As some of you will know, I am lucky enough to head East most years to take in both the Japan Cup and the Hong Kong International Races as a guest of the Japan Racing Association and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, respectively, where I get to take in some fantastic racing – and this year is no exception.
With Calandagan now in the history books after breaking the local stranglehold in Tokyo, we move on to Sha Tin next Sunday, but as I am writing from both a racing and a tourist perspective, I really need to mention the International Jockeys challenge in Hong Kong.
Held on the Wednesday night (10th December this year) at Happy Valley before the weekend’s action, it has an atmosphere all its own and is one of my personal highlights, and as I have a bit of spare time, I thought I would give it a thoroughly deserved plug – if you ever get the chance just go, you will not be disappointed!
Akin to our own Shergar Cup from Ascot, but without the team aspect, it has proved immensely popular over the years with a full and excited crowd and a party atmosphere, packed bars and restaurants, DJ’s the works as everyone makes the most of the opportunity.
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Big mistake
This year’s competitors were even more interesting than normal with our own Hollie Doyle riding in Hong Kong at present, who is joined by Ryan Moore and Willam Buick (for us to cheer on?) alongside Zac Purton, James McDonald, Mickael Barzalona, Joao Moreira, Christophe Lemaire, Umberto Rispoli, Rachel King, Hugh Bowman and Vincent Ho – some line-up whichever way you look at it.
Ryan Moore had recovered in time after mounts in the UK this week and is never someone to overlook, but luckily for me I have not been asked for a separate article – so instead of second guessing the winner (and it would have been a guess), I can sit back and watch the very best in the saddle enjoy a rare opportunity to compete against their rivals from around the racing World.
Sitting among the great and the good in the rafters at the track while helping to dispose of a seemingly endless supply of food, discretion appeared the better part of valour and I did not partake of a bet of any kind, keeping my powder dry for Sunday (see below) – big mistake.
Rare treat
Anyone who has read any of my articles before will know I am a big fan of Joao Moreira (who rode the first two non-competition winners at odds of 29/10 and 51/10), and I doubled up on my error by failing to lump on Corleone, the NAP of TV star and presenter Tim Carroll who was sat nearby, and then I copped the complete loser’s treble as British star Ryan Moore walked off with the trophy, proving with zero doubt that he is fully recovered from his injury and as hungry from the saddle as ever.
Onwards and upwards and we need to look at the real McCoy on Sunday – the Hong Kong International races are a rare treat of thoroughbred excellence – though turning a profit may not be quite as simple as others would have you believe.
Looking at the four Group Ones in detail with an obvious focus on any European challengers, I will be surprised if we cannot find a winner or two – but the prices may not mean retirement for any of us any time soon.
Naturally, I have spent my mornings at the track chatting to both local and other journalists and digging out any pearls of wisdom I can find, as well as attending the appropriate press conferences to try and read a bit of body language – now let’s see where that takes us in 2025!
Hong Kong Vase
I have been covering Hong Kong racing with love now for more years than I care to remember, enjoying every second, win or lose, but I am quietly confident this is the biggest and strongest European raiding team for one race I have seen.
2400 metres (a mile and a half) await the field, and as I write, I have a current list of 11 runners, six of those trained in Europe.
Reverting to the official ratings as a good starting point if nothing more, and Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles heads those, 3lb clear of Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa, who sits on the same mark as last year’s winner Giavellotto, Graffard challenger Goliath, and Arc third Sosie.
Starting at the top and Los Angeles has not been at his peak since May, and to be honest, after his Arc last, I was more than a little surprised to see him in the declarations with a new career at stud already assured.
Al Riffa stays further and will not want this to turn into a sprint, but unless he makes the running, that cannot be guaranteed, while Goliath is a bit of an enigma – more than capable of winning on a good day, or finishing stone cold last if things don’t go his way.
Sosie
Giavellotto warrants the utmost respect, having taken this last year for Marco Botti at odds of 113/10 when winning by two and a half lengths and with proven course form, he is one to consider, but for me, all roads lead to Sosie.
Andre Fabre is a master trainer, often referred to as “God” by his fellow handlers, and he does not send horses on a long journey for the airmiles – if they travel, he clearly believes they have a chance.
Sosie, the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club (some tell me off if I call it the French Derby) in 2024 before a gallant fourth behind Bluestocking in the Arc, he has won a pair of Group Ones this year with the Prix Ganay in April and the Prix d’Ispahan in May, and although without a win in three starts since, he ran well in the Arc once more to finish third behind Daryz, when possibly left with too much to do.
Looking at the formbook and he clearly has every chance of a ninth career victory, though I am wary of him getting caught in behind traffic if he is held up too much, hence yet another place only bet.
Sosie
PICTURE: The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong Sprint
‘Just‘ the HK$28 million up for grabs here (or about £2,697, 250), making it a race well worth winning, but as far as the betting is concerned, we have a sit back and enjoy kind of race I’m afraid – unless you like to bet big at odds-on which is not for me (or the faint hearted).
