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The HK$83 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 13 December have attracted a stellar line-up of Group 1 stars.
A total of 33 international G1 winners are among the 56 entries selected for the world’s great end-of-year G1 extravaganza.
Announced today, Wednesday, 25 November, the world-class contenders for the Turf World Championships feature returning LONGINES Hong Kong Vase champion Flintshire, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint victor Mongolian Saturday from the U.S., Japan’s outstanding miler Maurice, the brilliant French mare Esoterique, Australia’s top-class galloper Criterion and Ireland’s crack middle-distance runner Free Eagle.
The LONGINES HKIR comprises the HK$25 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), the HK$23 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, the HK$18.5 million LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and the HK$16.5 million LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m). This year’s selected runners - 33 overseas raiders and 23 Hong Kong-trained - are from eight countries/jurisdictions, spread across four continents.
For Hong Kong, last year’s LONGINES Hong Kong Mile winner, the sensational Able Friend, is selected to attempt a repeat win, as is Designs On Rome, who battled to victory in the 2014 edition of the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.
Able Friend is slated to face Japan’s standout miler, Maurice, in an exciting clash for the world’s richest turf mile. The four-year-old Maurice is unbeaten in five starts this year, with notable wins in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) and, on 22 November, the G1 Mile Championship. Adding further allure to the Mile line-up is the Andre Fabre-trained Esoterique, second to Europe’s champion miler Solow in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot in June, in which Able Friend finished a below-par sixth. G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Mondialiste and Godolphin’s G1 winner Toormore, fourth in the Queen Anne, are selected to represent Britain.
Mongolian Saturday will attempt to add the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint to his recent G1 Breeders’ Cup triumph and the gelding is set to renew rivalry with fellow U.S. raider Green Mask, third in that Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Japan’s Straight Girl was a brave third in this race last year and has since landed a pair of G1s, latterly the Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in early October. The tough mare heads a strong Japanese trio that also features Sakura Gospel and Mikki Isle. Five-time G1 winner Sole Power, for Ireland, is also slated to take on a home team that is set to include last year’s runner-up Peniaphobia and potential favourite Gold-Fun.
Flintshire is selected to once again bring outstanding form to the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, having placed second last start behind Golden Horn in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m). The race also features fellow French stars Cirrus Des Aigles and Erupt, as well as the progressive Dariyan, whose dam, Daryakana won this race in 2009. Meanwhile, Ireland’s champion trainer, Aidan O’Brien, is set to send the globe-trotting three-year-old Highland Reel, successful in the G1 Secretariat Stakes in the U.S. this term and third in Australia’s G1 Cox Plate last time.
Mr. William A. Nader, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director of Racing, said: “The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races is well-established in the elite echelon of the sport’s most prestigious occasions: it offers outstanding prize money, it delivers a fantastic atmosphere, and most importantly it showcases exceptional talent from across the world. In keeping with that tradition, we are pleased to see, once again, such a depth of quality to this year’s selected runners, with 33 individual winners of 64 G1 races.
“Here in Hong Kong we have a strong contingent of talented, international-calibre horses, notably the outstanding Able Friend, but at this year’s HKIR our home team will face perhaps its toughest test of recent times. Looking at the 33 talented overseas challengers - horses of the class of Flintshire, Maurice, Esoterique and Free Eagle, to name a few - we have some of the most exciting horses in the world heading for Sha Tin on the second Sunday in December. This is international racing at the highest level and everyone is in for a real treat.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
A SHIN HIKARI - JPN
Won G2 Mainichi Okan in October and a little more than five lengths behind Lovely Day latest in G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn).CRITERION – AUS
Four-time G1 winner and third in this race last year. Filled the same berth behind Prince Of Penzance in G1 Melbourne Cup last start.FREE EAGLE – IRE
Lightly-raced four-year-old and winner of the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.FREE PORT LUX - FR
Notched second career G2 in October’s Prix Dollar at Longchamp.GAILO CHOP - FR
Rewarded for some smart efforts in G1s with first top-flight victory in the LONGINES Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington in October.
LUCIA VALENTINA – AUSTwo-time G1 winner and landed the G2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington in early November.
NUOVO RECORD – JPN
Won 2014 G1 Japanese Oaks and close 2nd in G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup latest.
SATONO ALADDIN - JPN
Talented four-year-old on the up. Best effort when 1.5L 4th behind Maurice in recent G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto.STAPHANOS - JPN
Yet to notch at highest level but 2nd at course and distance in G1 APQEII Cup in April and 0.5L 2nd last time behind Lovely Day in G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn).
BEAUTY ONLY - HK
Won HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile in January and smart third at course and distance latest in G2 Jockey Club Cup.
BLAZING SPEED - HK
Top-class winner of G1 APQEII Cup at the course and distance in April and 2nd in recent G2 Jockey Club Cup.DAN EXCEL - HK
Three-time G1 winner in 2013 Champions Mile and last two editions of Singapore Airlines International Cup.
DESIGNS ON ROME – HKHong Kong’s Horse of the Year in 2014, a three-time G1 winner and victorious in this race last year.
MILITARY ATTACK – HKTwo-time G1 winner and Hong Kong’s 2013 Horse of the Year. Runner-up in this race last year and successful in the G2 Jockey Club Cup latest.
LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
DANON PLATINA – JPNVery lightly-raced three-year-old. Won G1 Asahi Hai Futurity as a juvenile and landed the G3 Fuji Stakes latest.
