It's Rebel's Romance vs. the Locals in HK's Final G1

Seven local runners, including the winner from the past two years and the reigning Hong Kong Derby champ, are set to face Godolphin visitor Rebel's Romance  in the Champions & Chater Cup (G1) May 26 at Sha Tin Racecourse—the last and longest of 12 group 1 races in the 2023-24 season.

Rebel's Romance, a 6-year-old Dubawi  gelding, is riding a three-race winning streak that most recently features a two-length drubbing of a stellar international field in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) in March at Meydan Racecourse.

The Charlie Appleby charge won the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland over an exceptionally classy field, has scored twice in tough group 1 company in Germany and also has won Pattern races in England and Qatar.

The major disappointments on his form sheet came in the summer of 2023 in New York. Sent off the heavy favorite in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) July 30 at Saratoga Race Course, he clipped heels turning for home and unseated jockey Richard Mullen. He returned to contest the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) Oct. 7 at the Belmont at the Big A meeting but encountered yielding turf and finished fourth.

Appleby has laid out plans to campaign Rebel's Romance in North America through the balance of the current season so the Champions & Chater Cup looks to have beckoned as an easy, big-money diversion, likely on firm going. The vagaries of weather, however, may muddle that prospect as Hong Kong continues to see unusually rainy conditions that are expected to continue through the weekend.

Appleby indicated May 23 from Ireland he's watching the forecast but remains confident in Rebel's Romance's form.

"We all know what he can do and conditions should hopefully suit, although there is some rain in the forecast," he said. "If the same Rebel's Romance that we have seen on his last few starts turns up, he is the one they all have to beat."

On form, the locals indeed look in need of some help from the gods, weather or otherwise.

The top hopes likely are Russian Emperor  and Massive Sovereign. Coincidentally, both formerly raced for the Coolmore lads in Ireland under the care of trainer Aidan O'Brien.

The Sha Tin course drains exceptionally well but if it does remain wet, advantage to Russian Emperor, a 7-year-old Galileo gelding who has won the race each of the last two years and whose form shows definite affinity for the conditions. On the downside, he's not finished better than fifth in any of six races since the 2023 Champions & Chater Cup.

Rain and wet going "is not going to inconvenience me or my horse," said Russian Emperor's trainer, Douglas Whyte, who has won the race as both trainer and jockey. "Let's hope it sticks around until the weekend.

"He's been primed for this race. It's been well documented that this is the race that I have had in mind all year and he comes good this time of the year. If the rain sticks around it's going to enhance his chances. But Rebel's Romance is a really good horse. The way he won in Dubai, he looks like a proper individual."

Massive Sovereign arrived from Ireland with a record as a sprinter-miler but promptly rewarded his new owners by winning his first two races in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Derby, at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). The No Nay Never  gelding, however, then reported eighth in the QE II Cup (G1) April 28 on yielding turf.

Also to watch: La City Blanche and Five G Patch, the 1-2 finishers in the Queen Mother Memorial Handicap (G3).