Hong Kong International Races

Warrior enters world’s elite with stunning Hong Kong Cup success

Posted on December 12, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

They came to bow down to the old king and left saluting a powerful new prince of Hong Kong racing as Romantic Warrior left a high-class global field trailing in his wake at Sha Tin on Sunday with a thunderous performance in the HK$34 million Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m). Hong Kong racing's biggest[...]

Posted on December 11, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

It was a case of third time lucky for California Spangle at Sha Tin this afternoon as he sensationally denied Golden Sixty's record-equalling Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) hat-trick bid in front a raucous 42,624 crowd. Beaten by Golden Sixty in the 2022 Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and last month's Group 2[...]

Posted on December 11, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Wellington now looks to have the racing world at his feet after the home-trained champion delivered a performance of real authority in the HK$24 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on Sunday. Richard Gibson's six-year-old has had an almost faultless 12 months since his unfortunate seventh-place run in this 1200m showpiece at the end[...]

Posted on December 11, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

While the red, black and white silks of Win Company have fared well in Hong Kong thanks to dual Sha Tin winner Win Bright, it was a case of firsts all round for Damian Lane and Takahisa Tezuka as Win Marilyn passed the entire field to record an impressive debut Group 1 success in the[...]

Posted on December 10, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

The Japanese have undoubtedly had some of the best success of any international contingent participating each year in Hong Kong. Still, the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) is the most substantial connection by far. This year, they are primed to make a big statement with five live runners going into the starting gate this[...]

Posted on December 10, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

René Piechulek is aspiring to another ‘incredible' Sunday to match that of events of 3 October, 2021 when he partners German-trained colt Mendocino in Sunday's HK$22 million Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m). On YouTube the other day Piechulek watched his now famous winning surge aboard 72/1 Torquator Tasso and said: “It still seems incredible,[...]

Posted on December 10, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Vincent Ho is one of Hong Kong's biggest stars. On Sunday, he will partner one of the best horses his hometown has ever seen in a HK$30 million race and his image is emblazoned on most of the skyscrapers on the island. However, anyone expecting a typical poster boy would be mistaken. There is no[...]

Posted on December 10, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

British-born trainer Annabel Neasham has risen to the top of the Australian ranks remarkably quickly and is hoping for another landmark victory on Sunday when Laws Of Indices takes on local hero Golden Sixty in the HK$30 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin. Neasham, 31, has enjoyed success at the highest[...]

Posted on December 10, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Every generation of racing fans has at least one memory of the brave but ultimately doomed front-runner; the horse that, on the biggest stage, opens up a seemingly unassailable lead, only to suffer agonising defeat at the last. Think Stay Gold and Yutaka Take hunting down Frankie Dettori on Ekraar in the 2001 Group 1[...]

Posted on December 9, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Zac Purton will be ideally placed to attack Golden Sixty on Sunday as his mount California Spangle has drawn gate two in the HK$30 million Hong Kong Mile (1600m). While the rider refers to the challenge as “the impossible task”, he finds himself in the ideal position to take up his customary front-running role aboard[...]

Posted on December 9, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Champion New Zealand-born but Australia-based jockey James McDonald's stellar 2022 will be capped, but not necessarily end, when he is presented with the World's Best Jockey Award at the Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner on Friday night. McDonald already boasts eight Group 1 wins in Australia this season (which began in August) and 13[...]

Posted on December 9, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

With so many opportunities throughout a racing calendar which stretches across the world, it has been only the very hardiest of Aidan O'Brien's string which have been able to make an impact at the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR). Few visited more places than the magnificent Highland Reel, who signed off in 2017 with his[...]

Posted on December 9, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Silvestre de Sousa's return to riding in Hong Kong has had a few hitches but he has a few reasons to feel optimistic over the coming week. A visit from his English-based family has raised the spirits, as has the progress of both the Brazilian's home country and his adopted one in the Fifa World[...]

Posted on December 7, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Hong Kong's emerging sprint star Lucky Sweynesse will certainly be top of the pops with trainer Manfred Man if he can claim victory in the HK$24 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The four-year-old, to be ridden by Zac Purton, rocketed up the charts in his Hong Kong debut[...]

Posted on December 7, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Richard Gibson is confident Wellington is back to full health after recovering from a lameness issue and is primed for a big performance in the HK$24 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Unable to produce trademark acceleration when sixth behind Lucky Sweynesse in the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint[...]

Posted on December 7, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Always one of the most internationally-minded of France's training elite, Mikel Delzangles has been selective with his visits to the Hong Kong International Races. In a sequence stretching back to Royal Ascot winner Chineur in 2005, multiple stakes-winner Bubble Gift will be his sixth starter at Sha Tin's premier fixture. He carries a high level[...]

Posted on December 6, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Already deemed an immortal of Hong Kong racing, Golden Sixty will chase further lustre to his incredible record this Sunday when he takes aim at joining Good Ba Ba with a third successive HK$30 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) triumph. Good Ba Ba won the race in 2007, 2008 and 2009, while Golden[...]

Warrior enters world’s elite with stunning Hong Kong Cup success

California Spangle holds Golden Sixty at bay in Hong Kong Mile

Wellington rises to the challenge with sparkling Sprint success

Firsts for Lane and Tezuka as Win Marilyn sweeps to Vase glory

Japan targets fourth Hong Kong Cup in a row

Piechulek hoping for special things from Mendocino in Vase

Vincent Ho, Hong Kong’s reluctant poster boy

HKIR the latest global adventure for Neasham

Yahagi hopes for the win as Panthalassa guarantees the show

California Spangle draws perfectly for Hong Kong Mile

McDonald’s amazing year not finished yet

Experience the key for three-strong O’Brien challenge

Pieces falling into place for De Sousa’s international challenge

Lucky Sweynesse top of the pops for Manfred Man

Wellington ready to challenge for Hong Kong Sprint

Bubble Gift hits the Dunaden trail for Delzangles and Lemaire

Golden Sixty’s after more history with a Hong Kong Mile hat-trick

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