French star Calandagan, Japan’s Masquerade Ball and Museum Mile headline the 63-strong international raider line-up for next month’s FWD Champions Day meeting in Sha Tin.
Calandagan, last year’s Longines World Runner of the Year, and Group One Masquerade Ball and Museum Mile winners could be set for a tough showdown with Hong Kong’s 13-time Group One champion Romantic Warrior in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m).
Calandagan finished the year with a win in last November’s Group One Japan Cup (2,400m) in a thrilling finish with Masquerade Ball, while Museum Mile has emerged victorious on five occasions – including his last two at Group One level – from 10 starts.
Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained Romantic, who won the QE II Cup in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and world champion Ka Ying Rising lead the local entries for the second biggest day of Hong Kong racing.
Named the top-ranked runner in this year’s first edition of the Longines World Horse Racing Rankings, Ka Ying Rising will go for a record 20 consecutive victories in the Group One Chair (1,200m), provided he wins the Group Two Race Cup (1,200m.) in April
His stranglehold on the Chairman’s Race Award has resulted in only 23 entrants being accepted into the race, including four from Australia and eight from Japan.
There are 23 overseas entries for the other Group One features on April 26, the Champion Mile, including Japan’s four-time Group One winner Jantar Mantar, Gaia Force, Group One winner at Royal Ascot Docklands and Australia’s Tom Kitten and Evaporate, who ran first and second respectively in the Group One All-Star Mile at Flemington.
Six-time Group One champion Voyage Bubble, Mile Champion winner Red Lion, Galaxy Patch and My Wish headline the Hong Kong race.
“We are delighted with the outstanding quality of entries from around the world for the FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin – including 23 Group One winners against our champions Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior,” Andrew Harding, Hong Kong Jockey Club’s managing director of racing, said.
“Ka Ying Rising is a top talent in the world. He is the leading athlete in the world, and it seems that every time he goes out, he gives incredible performances.
“If he succeeds in winning the Sprint Cup on April 6, then he will chase further history on FWD Champions Day by aiming to become the first Hong Kong-trained horse to win 20 races in a row.
“Our international champion Romantic Warrior continues to perform well on the world stage – he is now our only 13-time Group One winner, and will be looking for a record-breaking fourth win in the FWD QE II Cup, but will likely do so against high-profile opposition – including Group One winners Masquerade Ball, Museum Mile and Royal Champion, while Calandagan also has the option to run.
“Overall, we are very excited ahead of another great stage of our flagship spring meeting, and we are looking forward to a great day of international elite racing.”
The eight horses selected to run in Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) – Little Paradise, Invincible Ibis, Dazzling Fit, Emblazon, Seraph Gabriel, Stormy Grove, Top Dragon and Numbers – also share Champions Day highlights.
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