The FWD Champions Day meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday has drawn international horses again to Hong Kong where Ka Ying Rising will be seeking back-to-back wins in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, while James McDonald will re-unite with Romantic Warrior for the G1 QEII Cup.
Australian photographer Grant Courtney (Pao Ma Photography) has been at trackwork this week keeping a close watch on the stars.
The Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m)
The David Hayes trained Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress)won the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize last year beating Japanese raider Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa) with another local sprinter Helios Express in third and all three will roll the dice again on Sunday.
Satono Reve comes into this race off a last start win in the G1 Takamatsunomiyakinen having bounced back successfully from a below par unplaced run in the HK International Sprint last December.
Helios Express (Toronado (IRE) has run second at his past three starts to Ka Ying Rising and is probably looking down the barrel of similar again!
The Champion’s Mile (1600m)
The G1 Champion’s Mile features some of the star HK trained four year-olds such as Invincible Ibis (Hellbent), Little Paradise (Toronado (IRE) and last year’s Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat (Snitzel.
International raiders include Japanese visitor Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice), who has only missed a place once in 16 starts and that was in the 2024 HK International Mile, and the OTI Racing globetrotter Docklands (GB) (Massaat).
Winner of the 2025 G1 Queen Annes Stakes at Royal Ascot, Docklands won his warm up race at Doncaster last month and arrives in top form.
The QEII Cup (2000m)
Romantic Warrior (IRE) (Acclamation) won this race in 2022, 2023 and 2024 before setting off on his Middle Eastern odyssey last year which saw him finish second in both the Saudi Cup and the G1 Dubai Turf.
He’ll be a crowd favourite, but is facing a serious challenger in Japanese four year-old Masquerade Ball (Jpn) (Duramente), who was last seen running second in the G1 Japan Cup to 2025 European Horse of the Year Calandagan.
