to the turn of the century, gallopers to have captured the imagination of not only those in and around Hong Kong, but also of an increasingly sophisticated worldwide audience have included the likes of Fairy King Prawn (Aus), the legendary Silent Witness (Aus), Good Ba Ba, Vengeance of Rain (NZ), Ambitious Dragon...

Regular rider James McDonald has issued a positive bulletin on Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) ahead of his bid for a historic third consecutive win in the HK$40 million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 8. California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}) is the only other dual winner of the Hong Kong Cup in 2011 and 2012, which means Romantic Warrior would be out on his own as the most successful horse in the race's history should he repeat his 2022 and 2023 triumphs at the...