HONG Kong’s FWD Champions Day on Sunday, April 26th at Sha Tin could be a feast of the world’s top flat racehorses as it looks to be the early aim for some of last season’s European stars, as well as the best in Hong King.
The world’s best horse, Calandagan, is set to return in Dubai next week, along with Group 1 Saudi winner Royal Champion and Royal Ascot winner Docklands and they are among 14 European horses entered for Champions Day at Sha Tin - all seeking the opportunity to race for the record HK$78 million in prize money across three premier contests in Hong Kong.
Calandagan holds an entry for the Group 1 FWD QEII Cup along with Sosie, who could return to Sha Tin for the first time since his win in the 2025 Group 1 Hong Kong Vase.
Karl Burke’s Royal Champion is also entered for the QEII Cup after the nine-time winner blitzed opposition in the Group 1 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia on his latest start.
A multiple Group 1 winner also entered in the QEII Cup is William Haggas’ Dubai Honour, who has run five times at Sha Tin in the past, including twice in this race when finishing third in 2023 and seventh in 2024, on both occasions behind Romantic Warrior.
Haggas also has Caviar Heights entered, while the British entry is completed by Dividend, Fort George and Survive.
They face the task of trying to dethrone Romantic Warrior, who has already achieved what no other horse has done by winning three QEII Cups. Hong Kong racing’s only 13-time Group 1 winner returns seeking an unprecedented fourth QEII Cup.
Toughest opposition
Romantic Warrior could face some of his toughest opposition to date in this year’s renewal, including 2025 Group 1 Tenno Sho Autumn winner Masquerade Ball, who was second to Calandagan in the Japan Cup on his last start, while third from the Japan Cup - Group 1 winner Danon Decile - is also entered.
Japan’s Museum Mile also holds an entry, winning two Group 1 races from his initial 10 starts, including the Group 1 Arima Kinen last December, he also won the Group 1 Satsuki Sho last season ahead of Masquerade Ball.
Harry Eustace’s Royal Ascot Group 1 winner Docklands is entered for the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile, aiming to return after finishing fourth in the Hong Kong Mile last year.
Docklands could be joined by Karl Burke’s Holloway Boy and the Ed Dunlop-trained Skukuza, while Donnacha O’Brien has entered Comanche Brave, who has run well all spring and France could be represented by the Christophe Ferland-trained duo No Lunch and Silius.
A four-time Group 1-winning miler, Japan’s Jantar Mantar will bid to end Hong Kong’s domination of the FWD Champions Mile, which has been won by a locally trained horse since 2017. Australia’s Tom Kitten and Evaporate, could both venture to Sha Tin for the FWD Champions Mile.
Defend his crown
Hong Kong Triple Crown (2024/25) hero Voyage Bubble - a six-time Group 1 winner at Sha Tin - is aiming to go one better than his second in last year’s FWD Champions Mile to Red Lion, who also returns in a bid to defend his crown.
Record-breaking Ka Ying Rising chases a ninth Group 1 win in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize. Ka Ying Rising could face a familiar foe in Japan’s Satono Reve, who may return to Sha Tin for a fourth time.
Australia has a strong entry for this year’s Sprint, including Group 1 winners Tropicus, Beiwacht and Lady Of Camelot, as well as the Chris Waller-trained young gun Angel Capital, who has five wins from 13 starts.