HORSE racing's global spotlight will rest on Sha Tin on 9 December when some of the world’s brightest thoroughbred stars will compete at Hong Kong’s premier racecourse for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races 2012.
The four Group 1 races, sponsored for the first time this year by LONGINES, now boast increased total prize money of HK$72 million. The LONGINES Hong Kong Cup carries an increased purse of HK$22 million, both the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase and LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint have improved prize money of HK$15 million and the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile carries a lucrative HK$20 million pool. 25 G1 winners will contest the four championship events, and they represent 9 countries or regions spread across four continents.
“The Hong Kong International Races, now sponsored by LONGINES, continues to attract elite runners from across the globe," said The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director of Racing, Mr William A Nader. “Year on year, the wide response from leading horsemen emphasises the premier standing of this great occasion as the Turf World Championships.”
“Our selected runners for the 2012 event represent a deep pool of talent. They include show-stoppers such as the world’s top-rated horse in training, Cirrus Des Aigles, Europe’s champion three-year-old filly The Fugue, Classic winners Saonois and Dancing Rain, Caulfield Cup hero and defending Vase champion Dunaden and Australian sprint star Sea Siren. There will also be a crack team from Japan that features five Group 1 winners, including recent winners Lord Kanaloa and Sadamu Patek, as well as the final appearance in the great career of Curren Chan.
“With such a high calibre of international G1 winners from most of the major racing jurisdictions going toe to toe with our own immensely talented stars, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 9 December will live up to its promise as the ‘The Greatest Show On Turf", and take its place as the biggest sporting event in Hong Kong’s calendar and a spectacular climax to the international horse racing year.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
G1 – 2400m –HK$15m – (~US $1.9m)
Fifteen of the last 18 editions of the Vase have been won by horses representing France or Great Britain. Hong Kong horses will be looking to reclaim the stayers’ crown they haven’t held since Indigenous in 1998. This year’s renewal provides us with the opportunity to witness last year’s winner Dunaden seeking a repeat triumph, as well as the draw of Britain’s crack fillies The Fugue and Dancing Rain.
Selections (14)
Last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up easily held Dunaden to win the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Won this race and G1 Melbourne Cup last year and added G1 Caulfield Cup in October.
Triple G1 winner at the distance and close runner-up to Orfevre in G2 Prix Foy in September – unsuited by heavy going in Arc latest.
CHINCHON (FR)
Impressive winner of G1 SIA Cup at Kranji in May, his second G1 win, and heading to Sha Tin for a third time.
Rose from handicapper to G3 winner and G1 Melbourne Cup hope this year but was bumped and forced wide when fifth at Flemington.
JOSHUA TREE (GB)
Won the G1 Canadian International in October for the second time in three years.
RED CADEAUX (GB)
Last year’s dead-heat 3rd won the G2 Yorkshire Cup and was 2nd to St Nicholas Abbey in G1 Coronation Cup this term.
DANDINO (GB)
A G2 winner at the distance and 2nd to Joshua Tree in G1 Canadian International at Woodbine on 14 October.
G1-winning veteran who has placed 3rd (2008) and twice fourth (2009, 2010) in this race.
HK’s Champion Stayer scuppered Ambitious Dragon’s Triple Crown bid in May’s HKG1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.
Well-regarded winner of 6 from 12 in HK and only 2.5L behind California Memory in G2 LONGINES Jockey Club Cup
DANCING RAIN (GB)
Front-running winner of G1 Oaks, G1 Preis Der Diana and G2 British Champions Fillies’ & Mares’ Stakes in 2011.
PAGERA (FR)
Improving filly who followed G3 win in Germany with 2nd to Siyouma in G1 E. P. Taylor Stakes latest.
THE FUGUE (GB)
Cartier’s European Champion 3yo filly after her 3rd in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and victory in the G1 Nassau Stakes.
LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
G1 – 1200m- HK $15m (~US $1.9m)
Last year Hong Kong regained its ascendance in the speed division with Lucky Nine leading home a local 1-2-3-4 but the Hong Kong hero will have to face formidable opponents in his bid to emulate Silent Witness and Falvelon in clinching back-to-back victories.
Selections (14)
Won G1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June to be officially rated HK’s best sprinter.
Last year’s hero won G2 Jockey Club Sprint latest following unlucky strong finishing 5th in G1 Sprinters Stakes.
Won 12 from 13 in Singapore including SG1 Singapore Guineas and was 6th in G2 Jockey Club Sprint latest.
JOY AND FUN (HK)
Beaten a head in this last year and landed HKG1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in February.
Impressive win in September’s G1 Sprinters Stakes latest followed a head 2nd in G2 Centaur Stakes.
ADMIRATION (HK)
Beat Glorious Days in last season’s HKG2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) and 3rd to Lucky Nine in recent G2 Jockey Club Sprint.
ATO (SIN)
High-class speedster who won the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint at Kranji in May.
Singapore G2 winner and 2nd in G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint in May, he has won his last two starts, both SG G3 1200m contests.