ESOTERIQUE – FRTriple G1 winner including twice this term and runner-up to Solow in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
FIERO - JPN
Sixth to Able Friend in this race last year. Runner-up in the past two renewals of the Mile Championship, latterly behind Maurice.MAURICE – JPN
Five from five this term, including the G1 Yasuda Kinen and G1 Mile Championship.MONDIALISTE – GB
Landed his highest level victory in the G1 Woodbine Mile Stakes before a fast finishing second in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile last time.RED DUBAWI - GER
Veteran who notched biggest win of career last time in Italy’s G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua.TOORMORE - GB
G1 winner at two and has posted a host of good efforts in that grade since, including third to Make Believe in the Prix de la Foret last start.ABLE FRIEND – HK
Hong Kong’s highest-rated horse of all-time. A four-time G1 winner including an imperious success in this race last year.BEAUTY FLAME – HK
Caused a shock when defeating Able Friend in G2 Jockey Club Mile latest. Twice a G1 runner-up behind that rival last term.CONTENTMENT - HK
Exciting local prospect with eight wins on the board from 12 starts. Runner-up to Beauty Flame in Jockey Club Mile latest.GIANT TREASURE - HK
One of Hong Kong’s leading four-year-olds last season and a running-on 4th in G2 Jockey Club Mile.PACKING PINS - HK
An emerging Hong Kong talent with six wins from 10 starts. Leapt from Class 2 handicaps to G2 Jockey Club Mile last start and finished a promising 5th.REWARNG HERO - HK
High-class miler and placed behind Able Friend last season in G1 Stewards’ Cup and G1 Champions Mile.SECRET SHAM - HK
Smart galloper and winner of the HKG3 Prince Jewellery & Watch Premier Cup at 1400m last season.LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
GREEN MASK - USAThird this year in both the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and G1 Al Quoz Sprint.
MIKKI ISLE – JPNWon the G1 NHK Mile Cup in 2014. Has dropped down to 1200m this season for close 3rd in G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen and 4th in October’s G1 Sprinters Stakes.
MONGOLIAN SATURDAY – USA
Career peak latest when winning G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland.SAKURA GOSPEL - JPN
Won 1400m G2 this term and second behind Straight Girl in G1 Sprinters Stakes last start.SOLE POWER – IRE
G1 veteran with five wins at top level including G1 Al Quoz Sprint in March. 2nd to Lord Kanaloa in this race in 2013.STRAIGHT GIRL – JPN
Two-time G1 winner this season in Victoria Mile and Sprinters Stakes. Brave third in this race last year after a wide passage.CHARLES THE GREAT - HK
G2 course and distance winner and ran on well for 5th in G2 Jockey Club Sprint latest.DUNDONNELL - HK
Talented local sprinter and held off stablemate Gold-Fun to win HKG2 Sprint Cup at course and distance in April.GOLD-FUN – HK
Runner-up in past two editions of G1 Hong Kong Mile: successful since at course and distance in HKG1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize and the recent G2 Jockey Club Sprint.LUCKY NINE - HK
Three career G1 wins include this race in 2011. Twice Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter and solid 4th latest in G2 Jockey Club Sprint.NOT LISTENIN’TOME - HK
Twice G1-placed in Australia and has won a pair of local G3 races since import. Sound third last start in G2 Jockey Club Sprint.PENIAPHOBIA – HK
Runner-up in this race last year. Went on to win HKG1 Centenary Sprint Cup and was runner-up in G1 Al Quoz Sprint. 2nd in G2 Jockey Club Sprint last time.RICH TAPESTRY - HK
Won 2014 G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship to become first Hong Kong horse to win in the USA. Slightly unlucky 6th in G1 Sprinters Stakes latest.STRATHMORE - HK
Up-and-coming sprinter with five wins from 12 starts. Made the leap from Class 2 to G2 for fair 6th in G2 Jockey Club Sprint last time.LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
CANNOCK CHASE – GBTop-class four-year-old secured a first G1 win in October’s Canadian International at Woodbine.
CIRRUS DES AIGLES – FROutstanding veteran with seven G1 wins to his name. Has competed at the LONGINES HKIR five times previously.
DARIYAN - FRThree wins from only six starts including G2 Prix Eugene Adam in July. His dam, Daryakana, won this race in 2009.
ERUPT - FRLightly-raced colt and winner of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris in July. Fine 5th to Golden Horn in G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe latest.
FLINTSHIRE – FRA triple G1 winner, including this race last year, and runner-up in the past two editions of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
HIGHLAND REEL – IREWon G1 Secretariat Stakes in the USA this past summer and third last start in Australia’s G1 Cox Plate.
ITO - GEREasy winner of the G1 Grosser-Preis von Bayern last start.
LOVELYN - GERWon the G2 Oaks d’Italia in May and returned there last start to take the G1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club.
MING DYNASTY - FRDebuted in April and has won four from five since, notably the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris last time.
PREFERMENT - AUSTwo G1 scores in the 2014 Victoria Derby and this season’s Turnbull Stakes.
TRIP TO PARIS - GBEmerged from top staying handicaps to win the G1 Gold Cup at Ascot in June. Runner-up in G1 Caulfield Cup and 4th in Melbourne Cup recently.
DOMINANT – HKWon this race in 2013. Close 2nd at course and distance in G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup in May.
HELENE HAPPY STAR - HKSmart four-year-old stayer and warmed up for this race with a fine 4th to Military Attack in G2 Jockey Club Cup.
HELENE SUPER STAR - HKCareer best effort to win the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup at the course and distance in May.