“Two” would be a tough selection for the world’s record money earner Romantic warrior seeking his fourth consecutive victory in the 2,000 meters (approximately 1 1/4 miles) Hong Kong Cup (G1) and Ka Ying rises seeking his 16th consecutive victory in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) at 1,200 meters (approximately 6 furlongs).
Three can also be short odds Travel bella menacing presence for the home side in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) after winning the 2024 edition by 1 1/4 lengths over Japan-based Soul rush which also seems to be the biggest threat this year.
If the sporting blood is good, four would be risky, but potentially yield a nice profit. Horses from Hong Kong rarely (think only once in the last 10 years) win the Hong Kong Vase (G1). The 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) is rarely run by locals. The thing is, this year’s race doesn’t really have a strong favorite and it could go well for one of the home team trios.
Hong Kong Cup (G1)
There were a lot of questions about Romantic Warrior earlier this year. The world’s all-time money-making champion was sidelined for 232 days after surgery on his left front leg and who knows if he could recover from that at the age of 7. He showed he could do that and won the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup (G2) by convincing 1 1/2 lengths in November, the local preparation for International Day. And he didn’t hit any bums. Number two was the aforementioned Voyage Bubble.
“He exudes confidence, that’s for sure,” said jockey James McDonald after a Dec. 9 gallop at Sha Tin. “I can’t say he’s getting better. But he certainly hasn’t deteriorated.”
Who can prevent the favorite from winning his fourth cup in a row? Lightly raced Bellagio Opera arrives after a second in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) and a win in the Osaka Hai (G1) – his only previous starts this season. Quisisana a 5-year-old mare, won the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) in August and finished third with the British champions Fillies and Mares (G1) in October. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who won the Japan Cup (G1) two weeks ago with Calandagan saddles her.
Romantic Warrior drew Gate No. 2 in a field of just seven for the Cup. Owner Peter Lau Pak Fai said during the barrier draw on December 11 that if he continues to run well, the Acclamation gelding gets a second chance Forever young in the Saudi Cup (G1) in February, hoping to undo this year’s second-place finish on unpaved ground behind that opponent. Asked about a chance at the Dubai World Cup (G1), also on dirt, possibly against the double classic winner Sovereignty he smiled and said, “We’ll see.”
Hong Kong Sprint (G1)
As impressive as Romantic Warrior looked in his preparation for the Internationals, Ka Ying Rising may have even bettered him. The 5-year-old returned from winning Everest on October 18, humbling Australia’s top sprinters, to win the Jockey Club Sprint in a handride from jockey Zac Purton as he recorded his 15th win in a row. He has lowered the course record twice along the way and seems to be getting better all the time.
Purton said Ka Ying Rising is “just a gem, this guy… He’s built a good track record and hopefully we can keep it that way.”
Although he is clearly the best on paper, Purton said his tactics will depend on the draw.
“It depends on what the other speed horses around me are pulling. I’d like to pull lower rather than higher. He hasn’t had the best run with barriers in some of these races so he’ll get a nice good one,” Purton said early in the race week.
Ask and you shall receive. Ka Ying Rising pulled Gate No. 1 during the December 11 ceremony.
Hong Kong Mile (G1)
Things get tougher in the Mile as Voyage Bubble, who as mentioned finished second to Romantic Warrior in the Jockey Club Cup, shortens to what is perhaps his best distance. While he won up to 2,400 meters, his victory in the 2024 edition of this race came at the expense of runner-up Soul Rush, who once again appears to be his main opponent.
Soul Rush also has experience against Romantic Warrior – a win even with that rival runner-up finish in the Dubai Turf (G1) in April. A win is a win, but that result must be seen against the context that Romantic Warrior had just looked to finish second to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup five weeks earlier, racing on the dirt for the first time.
Beware of Embroideryan upward-looking 3-year-old filly who won the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas-G1) in April and the Shuka Sho (G1) in October; and the Aidan O’Brien-trained one The Lion In Winter who is short on wins but finishes a solid third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) at Sea November 1.
Hong Kong vase (G1)
As noted, this is the race most likely to fall to a horse from abroad. Hong Kong has won just once in the past decade, while O’Brien alone has three trophies to his name Highland coil in 2015 and 2017 and Mogul in 2020. He returns with Los Angeles a multiple Group 1 winner who finished last on unsuitable terrain in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) on 5 October. Ryan Moore returns from injury to drive.
Also here are last year’s winners, Spear; Sauce a French-trained multiple Group 1 winner who finished fourth in the 2024 Arc and third this year; Urban chic winner of last year’s Japanese St. Leger (G1); Winner of the Baden Grand Prix (G1). Goliath last seen a fading 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf; And Al Riffa winner of Ireland’s St Leger (G1) with two starts and seventh in last month’s Melbourne Cup (G1).
The locals? Not up to those standards. But Bundle price has won by some distance and, as a confirmed late runner, could benefit from an expected decent early clip in the Vase. He also gets a lift from James McDonald, the Longines World’s Best Jockey.
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