Sunday marked the biggest day of the year at Sha Tin Racecourse. Top-class performers from around the world headed to Hong Kong for a 10-race card offering over £14.5 million in prize money. As ever, the Group 1 quartet of the Hong Kong Vase, Hong Kong Sprint, Hong Kong Mile, and Hong Kong Cup generated much of the hype.
At the end of a compelling afternoon, racegoers had enjoyed a memorable edition, including success for two of the world’s most famous horses and a European sweep in the Vase.
Hong Kong Vase: Sosie Leads Home European 1-2-3-4-5
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sosie | 17/10 | Andre Fabre | Maxime Guyon |
| 2nd | Giavellotto | 16/5 | Marco Botti | Andrea Atzeni |
| 3rd | Goliath | 19/1 | Francis-Henri Graffard | Christophe Soumillon |
| 4th | Al Riffa | 76/10 | Joseph Patrick O’Brien | Dylan Browne McMonagle |
| 5th | Los Angeles | 11/1 | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
With 16 wins since 2000, the European raiders are always to be feared in the Hong Kong Vase. The challenge looked particularly strong in 2025, with three of the top four in the market hailing from a European yard.
For much of the week leading up to the race, Marco Botti’s defending champion Giavellotto headed the betting. However, a late surge of money propelled the André Fabre-trained Sosie to the head of the market. The 2024 King George champ Goliath, Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles, and Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa were others to note among the European contingent.
In a race run at a sedate gallop, Los Angeles and Urban Chic led the field into the straight but were soon swamped by Sosie, Goliath, Giavellotto, and Al Riffa. Sosie had kicked first and would not be denied as he held on by a comfortable ¾l from Giavellotto, who went out on his shield in second. With Goliath, Al Riffa, and Los Angeles filling the next three positions, this was a dominant display from the European runners.
In winning the race for a fourth time, André Fabre moved clear of Aidan O’Brien to become the most successful trainer in the history of the race. Sosie, meanwhile, will return to the track in 2026, with a third shot at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the cards.
Hong Kong Sprint: Sweet 16 for Ka Ying Rising
The big sprint on the card was all about one horse. It takes a special performer to start at odds of 1/20 in a Group 1 contest, but the David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising is just that. The son of Aussie sprint ace Shamexpress is so far clear of the opposition that he has, in fact, started at odds of 1/20 five times in his last six outings.
With Charles Hills’ dual Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Khaadem and Japanese star Satono Reve lining up, there was plenty of quality among the opposition. However, Ka Ying Rising was in a completely different league. Sent straight into the lead by Zac Purton, he cruised clear of his toiling rivals to win a second Hong Kong Sprint by an eased-down 3¾l. The greatest sprinter in the world has now won 16 races on the spin, including six Group 1s, and amassed over £11.7 million in career prize money.
Reflecting on this latest electrifying performance from his superstar sprinter, David Hayes stated:
“On the eye, that was his most spectacular performance. They’re probably the best sprinters around, and he made them look ordinary.”
Hong Kong Cup: Four in a Row for Romantic Warrior
The 2025 edition of the feature event wasn’t without incident. With the race underway, an individual wielding a placard ran onto he home straight. Thankfully, the protester, who was calling for an inquiry into the devasting Tai Po fire, was hauled to the ground at the ½f pole, allowing the race to conclude.
Away from the protest, the £2.3 million contest went according to script, as the much-loved Romantic Warrior added another chapter to his phenomenal racecourse record. Sent off at odds of just 1/10 in the seven-runner field, the mount of James McDonald gave backers few moments of concern. Travelling smoothly just off the pace throughout, the seven-year-old surged clear in the straight to score by 1¾l from Japanese Grade 1 star Bellagio Opera.
Since making his debut in 2021, Romantic Warrior has compiled a record to put even that of Ka Ying Rising in the shade. A winner of 20 of his 26 starts, he has won 11 times at the highest level, including the past four editions of this race – no other horse has won the Hong Kong Cup more than twice. The £2.3 million first-place prize money took his career earnings past the £24 million mark, stretching his lead as the highest-earning racehorse in the world.
