The 2025/26 season will be forever remembered as one of the most extraordinary chapters in the long and distinguished history of Hong Kong racing and tonight (Wednesday, 15 July), we gather to bid farewell to a truly remarkable a season.
After 88 meetings and 866 races, the season formally comes to a close, leaving us to reflect one of the greatest phases in the city’s racing history with the colossal feats of KA YING RISING and ROMANTIC WARRIOR, along with the incredible achievements of our champion jockeys and trainers, who have again brilliantly showcased Hong Kong’s world-class racing on the global stage.
As familiar as the world is with KA YING RISING, his towering achievements this season bear repeating – eight starts for eight wins, including five Group 1 triumphs, three track records, historic success by an overseas-trained horse in the world’s richest turf race, the G1 The Everest (1200m) in Sydney, a winning streak that now stands at a Hong Kong record of 20 and acclaim as joint No 1 in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
He is the best sprinter I have seen and is the embodiment of poetry in motion, and I congratulate the Ka Ying Syndicate, trainer David Hayes and jockey Zac Purton for their outstanding achievements.
Romantic Warrior was no less dominant this season – six wins from six starts, including five Group 1 victories, sweeping Hong Kong’s Triple Crown series and securing Hong Kong’s Champion Miler, Champion Stayer and, for an astonishing fifth time, Hong Kong’s Champion Middle Distance Horse Awards, as well as being acclaimed Hong Kong Champion Horse alongside KA YING RISING.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR is a Hong Kong racing immortal, having won 15 Group 1s in four different jurisdictions – Australia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong – and to continue to excel as an eight-year-old after fetlock surgery is a tremendous credit to Mr Peter Lau, trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald.
Together, KA YING RISING and ROMANTIC WARRIOR continue to showcase the very best of Hong Kong on the global stage, demonstrating the city’s relentless quest for excellence and our famed ‘can-do’ spirit.
Our human champions are similarly respected on the world stage with the accomplishments of Zac Purton and Caspar Fownes, who have again excelled this season.
Zac’s effort to win a ninth Hong Kong jockeys’ championship – his fifth title in a row – and to also become the first jockey to ride 2000 winners in the city is astonishing. His enduring professionalism and dedication to his craft are amazing, and he continues – with his elite mindset – to influence our world-class jockey roster, which features exceptionally skilled riders from around the world as well as our homegrown talent.
Caspar’s effort to win a fifth Hong Kong trainers’ crown also reflects his incredible competitiveness, skill and ambition. Caspar was locked in a tense battle for the title for much of this season before clinching the title last Sunday (12 July).
It is a measure of Caspar’s acumen that all five of his championships have been secured against some of the greatest trainers to have operated in Hong Kong, including John Size (13 titles), David Hayes (two), Tony Cruz (two) and his battle this season with Danny Shum and Mark Newnham has captured the imagination of the media and fans.
I congratulate Zac and Caspar for their victories and, as we look to the season finale at Happy Valley tonight, I want to thank our passionate owners, who continue to make significant investments to secure the best available equine talent from around the globe and to sustain Hong Kong’s world-class racing.
The Year of the Horse celebrations have been inspiring, drawing widespread community engagement and acclaim from around the world and, as a Club, we are proud of the contributions we have made to the betterment of society with substantial charitable and community contributions and Hong Kong horse racing is one of the city’s success stories under the “One Country, Two Systems” practice.
Our contributions to the community have increased significantly since 1997 with betting duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions growing from HK$14.2 billion in 1996/97 to HK$30.1 billion in 2024/25, while our charity donations have grown from HK$1.04 billion to HK$9 billion and we are now a globally-recognised charities organisation.
At Happy Valley tonight, internationally renowned singer Rechelle Mansour leads spectacular season-finale celebrations in the Beer Garden. Patrons can enjoy a wide range of food and beverages from food trucks and bars, while watching the world-class racing at close quarters.
There will be a jockey parade after Race 8 at 10.10pm when our elite riders will hand out horse plushies featuring the silks of KA YING RISING, ROMANTIC WARRIOR, MY WISH and INVINCIBLE IBIS, as well as a special Year of the Horse pony design.
One of the highlights of the evening will be a dazzling pyrotechnics display, which will light up the Happy Valley skyline.
Apart from the fabulous entertainment, the Club is offering HK$33.8 million in jackpot opportunities with jackpots on the first Double Trio, with an estimated dividend of HK$4 million for a single HK$10 winning unit, the Six Win Bonus has accumulated a HK$13 million jackpot, and the estimated dividend for a single HK$10 winning unit is HK$27 million, while jackpots of HK$800,000 and HK$2 million will be offered for the Quartet and First 4 Merged Pool of Races 1 and 9, respectively.
The competitive highlight is the Class 2 Lucky Patch Handicap, which is carded as Race 8 and will be run over 1200m at 10.10pm for prizemoney of HK$2.84 million.
The pace will be good with VICTOR THE WINNER likely to lead from TURQUOISE VELOCITY, BOTTOMUPTOGETHER and LUCKY WITH YOU, with CRIMSON FLASH, ROMANTIC SON and MAGIC CONTROL settling in the first half of the field.
CRIMSON FLASH won over this course and distance on 18 March and subsequently won over 1200m at Sha Tin. Last start, he finished sixth to LITTLE PARADISE in the G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) on 21 June. CRIMSON FLASH is perfectly drawn in gate three for Andrea Atzeni and he is a win and place chance.
VICTOR THE WINNER returned to winning form when he led throughout over this course and distance to beat RISING FORCE and BOTTOMUPTOGETHER on 20 May. Last start, he finished fourth to HOT DELIGHT and MAGIC CONTROL at Sha Tin on 7 June. VICTOR THE WINNER again here and is a place chance for Zac Purton.
MAGIC CONTROL is yet to win a race this season but has been knocking on the door lately with consecutive seconds, finishing runner-up to HOT DELIGHT and COLOURFUL KING, respectively at his past two starts. MAGIC CONTROL is a place chance for Derek Leung.
YOUNG CHAMPION has placed twice over this course and distance and has been racing well at Sha Tin recently with a third to RISING FORCE on 4 July. YOUNG CHAMPION is also a place chance for Hugh Bowman from gate four.
ROMANTIC SON (Keith Yeung), BOTTOMUPTOGETHER (Joao Moreira) and LUCKY WITH YOU (Luke Ferraris), SON PAK FU, (Britney Wong) and TURQUOISE VELOCITY (Karis Teetan) are all worth consideration.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is now drawing to a rapid close and many of our racing fans are also football fans. With the football semi-finals attracting so much attention, and with some of our off-course betting branches opening for the football, it naturally has some impact on our attendance and racing turnover.
Spain’s feat to beat France – the tournament favourite – 2-0 in this morning’s semi-final was a tremendous effort, and I look forward to watching England against Argentina with a spot in the final at stake.
Source: Hong Kong Jockey Club