LEADING CITY (HK)
Smart and resilient HK sprinter/miler who ran a close 2nd to Little Bridge in the HKG2 Sprint Cup last term.
TIME AFTER TIME (HK)
Progressive galloper posted career best effort latest when head 2nd to Lucky Nine in G2 Jockey Club Sprint.
CERISE CHERRY (HK)
Smart win in October’s HKG2 Premier Bowl at 1200m and running-on 4th latest in G2 Jockey Club Sprint.
FLYING BLUE (HK)
HKG2 winner at a mile and proved merit at shorter when closing to 5th in G2 Jockey Club Sprint latest.
Triple G1-winning Australian filly - just edged out when 2nd to Mental in G1 Patinack Farm Classic in November.
Japan’s top speed mare won the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March and was 2nd in G1 Sprinters Stakes latest.
LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
G1 – 1600m- HK$20m (~US$2.5m)
Hong Kong has won this race for six consecutive years, and eight of the last 10 years. The home team is strong once more thanks to such as Ambitious Dragon, Glorious Days and Xtension, but the international challenge is imposing this year with G1 performers from Japan, France, Britain and Ireland, including Siyouma, Grand Prix Boss.
Selections (12)
HK’s brilliant dual Horse of the Year has won five G1/HKG1 races including the 2011 AP QEII Cup.
XTENSION (HK)
Has won the past two editions of the G1 Champions Mile and was a neck 3rd in this race last year.
Potential star miler won G2 Jockey Club Mile in November from Ambitious Dragon.
Progressed from minor grades to win the G1 Prix de la Foret latest after running 2nd in G1 Haydock Sprint Cup.
Closed out strongly to win G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto in November from Grand Prix Boss.
Dual G1 winner beaten a neck in Japan’s top G1 mile races this year, the Mile Championship and the Yasuda Kinen.
PURE CHAMPION (HK)
Consistent HKG3 winner and ran fine 3rd to Glorious Days in G2 Jockey Club Mile.
Front-runner has notched two G3 wins in France this term and was 5th to Cirrus Des Aigles in G2 Prix Dollar.
MASTER OF HOUNDS (GB)
Landed Dubai’s G1 Jebel Hatta and the Turkish G2 Topkapi Trophy this season.
PACKING WHIZ (HK)
Won G3 Italian 2,000 Guineas and added HKG3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse before close 4th in Jockey Club Cup in November.
PACKING OK (HK)
Won the HKG3 National Day Cup first up this term and was a fair 6th in the G2 Jockey Club Mile latest.
SIYOUMA (FR)
French filly’s last two starts brought G1 wins in Canada’s E. P. Taylor Stakes and England’s Sun Chariot Stakes.
LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
G1 – 2000m – HK$22m (~US$2.8m)
The LONGINES HK Cup is one of the richest 2000m races run anywhere and the most prestigious event in Hong Kong racing. It has been won in the last decade by horses from six countries or regions. Such stars as the world’s top-rated horse in training, Cirrus Des Aigles, Australian star Alcopop and French Derby hero Saonois will seek to wrest California Memory’s crown this time.
Selections (14)
Triple G1 winner, 2nd to the great Frankel in the G1 Champion Stakes and the world’s top-rated horse in training.
Last year’s HK Cup hero flew late to win the G2 Jockey Club Cup on 18 November.
Last year’s G1 Epsom Derby 3rd was 2nd to So You Think in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Won the G1 LONGINES Mackinnon Stakes in November and 2nd in both G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Caulfield Stakes.
SWEET ORANGE (HK)
Won HKG1 HK Classic Mile last season and went close in both the HKG1 HK Classic Cup and HKG1 HK Derby.
Runner-up in past two G1 HK Cups and close 2nd in G2 LONGINES Jockey Club Cup latest.
Last season’s HKG1 HK Classic Cup winner and 2nd in the G1 SIA Cup in May.
DAN EXCEL (HK)
Ran 4th to So You Think in 2011 G1 Irish Champion Stakes good and 4th to Glorious Days in G2 Jockey Club Mile latest.
FORTE DEI MARMI (CAN)
G2 2000m winner in August and close 3rd to Joshua Tree in G1 Canadian International.
MILITARY ATTACK (HK)
Exciting prospect with two wins from eight starts in HK and 4th in HKG2 Sha Tin Trophy first up this term.
Won G1 Prix du Jockey Club in June and added the G2 Prix Niel in September with a brilliant burst of speed.
FEUERBLITZ (GER)
Won the G2 Italian Derby this year and has placed 2nd in all-aged G1s in each of his last 3 starts.
AUTUMN GOLD (HK)
Staying-on 5th to California Memory in the G2 Jockey Club Cup latest, on only his 2nd HK start.
GIOFRA (FR)
Crack French filly - won the G1 Falmouth Stakes and 2nd to Cirrus Des Aigles in G1 Prix Ganay.
HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MEDIA RELEASE
