With less than eight weeks to the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), there is building excitement ahead of the flagship meeting and, at Sha Tin today (19 October), there is a tangible sense of anticipation with reappearance of Group 1 winners and rising stars in preparation for 13 December showpiece.
VOYAGE BUBBLE and MY WISH are proven at the highest level and today they clash in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap as they continue their journey towards HKIR when local and overseas connections will vie for Group 1 glory and HK$130 million across the four feature races.
HELIOS EXPRESS is a world-class sprinter with a string of Group 1 seconds to his name behind KA YING RISING and the emerging SKY JEWELLERY, also trained by John Size, is building a formidable record, while STORMY GROVE demonstrated his quality with victory in the 2026 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) for Frankie Lor.
The honour roll for the Sha Tin Trophy Handicap features some of the most illustrious horses to race in Hong Kong, including GOLDEN SIXTY, BEAUTY GENERATION, DESIGNS ON ROME, GOLD-FUN, INDIGENOUS, VIVA PATACA and CALIFORNIA SPANGLE.
MY WISH’s name is already among this celebrated group and today he has the chance to emulate the feats of an even rarer band of horses to have claimed this treasured race twice, including BEAUTY GENERATION and CALIFORNIA SPANGLE.
Unfortunately, last season’s Hong Kong Derby winner INVINCIBLE IBIS is a withdrawal with a ligament injury and I look forward to seeing him make a speedy recovery and rejoin Hong Kong’s world-class racing and continue an outstanding career.
The G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap is carded as Race 8 and will be over 1600m at 4.05pm with prizemoney of HK$5.35 million.
The significant weight differences in this race are important to consider with VOYAGE BUBBLE carrying 135lb, while MY WISH carries 4lb less, HELIOS EXPRESS has 125lb and BEAUTY JOY 121lb while LIGHT YEARS CHARM AND STORMY GROVE have to carry only 115lb. Under these conditions, MY WISH will have to be at his best to overcome this significant handicap after winning this race with only 115lb last year.
The speed will be good with SOLEIL FIGHTER rolling to the front from gate five under Harry Bentley. PATCH OF THETA (Matthew Poon) and SAGACIOUS LIFE (Ellis Wong) race close to the speed and will settle behind the leader, with LIGHT YEARS CHARM and MY WISH also prominent. VOYAGE BUBBLE has drawn widest in gate 11 but may go forward if he can find a position.
MY WISH won this race last year in impressive fashion after going forward from a wide gate, and proving too strong for COPARTNER PRANCE and BEAUTY JOY. He finally fulfilled his G1 potential when winning the FWD Champions Mile in April when he defeated well for CAP FERRAT and DOCKLANDS, with VOYAGE BUBBLE fifth. MY WISH has had three trials in preparation for a first-up run today and has won each of them comfortably under Zac Purton. With an ideal draw in gate three MY WISH is my win and place selection for Zac.
LIGHT YEARS CHARM is one of several talented, lightly-weighted horses engaged. He broke through for his first win at Group level in the Lion Rock Trophy Handicap over this course and distance in May where he beat BEAUTY JOY, with SKY JEWELLERY in fourth. LIGHT YEARS CHARM has trialed well ahead of his return to racing and is a place chance for Karis Teetan.
SKY JEWELLERY made an impressive return to racing when he finished quickly to beat HOT DELIGHT over 1400m on 1 October, taking his overall record to six wins from nine starts and from an ideal draw, in gate four, SKY JEWELLERY can be placed for Alexis Badel.
STORMY GROVE was third in the Hong Kong Derby in March and shaped well when returning in the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) when a close third to INVINCIBLE IBIS and GALAXY PATCH. He may still need a little further to show his best but can run well for Derek Leung.
VOYAGE BUBBLE has been one of the world’s best milers in recent years and starts his preparation towards a third successive G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile victory in this race. He was rested after his last start fifth to MY WISH in the Champions Mile on 26 April and has had time in Conghua where he has had two trials ahead of his race return here. VOYAGE BUBBLE has to concede weight to all his rivals, and his task is further complicated by the outside barrier but VOYAGE BUBBLE always tries hard and will improve from this run.
HELIOS EXPRESS finished midfield in the Celebration Cup at his seasonal reappearance. The last time he raced over 1600m he won the 2024 Hong KongClassic Mile as a four-year-old and he can derive enough benefit from his first-up run to be a place chance at odds for Andrea Atzeni.
BEAUTY JOY ended last season in great form winning the G3 Premier Plate Handicap over 1800m in June and then the HKROA Trophy Handicap over 1600m in July. He resumes here for Brenton Avdulla as he heads towards the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap over 1800m on 8 November.
Source: HKJC