Hong Kong International 2025 review: Sosie shines and Romantic Warrior dominates

My intentions today were the same this year as every other year – go to the races, talk about the surroundings, watch said races, report back and come home – but things are rarely quite that straightforward in Hong Kong, who never sit still if they can think of any way to move the sport forward, and attract more people to the track, the betting outlets, or the sport we all love.

This year we were kindly taken off on a tour of a new area in Sha Tin racecourse, and all I can think of is Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory – but for horse racing fans.

I could wax lyrical for some time, but suffice to say it was clean, open, and spacious with various areas, including a social media room for the youngsters where you could green-screen yourself onto a racehorse, to quaint reproductions of old-style Hong Kong living, via numerous bars, food outlets, and betting facilities.

Add in some stunning visages, including columns of animated horses and interactive versions of Silent Witness, Able Friend, and Golden Sixty (that you could feed fake carrots to), and it was unlike anything I have ever seen – but wait for the coup de grace.

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Robotic horse

Coming up the escalator, you soon pass a beautiful grey ROBOTIC horse, good enough to ensure a second glance and an “is it or isn’t it” thought process.

I am quite aware technology is moving ahead at a rapid speed (even if most of it is beyond me), but this was absolutely jaw-dropping.

So, there I am, stood there stroking and talking to a robot, knowing full well it wasn’t real, but struggling not to communicate as I would with the flesh and blood version, questioning my sanity (???) but enjoying every moment, nonetheless.

Pricing

No peace for the wicked, as they say, and with a 10-race card starting at 12.25pm local time, we arrived bright and early at the media centre, camping out at our allocated desks (a godsend, sometimes it’s every man for themselves at other racecourses I could mention), getting ready for a day’s work.

Having been accused in the past of favoritism I won’t go into too much depth for once on the pricing compared to the UK (even if we do need to hang our heads in shame), suffice to say entry fees, racecards, food and drink are all affordable here – if you can say the same back home feel free to name the track?

In all seriousness, it’s not about “bigging up” the Hong Kong Jockey Club and all the things they do to keep the show on the road and bums on seats, and far more about pointing out how many light years behind we are – and that we need to find ways to improve the product.

Rant over and on to the racing and although I was keeping a watching brief on the first three races, the truth is they were handicaps and well beyond my little brain, though with prize money of HK$1,170,000 (£113,000), HK$1,860,000 (£180,000) and HK$1,170,000 (£113,000), I am quietly confident there are plenty of British trainers who wouldn’t mind a piece of that action.

Party

One thing you can always say about Hong Kong is it isn’t just a race day, it’s a party, with the horses taking centre stage.

South Korean pop star (is that still a term?) and actor Rain was booked to perform, and after a visit to our old friend Google, I can tell you his main hits include ‘It’s Raining’, ‘Eternal Rain’, and his most recent ‘Rain Effect’.

Not on my playlist, I grant you, but he was responsible for a good few hundred screaming girls a la 1960’s Beatlemania, and although not for me, they seemed to adore him and added to an already excited atmosphere with the promise of more entertainment to come – filling the available seats hours before he performed despite it not being the warmest of days.

Opening ceremony

After testing out some but not all of the various food courts (it’s a tough job but someone has to do it, curry and rice for a fiver if you are interested), I was able to switch off briefly and just enjoy my surroundings with the pressure off – no bets for me in the opening handicaps that were way too complicated, though plenty in the media room were going in big time – with limited success.

For those with a more in-depth interest in Hong Kong racing, the opener over seven furlongs was won by Zac Purton on board Rising Phoenix for trainer David Hall at odds of just over 5/1, to the delight of plenty of the local punters with Zac the number one jockey and poster boy, followed 30 minutes later by a win for James McDonald on Helene Supafeeling over six furlongs at 7/1 ish for David Eustace, as the big gun jockeys flexed their muscles bright and early on the card.

The Opening Ceremony soon followed with a resounding rendition of the National Anthem led by the Hong Kong Police Band, before the Silent Witness Handicap over six furlongs, where everyone told me that Majestic Valour (Ryan Moore) was the one to beat.

Longines Hong Kong Vase

Keeping my powder dry, I stood in the sunshine and watched as Cool Boy made fools of us all at odds of over 30/1 under James Orman, to the horror of some, and I got the feeling I may be buying drinks for a few come the end of the day.    

And so, after arriving bright and early and absolutely buzzing, the clock ticked over and here we were – race one of the four Group One contests, and the Longines Hong Kong Vase over a mile and a half, or 2400 metres.

Six European challengers in a field of 11, including last year’s winner, suggested “we” would be able to claim first bragging rights on the day as we watched some of our better middle-distance competitors prepare to do battle on a colder than expected afternoon.

