THERE is a very strong European challenge in the Hong Kong International meeting tomorrow.

The Longines Hong Kong Vase (6.10am) offers a good expectation of a European win with Sosie and Goliath for France, Los Angeles and Al Riffa for Ireland, Giavellotto and Eydon for Britain.

Sosie was fourth and third in the last two Arcs and his trainer Andre Fabre boasts a remarkable record of three wins and five placed efforts from 21 starters here. The son of Sea The Stars has enjoyed a fine season with Group 1 victories at short of his best trip in the Prix Ganay and the Prix d’Ispahan.

Al Riffa was top-weight and only seventh in the Melbourne Cup but his two previous Curragh wins were achieved with ease.

Joseph O’Brien reported this week: “This was an obvious place to potentially come after the Melbourne Cup. He didn’t have a hard race and came home really good from it, so we were happy to lock it in. He’s shipped out here well and we’re hoping for a good run.” It’s a positive Dylan Browne McMonagle is reunited with him.

Giavellotto looks better than ever at six and last year’s winner comes off a defeat of Group 1 winner Kalpana and then a fourth in the Arc, just a head behind Sosie. Los Angeles needs to improve on his recent outings. Francis Graffard was also upbeat on Goliath’s chances. Giavellotto is taken to hold off Al Riffa.

The Lion In Winter would be getting a deserved Group 1 win in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile (8.00am). He began the season as the Derby favourite but was third in the seven-furlong Group 1 Prix Jean Prat next time. Three more Group 1 placings have come at ParisLongchamp, Ascot and Del Mar and it would be a well deserved win season finale.

Docklands found it happening too quick from a wide draw in Japan. The Japanese three-year-old filly Embroidery is a Group 1 winner last time and could be a surprise.

Voyage Bubble has no Romantic Warrior to worry this time while Galaxy Patch won the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile trial last month.

In the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (6.50am), it’s impossible to oppose the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising who came back from a historic win in The Everest in Randwick to win on the trials day last month. He is drawn 1 of 11 but trainer David Hayes said this week: “He is the fastest horse in the world, so unless he makes a proper blooper out of the gates, it has to be a huge advantage.”

Ryan Moore on Japanese raider Saturno Reve, second in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, could be the next best, though he was behind Win Carnelian last time. Khaadem gives the British interest, though he had a great season earning prize money in the US, could find this tougher.

Can anyone dethrone the home town champion Romantic Warrior in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (8.40am)?

The Irish-bred son of Acclamation looks to have lost none of his powers at seven and came back from narrow defeats in the Saudi and Dubai World Cups, the former effort looks even better now as winner Forever Young has won the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Recovering from leg surgery afterwards, he looked as good as ever in the Group 2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup last month, beating Voyage Bubble.

Joseph O’Brien runs Galen who ran well in Bahrain when second in the International Trophy but this is a step up. Bellagio Opera is a Japanese Group 1 winner.

Quisisana would crown a brilliant season for Francis Graffard. She was only ninth in the Arc after winning the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet over 10 furlongs and was then third to Kalpana at Ascot and needs to improve again.