Hong Kong International Races: Four Champs Defend Titles

Just as the Breeders’ Cup advertises itself as racing’s “World Championships,” the Hong Kong Jockey Club labels its international race day this weekend as the “Turf World Championships.”

As with the Breeders’ Cup, neither is exactly an accurate term. The Breeders’ Cup doesn’t offer enough prize money for any of its turf races to have true “world championship” fields, while the Hong Kong races – two of which are the richest in the world of their type – are at the wrong time of year; it’s beyond the end of the season for European and American turf horses and just past the rich spring races in Australia.

However, the Hong Kong races aren’t second-tier by any means. The horses attracted from Hong Kong and Japan in particular are clearly of genuine class, and international form shows that two of the Hong Kong runners in particular are genuine contenders to be the best in the world at their distances.

This year’s four Hong Kong races have the unusual distinction of having all of last year’s winners back to defend their crowns – and all have strong chances of doing so. Betting is an interesting proposition, but here are some ideas for approaching the races.

Race 4: Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1), 2,400 meters (abt 1 1/2 miles), $3.34 million

• $10 win/$20 show: #3 Giavellotto ($30)
• $2 trifecta: 3, 6 with 1, 3, 6 with 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 ($32)

Last year’s winner #3 Giavellotto arrives as a more proven horse, having beaten Kalpana at Kempton prior to finishing fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) on arguably unsuitable soft ground. He relishes firm footing, and this gives him a great chance of turning the tables on the Arc third-place finisher #5 Sosie.

Backing up from his Breeders’ Cup Turf eleventh is #4 Goliath. If the Goliath that won last year’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) turns up, he would win this, but he has yet to produce a performance of this standard outside Europe and is hard to trust. 

From Ireland comes #1 Los Angeles, a solid galloper whose Arc run on soft ground can be forgiven, and #2 Al Riffa, best-known at longer trips but with a Hardwicke (G2) second to Rebel’s Romance at this distance.

Japan’s chances of a sixth victory in this race are solely with last year’s Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) winner #6 Urban Chic. He wasn’t far from Masquerade Ball in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) Nov. 2, and a repeat of that form puts him well in this. 

England’s second representative is #8 Eydon; though he’s improving, victory here would be a big step up. The locals - #7 Ensued, #9 Moments In Time, #10 Bundle Award, and #11 Ka Ying Generation – look overmatched.

Given that he’s been specifically targeted at this race on a lighter campaign than most runners, Giavellotto looks the one to beat. Urban Chic looks like his toughest opponent, while I think Los Angeles could run better than some might expect.

Race 5: Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1), 1,200 meters (abt 6 furlongs), $3.60 million

• $2 trifecta: 1 with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ($30)

Is anyone brave enough to oppose #1 Ka Ying Rising? He’s going for his 16th consecutive win, and he’s had the measure of every horse in this race bar the two newcomers to Hong Kong, Japan’s #5 Win Carnelian and the globetrotting English veteran #7 Khaadem. Formlines for both horses through #2 Satono Reve – beaten by Ka Ying Rising in this last year – suggest the favorite should have their measure as well.

The only things that could count against Ka Ying Rising are the number one draw, which he should have enough speed to overcome, and whether there are any lingering effects from his trip to Australia to win the Everest (G1) in October.

Normally, I’d consider a “betting with and against” option here, but I can’t see Ka Ying Rising beaten. Therefore, I’m going with trifectas, including the three opponents above, along with locals #3 Lucky Sweynesse, #4 Helios Express, and #6 Fast Network. The best chance of a good return will come if one of these six horses at longer odds finds their way into the top three.

Race 7: Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1), 1,600 meters (abt one mile), $4.62 million

• $10 win/$20 show: #5 Galaxy Patch ($30)
• $2 trifecta: 2, 5 with 2, 5, 14 with 1, 2, 5, 10, 13, 14 ($32)

Just as open as the Vase, especially as three of the main contenders – Dubai Turf (G1) winner #1 Soul Rush, last year’s Mile victor #2 Voyage Bubble, and Breeders’ Cup Mile third-place finisher #13 The Lion In Winter – have drawn 11, 12, and 14 respectively. 

All three may well have the ability to overcome these draws, but I’m leaning towards #5 Galaxy Patch. He won the main Hong Kong lead-up, the Jockey Club Mile (G2), courtesy of a brilliant rails ride from Australian-based James McDonald. McDonald won this last year on Voyage Bubble, and with barrier 5 working in his favor, he can do his magic and win again.

Fast-improving local #10 My Wish can’t be ignored either, while the high-class Japanese filly #14 Embroidery, a multiple Group 1 winner in her homeland, also has a great barrier and looks a real threat.

I still imagine Voyage Bubble will be a big threat under Zac Purton, but the McDonald factor and the draw are enough to push me towards Galaxy Patch.

Race 8: Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1), 2,000 meters (abt 1 1/4 miles), $5.14 million

• $6 trifecta: 1 with 2 with all ($30)
• $2 trifecta: 1 with 3, 4, 7 with all ($30)

#1 Romantic Warrior is one of the great horses of the world. No horse comes close to his career earnings of $27.97 million. He’s got to this figure courtesy of victories in Australia, Japan, and Dubai as well as his homeland, along with a very close second to subsequent Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Forever Young in the Saudi Cup (G1), his only attempt on dirt. Victory here will make him the first horse in history to earn more than $30 million.

Part of what has pushed Romantic Warrior’s earnings so high is three consecutive victories in this race, the world’s richest 1 1/4-mile contest on turf. He looked as good as ever when beating Voyage Bubble in the Jockey Club Cup (G2) on Nov. 23, and his reputation is such that only six horses are taking him on.

Japan’s 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) runner-up #3 Rousham Park is intriguingly contesting this rather than the Vase, but the better Japanese challenger looks to be #2 Bellagio Opera. Winner of the Osaka Hai (G1) and second in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1), he’s a genuine top horse. But beating Romantic Warrior is another task entirely.

French Group 1-winning filly #7 Quisisana, from the hot stable of Francis-Henri Graffard, and the handy Irish gelding #4 Galen add international intrigue, while the only other runners are the locals #5 Straight Arron and #6 Chancheng Glory. 

Again, it’s hard to consider a “betting with and against” option here. Trifectas again look the best option, with extra weight on the prospect of Bellagio Opera finishing second, is looking the best way to go.