Lambourn trainer Charlie Hills trains the sole European contender in the shape of the nine-year-old Khaadem, who is owned by Mrs Fitri Hay these days, and won the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2023 and 2024, and showed he was no back number with success in the Grade Two Woodford Stakes at Keeneland in October before a third at Del Mar last month.
He has the speed for five and the stamina for six and could surprise them all with a top-three finish here, but he has 15lb to find with the mighty Ka Ying Rising now, and even at his best, he came up 11lb short if the ratings are to be believed.
Khaadem
David Hayes trains the remarkable Shamexpress gelding, a New Zealand-bred five-year-old, who is now looking for his sixteenth consecutive victory and to add to his career earnings of over £10 million!
His penultimate run saw him head overseas for the first time as he took on the Australians in their own backyard for the Everest at Randwick, which he won with ease, before proving his well-being in a prep run when taking the Jockey Club Sprint by close to three lengths.
He is, without any doubt, the best horse in training in the World at present, but will be priced accordingly and is simply not a better proposition.
I will sit and watch in awe, but if you must partake, then a very small place only bet on Khaadem could be the way forward, with the 13 stall an unwanted negative, but possibly balanced out by a fractionally bigger price.
Khaadem
PICTURE: The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong Mile
In a race won by favourite Voyage Bubble last year, and by the brilliant Golden Sixty in 2020, 2021, and 2023, it clearly takes a way above average sort to win this, which is no surprise with HK$36 million (£3,467,892) up for grabs.
Last year’s winner is back for more at the age of seven and is the joint top-rated according to the international handicappers, alongside Japanese challenger and 2204 runner-up Soul Rush.
European interest centres around the Harry Eustace-trained Queen Anne Stakes winner Docklands, last seen finishing a five length ninth in the Mile Championship at Kyoto after missing the start last month, and the highest rated of our challengers.
He could go well, but can you ever write off that man Aidan O’Brien, back in cahoots with Ryan Moore, who has returned from injury?
The Lion In Winter
They team up with The Lion In Winter, last season’s champion two-year-old, but yet to win a race this year despite going into winter quarters as the Derby favourite.
Like a lemming over the cliff, I am convinced he has a win at this level in him, and with a third to Notable Speech in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar last month, beaten less than two lengths, he clearly has ability.
In total, he has placed in three Group Ones in 2025 in some of the most competitive races of the season, and once again I will be cowardly enough to suggest a place only bet in this highly competitive field as the Ballydoyle Boys will hope for the best despite a coffin-box of a draw in the 14 stall.
The Lion In Winter
PICTURE: The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong Cup
2000 metres, or a mile and a quarter to you and me for the Longines Hong Kong Cup, and with Calandagan unsurprisingly out after his Japan Cup heroics, this looks all about Romantic Warrior.
We are talking, in my opinion, if no one else’s, about one of the best horses in the World who deserves far more recognition than he gets on the global stage and who is (could you guess?), a personal favourite of mine.
His race record of 19 wins from 26 starts, with gallant defeats in the Saudi Cup when beaten a neck on his first race on dirt, and a nose second to Soul Rush in the Dubai turf at Meydan last April, when caught on the line, adding to the prize fund.
I could be wrong, but he doesn’t look to have anything like that level of opposition this Sunday (famous last words) and is seen as pretty much unbeatable after listening to the likes of James McDonald, Zac Purton.
Sadly, his price will not be one I can even dare to suggest, and we still have two European runners to talk about, however briefly.
Quisisana
Galen represents Joseph O’Brien and the Gleneagles gelding does have some solid placed form with a second to Royal Champion in Bahrain last time out, but I cannot see that level as being anywhere near good enough to bother the likely favourite here, while Francis-Henri Graffard has an interesting contender in Quisisana, the only mare in the field and thus getting weight from her male rivals.
The winner of four races in a row from June to August culminating in the Group One Prix Jean Romanet, she failed to see out the mile and a half on very soft ground when a 10 length ninth in the Arc, and was (in my view) sent back to the track far too quickly before finishing third to Kalpana in the Champions Fillies And Mares at Ascot.
A fast run mile and a quarter here could well play to her strengths and although minor issues have perhaps stopped her showing her true talents over the years, at current odds you know what I am going to say next – a small place only bet may be the sensible way forward as the mare looks to take home a share of the HK$40 million (£3,853,213) pot.
Conclusions
The only certainties in life are death and taxes, or so they say – but I would dare to suggest that Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior winning on Sunday are not a million miles behind.
If I can claim them as tipped winners, I will (I have no shame), but the truth is horses fall over, jockeys tumble off, and I cannot recommend a bet at silly prices.
My place only alternatives (above) have chances of hitting the frame if they run to form and my analysis is correct, but no more than that.
Some pieces I write will point you to profit (I will be living off Calandagan’s Japan Cup success for a while yet), but this is more about sitting back and watching some top-class racing from the other side of the World – if you are awake Sunday morning enjoy, if not look out for the replays – I promise you some of the best horses in the World today in action.
READ MORE: Japan Cup 2025 Review: Calandagan digs deep to land thrilling Tokyo victory
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