HK International Races Pit Local Stars vs. Top Raiders

The 2022 Longines Hong Kong International Races are teed up for Dec. 11 with four group 1 events, including the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) featuring local Horse of the Year Golden Sixty going for his third straight win of that race.

The Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1), often a strong point for Hong Kong runners, is no different this time around although Japan offers credible competition and Singapore takes a swing. The Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1), normally the weakest link in the locals' chain at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles), finds runners from France, Germany, and Ireland chasing the two-time winner of the event, Glory Vase, for the top prize.

And the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), drew some of Japan's finest middle-distance runners.

The event is being staged under somewhat relaxed pandemic-related rules permitting increased attendance by fans and connections. Still, strict testing requirements resulted in some participants being forced into quarantine after testing positive on arrival in Hong Kong and prevented two jockeys from taking their place in the mid-week competition.

Golden Sixty, a 7-year-old Medaglia d'Oro   gelding, has won the Mile for the past two years. Trainer Francis Lui says his stable star still has the spark although he admits he has peaked and faces the forces of youth in California Spangle, a 4-year-old Starspangledbanner  gelding and heir apparent.

In their last meeting, Golden Sixty was all out to catch his younger rival, winning the BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (G2) by a neck. But that was Golden Sixty's return from the summer break and found him conceding five pounds. The renewal is at even weights.

The rematch gained even more luster Dec. 8 as front-running California Spangle drew the No. 2 gate and Golden Sixty No. 4 and trainer Francis Lui continued to offer praise for Golden Sixty.

"Everything is well, happy and healthy," Lui said. "In his races he seems to still have his fighting heart. That's the main point. I think California Spangle and the Japanese horses will be the biggest challenges. Racing is racing, anything can happen." 

California Spangle galloped on Sha Tin's dirt track three days out from the race and jockey Zac Purton reports continued progress.

"California Spangle seems to have developed nicely and we will go forward to lead again," said Hong Kong's runaway leading rider. "We've not beaten him (Golden Sixty) yet but we're going to try. And the track conditions could suit us."

The 10-horse field for the Mile also has Salios , who was third in last year's running and Schnell Meister , a grade 1 winner in Japan.

In the Cup, Reigning BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Romantic Warrior comes off a nice victory in the local prep to face Ireland's globetrotting Order of Australia , winner of the 2020 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1T) and last seen finishing sixth in the same race in November at Keeneland.

The Japanese team in the Cup has Panthalassa , dead-heat winner of the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) and second in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) in his last start; Jack d'Or, winner of seven of 12 starts and fourth in the Tenno Sho; Danon the Kid, second in the Mile Championship (G1) in his last start; this year's Satsuki Sho Japanese Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner, Geoglyph; and Lei Papale , a grade 1 winner at home last year and sixth last time at Sha Tin.

Hong Kong has won seven of the past eight runnings of the Sprint and looks well fixed again with the likes of fast-developing Lucky Sweynesse, multiple group 1 winner Wellington and last year's winner, Sky Field. They will have to contend with Gendarme and Naran Huleg, first and third in the recent Sprinters Stakes (G1) at Nakayama.

The Vase is usually one of the most interesting races on the program as the 2,400 meters is a seldom-raced condition in Hong Kong, opening opportunities for foreigners for whom that's a normal "middle distance" challenge. The aptly named Glory Vase won the race in 2019 and 2021 and returns seeking the hat trick.

Jockey Joao Moreira said Glory Vase is training well for the return after a 1,000-meters breeze Dec. 9.

"I was extremely happy with the work," Moreira said. "He seems to have forgotten he has gotten a year older. He is as good as he has ever felt in a gallop."

Trainer Aidan O'Brien brings Broome , who has battled at the top level around the world for years, finishing second in the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) and sixth in this year's renewal; Stone Age , last seen finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Turf; and Bolshoi Ballet , winner of the 2021 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) and sixth in that year's Breeders' Cup Turf.

Bubble Gift  and Botanik  represent France in the Vase and Mendocino  flies the German flag.

The Longines International Jockey's Championships Dec. 7 at Happy Valley Racecourse ended up in a tie for top honors between Silvestre de Sousa and Tom Marquand. Those two, plus Vincent Ho and Derek Leung, each won one of the four scoring races but none was able to add another placing which would have broken the tie. The leading local rider, Zac Purton and top international names including Ryan Moore, Hollie Doyle, and Jamie Kah were all shut out in a format where a blind draw for mounts counts for more than riding ability.

Scheduled participants Yuga Kawada and Mickael Barzalona were late withdrawals after testing positive for COVID.