Get ready, racing fans, because the Hong Kong racing scene is about to explode with excitement! The Hong Kong Jockey Club is holding its dress rehearsals on November 23rd, gearing up for the Longines International Races in December. All the top local contenders are primed and ready to go, promising a thrilling spectacle.
These rehearsals, sponsored by the Bank of China Hong Kong, mirror three out of the four events that make up the December 14th Internationals. The only missing piece is a prep race for the 2,400-meter (approximately 1 1/2 miles) Hong Kong Vase.
Two of the upcoming races at Sha Tin Racecourse are shaping up to be intense, head-to-head battles.
First up is the Jockey Club Sprint (G2), a 1,200-meter (around 6 furlongs) dash, where the world's top-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, will clash with Lucky Sweynesse, a showdown between the current and former champions. Lucky Sweynesse was the undisputed king of Hong Kong sprinting until an injury sidelined him. During his absence, Ka Ying Rising rose to dominate the scene.
In a previous encounter at the Chief Executive's Cup in July, Ka Ying Rising easily defeated Lucky Sweynesse, finishing 2 1/4 lengths ahead. They then went their separate ways. Ka Ying Rising went on to win the AU$20 million (about US$13 million) group 1 The Everest in Australia, while Lucky Sweynesse disappointed, finishing 11th in the group 1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan.
Ka Ying Rising's victory at The Everest was almost effortless, leaving the competition in the dust. And trainer David Hayes has a warning for his rivals.
"I think he has improved since The Everest," Hayes stated after the 5-year-old's final fast training session on November 19th. "I think the trip to Australia hasn't worried him. If anything, it's helped him."
Hayes further supports this claim by pointing out that Ka Ying Rising was the easiest winner in a barrier trial on November 14th, competing against some of Hong Kong's fastest horses. "It was an upper-class trial with some of Hong Kong's best horses, and he did what he does," Hayes said.
Lucky Sweynesse's jockey, Derek Leung, also reports that his mount is in good form since returning. "He's trialed twice since coming back from Japan," Leung said. "Last time, we trialed him on the dirt. He trialed good, and he's more relaxed than before. We're all happy."
The group 2 Jockey Club Cup, a 2,000-meter (about 10 furlongs) race, seems like a perfect spot for Romantic Warrior, another successful international competitor from Hong Kong. But there are a few hurdles: 1) He hasn't raced since finishing second in the Dubai Turf (G1) in April, 2) He underwent surgery after that race for a left foreleg issue, and 3) He's up against Voyage Bubble, a Hong Kong star in his own right.
Romantic Warrior, with 10 group 1 victories worldwide, has been training well for his return, and trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald are optimistic.
"He feels every bit as good as what he's worked like in the past," McDonald said after a morning workout on November 11th. "He looks fantastic. Danny has done a great job with him. He was great. It will take a good one to beat him."
Voyage Bubble is indeed a strong contender, having won 5 of his last 7 starts, including 4 group 1 races. However, he finished 12th in his most recent race, the Sha Tin Trophy (G2) on October 19th. Jockey Zac Purton isn't concerned.
"The Sha Tin Trophy was a race that, at the weights, he was going to struggle to be competitive in," Purton explained. "He was really just out there to start going through his preparation. I thought he ran well. He is a tough horse. It's not going to knock him around. He's handled it well, and he feels good."
In their only previous meeting at this course and distance, the 2023 Hong Kong Derby winner, Voyage Bubble, finished second, just a neck behind Romantic Warrior in the 2024 Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1). However, Voyage Bubble dominated that race by almost 4 lengths in the spring, when Romantic Warrior was absent.
The third prep race, the Jockey Club Mile (G2), doesn't feature the same big names as the other races but still has a competitive field of 13 horses vying for a spot on December 14th. There's considerable buzz around My Wish, a 5-year-old who has won both of his starts this season, smoothly progressing through the group 3 and group 2 levels. His latest victory was in the same Sha Tin Trophy where Voyage Bubble finished 12th.
So, what are your predictions for these exciting races? Which horse are you betting on, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
