Top picks for the Hong Kong International Races

The prestigious Hong Kong International Races are set to take place Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, with top-class horses from around the globe ready to line up for four lucrative Group 1 prizes.

Formidable favorites and live longshots abound throughout the card, so to help you sort through the entries, here are three picks to consider in each race.

Hong Kong Vase (Race 4, 1 a.m. ET)

Top pick: Irish raider #7 Mogul flashed significant talent to win the Sept. 13 Grand Prix de Paris (G1) and wasn’t disgraced when fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) last time out. The Aidan O’Brien trainee looks like the runner to beat against easier competition at Sha Tin.

Second pick: Reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year #1 Exultant won this race in 2018 and relishes racing 2,400 meters. He was beaten in second place in both of his prep runs last month, but those efforts came over shorter distances, and the step back up to 2,400 meters can trigger an improved effort.

Third pick: #2 Chefano finished second, behind Exultant, in the 2,400-meter Champions & Chater Cup to end the 2019-2020 season. His three recent runs traveling 2,000 meters or less have been disappointing, but the stretch back out to his preferred trip can make a difference.

Hong Kong Sprint (Race 5, 1:40 a.m. ET)

Top pick: I’ll take a shot with #12 Amazing Star, who showed disdain for rating tactics when he finished 1 3/4 lengths away from victory in the Jockey Club Sprint (G2). He has shown signs of serious talent when allowed to set or press the pace, so if he gets out in front, he can outrun expectations under Hong Kong’s reigning champion jockey Zac Purton.

Second pick: The consistent #2 Hot King Prawn has hit the board in 20 of his 21 starts, including when he finished second by a nose in the 2019 Hong Kong Sprint. A recent victory in the Jockey Club Sprint sets the stage for another big performance.

Third pick: #5 Danon Smash could only manage an eighth-place finish in this race last year, but he has arguably taken a step forward in 2020 and enters off a solid, runner-up effort in the Sprinters (G1) in Japan. Internationally acclaimed rider Ryan Moore has the mount.

Hong Kong Mile (Race 7, 2:50 a.m. ET)

First pick: Hong Kong Triple Crown winner #2 Golden Sixty boasts a 13-for-14 record, including 10 straight victories coming into the Hong Kong Mile. With his ability to consistently sprint the final 400 meters of his races in less than 22 seconds, Golden Sixty possesses a turn of foot too brilliant to deny.

Second pick: Japanese raider #3 Admire Mars won this race last year and enters off a third-place finish, behind Group 1 winners Gran Alegria and Indy Champ, in the Mile Championship (G1). With Moore aboard, Admire Mars is a logical contender to round out the exotics, behind Golden Sixty.

Third pick: While not a frequent winner, the speedy #4 Ka Ying Star has made a habit of placing in major races. After he occupied the runner-up spot, behind Golden Sixty, in his last two runs, Ka Ying Star figures to fight for a spot on the board once again.

Hong Kong Cup (Race 8, 3:30 a.m. ET)

First pick: The globetrotting #7 Magical might not be a lock to win the Hong Kong Cup, but the seven-time Group 1 winner excels over 2,000 meters and has been in fine form all season. She most recently finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and is the one to beat at a short price Sunday.

Second pick: Japan-based #3 Win Bright is undefeated in two starts at Sha Tin, which includes a narrow victory in the 2019 Hong Kong Cup. A 10th-place effort against elite competition in the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) sets the stage for another big run over his favorite course.

Third pick: Local runner #4 Furore has displayed improving form this season, as he defeated Exultant in both the 1,800-meter Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (G3) and the 2,000-meter Jockey Club Cup (G2). A top-three finish is a distinct possibility, with Hong Kong’s leading rider Joao Moreira aboard.

Good luck!