Sosie

I have the utmost respect for those who do the paddock picks here in Hong Kong and was delighted to see that my suggestion (Sosie) was in the top three, while Giavellotto topped the on-course market in his bid to retain the title, before heavy late money for Sosie saw him head the final betting.

From the off, it was Eydon who took them along under Oisin Murphy before Urban Chic decided they weren’t going fast enough 1200 metres out, but with no obvious excuses I could see as they turned into the home straight.

I don’t tip too many winners (don’t remind me) but racing loves a good story, and after celebrating his 80^th birthday this week, it was Andre Fabre who struck with Sosie who was sent on late to come home by three quarters of a length with a bit left up Maxime Guyon’s sleeve, with Giavellotto chasing him home from Goliath in third, and Al Riffa fourth for a European clean sweep.

Longines Hong Kong Sprint

There just about enough time for the adrenaline to lower ahead of the Longines Hong Kong Sprint where we went out onto the track to proclaim Ka Ying Rising as the champion we all believe him to be.

Yes, I had a silly place bet at a massive price (even I can’t tip a 1/10 shot and he was even shorter here), but this was all about witnessing something really special.

From a personal perspective, I felt for Charlie Hills after Oisin Murphy’s stirrup broke early in the race and he was no more than a passenger on Khaadem (I thought he did well to steer him round, to be honest, but I’m no jockey), and this was all about the Champion.

Never really out of second gear after bouncing out of the one stall, Zac had a steering job and never looked in any trouble at any time before cruising home hard held, and the truth is we still don’t know just how good he is or could be as nothing worldwide seems capable of challenging him.

Sadly for the UK (and good for Hong Kong racing by default), our prize money remains so low that even the horse who finished fifth here clocked up close to £100,000, and while that remains the case, he will still have quality challengers in the hunt for the place money and the hope the jolly has an off day.

Longines Hong Mile

Two of the big four to go, and although we had a contest to break up the card as Prestige Good took the Jim and Tonic Handicap for James McDonald at odds of 5/1 ish for a double this early on the day, we were all busy talking about the Longines Hong Mile that was next on the card.

This looked as competitive as any race on the day to me at least, and although I had high hopes for a big run from The Lion In Winter, I won’t pretend I was confident, with a small place bet my idea of the way forward and with limited losses.

Embroidery was well backed just before the off, but it was Happy Together who took them along from the start, with the rest queueing up behind waiting to mount their challenges.

Voyage Bubble

The leader looked at one stage as if he may hang on all the way, but it was not to be as first Soul Rush and then Voyage Bubble put down their challenges with last year’s winner doubling up under Zac Purton, making it two jockeys with doubles on the day.

As for The Lion In Winter, if you see him, please let me know he is OK – he started out the back and stayed there pretty much throughout, failing to quicken up as I hoped, and I can but hope they now retire him so I don’t lose any more money.

Docklands was the best of the Europeans in fourth and was far from disgraced, but all in all, we got a bloody nose and a stark reminder that Hong Kong horses are as good as any in the World, if not better.

Longines Hong Kong Cup

And so, after three weeks away from home, starting with a trip to the Japan Cup, I now had one race that I cared about, and the chance to see Romantic Warrior in person in the Longines Hong Kong Cup once more.

I have said many times I think he is a true great who deserves more recognition than he has received so far, and although sent off a short price here, it was another opportunity to see just how good he is.

From a betting perspective, it was hard to get involved at odds of 1/10 and I had a (very) small place bet on Quisisana instead, but with seven runners, I was basically praying for second.

That did not happen and in all honesty, it wasn’t much of a race as the Warrior simply toyed with them before winning hard-held by three-quarters of a length.

I won’t pretend it was impressive; it was simply another day at the office and another winner on the card for James McDonald, not so much an anti-climax as it sounds, but just a case of doing what was needed with his next stop likely to be the Saudi Cup next year and a possible rematch with Forever Young.

Other races

There were other races, time we used to grab a coffee and write up our articles, the first won by a gnats wotsit by Karis Teetan on Smart Avenue (from Zac Purton on Everyone’s Star) and the lucky last by Aeris Nova (K C Leung), after which we were treated to a closing show from New United, who are described as “a global pop group formed in West Hollywood, Los Angeles” and are also conspicuous by their absence from my playlists, despite having numerous hits I have never heard of from 2017 to date.

They went down well with the younger generation, which is, after all, their target audience, and if they can attract the next generation to the sport that we love, then I remain all in favour.

Summary

I would call it honours even, but I am bias. Sosie started things well for Europe, but I admit I had hoped for better in the mile where we were certainly put in our place.

Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior did what they do best and won with the minimum of fuss, and I, for one, feel blessed to have been there to see them succeed once more – a special afternoon in one of the best racing jurisdictions on the planet and one I hope to visit again very soon.

Sean Trivass was a guest of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and would like to thank them for their assistance throughout the week.

READ MORE: Hong Kong International races preview: Romantic Warrior headlines world-class card