Ten days have passed since the Season Finale at Happy Valley on Wednesday, 15 July, but the memories remain vivid of a spectacular end to the 2025/26 season with amazing fireworks over the skyline, the always popular jockey parade, wonderful music in the Beer Garden and a big, excited crowd. It was a fitting conclusion to another outstanding campaign – a season that made history.
KA YING RISING went unbeaten in eight starts, with five Group 1 wins and three track records, and extended his winning streak to 20, a Hong Kong record. He ended the year as the world’s best sprinter at joint number one in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. His finest hour came in Sydney, where he became the first overseas-trained horse to win the G1 The Everest (1200m), the richest turf race in the world. He is the best sprinter I’ve seen.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR was every bit as good. Six starts, six wins, and a sweep of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown. To do all that at eight years old, and after fetlock surgery, is remarkable.
For the first time in our history, the two of them were named joint Hong Kong Horse of the Year. Nobody could separate them, and that felt right.
Our racecourses also welcomed a record 401,259 visitors from Mainland China and overseas throughout the season – double last season’s figure, with the Year of the Horse Raceday in February setting a single-day record for tourist attendance. It highlights the growing appeal of Hong Kong racing and the unique entertainment experience we continue to provide. Racing tourism is now a real pillar of the city’s appeal to visitors.
While one season has finished, another is already taking shape. I am particularly excited that October will see Conghua Racecourse stage its first official raceday, marking another important milestone in the Club’s long-term development strategy. It represents the launch of thoroughbred speed racing at Conghua on a regular basis and is another step forward in the continued evolution of Hong Kong racing.
Before then, however, our international focus continues this weekend through World Pool, with customers able to enjoy a total of 20 simulcast races from Ascot in Britain, Greyville in South Africa and Munich in Germany.
Saturday’s (25 July) feature at Ascot is the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m), which is carded as S1-5 at 10.35pm (Hong Kong time). This year’s renewal, worth a record £2 million (approx. HK$20.8 million), looks one of the strongest editions of Britain’s midsummer showpiece for many years – a genuine gathering of Derby and Oaks winners, Arc performers and Japanese Group 1 talent in a race worthy of its rich history.
CALANDAGAN (Mickael Barzalona) sets the standard after a series of outstanding performances at the highest level and looks the one to beat if he reproduces his best form. He was poor on soft ground at Epsom, but answered with a last-to-first win in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m) last time out. The fast ground should suit him perfectly.
The runner I find most interesting, though, is MASQUERADE BALL (Christophe Lemaire). Hong Kong racing fans know him well: he was beaten only a head by Calandagan in last year’s G1 Japan Cup (2400m). More recently, he chased home Romantic Warrior in the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin in April, finishing second – a fine effort against our Horse of the Year at his brilliant best over a trip short of Masquerade Ball’s optimum. Back up in distance, on a track that will play to his strengths, he looks the most likely of the field to trouble Calandagan again. He is a strong win and place chance.
The remainder of the field, however, is formidable. KALPANA (Colin Keane) is the sole home-trained runner and is a high-class mare with a strong turn of foot. GOLIATH (Christophe Soumillon) won this race in 2024, and showed he retains plenty of ability when third behind Giavellotto and Kalpana in last month’s Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Aidan O’Brien saddles a powerful four-strong Ballydoyle team. It is headed by MINNIE HAUK (Wayne Lordan), last season’s Oaks and Irish Oaks heroine, who was four lengths behind Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot over an inadequate 2000 metres. The step up in distance should bring improvement. Stablemate BENVENUTO CELLINI (Ryan Moore) underlined his own quality with a comfortable defeat of Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day in the Irish Derby. LAMBOURN (William Buick) and ACTION (Sean Levey) complete the O’Brien quartet. WURTTEMBERG (Oisin Murphy), Japan’s other representative, adds further depth.
Attention then switches to Greyville, where Champions Cup Day features three Group 1 contests on Sunday, 26 July.
One of the stories I will be following closely is the return home of Hong Kong-based jockey Lyle Hewitson, who has a number of quality rides on South Africa’s Champions Cup Day. Lyle has become an important member of our riding ranks in Hong Kong, and I wish him every success on home soil.
The G1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes (1600m), carded as S2-5 at 9.15pm, looks an excellent contest. VIBE CHECK (Sean Veale) is top-rated and has won his last three for Vaughan Marshall, making him my outright pick, although MOANA (Calvin Habib) and GREEN ENERGY (Grant Van Niekerk) also command respect. They are win and place chances.
In the G1 Mercury Sprint (1200m), carded as S2-6 at 9.55pm, BUFFALO STORM CODY (Gavin Lerena) has the credentials to defend his crown, while QUESTIONING (Richard Fourie) drops back in trip after Group 1 victory last time out and is the principal danger. Both are win and place chances, with ASIYE PHAMBILI (Sean Veale) a place chance.
The G1 HKJC Champions Cup (1800m), carded as S2-8 at 11.15pm, is the highlight, and Justin Snaith saddles half the field of eight. SEE IT AGAIN (Keagan de Melo), top-rated on 130 and this year’s G1 Cape Town Met (2000m) winner, receives a narrow vote in what looks a competitive feature. His stablemate LEGAL COUNSEL (Callan Murray) and last year’s champion GLADATORIAN (Sean Veale) are each place chances.
The Grosser Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (2000m), Germany’s only Group 1 for older horses over 2000m, celebrates its 160th anniversary this year. Carded as S3-2, 10 runners go to post at 8.10pm on Sunday (26 July). This year’s contest has attracted an intriguing international field. WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE, who will be ridden by Oisin Murphy, was supplemented by George Scott and was an impressive second in the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. The colt is a win and place chance here. HOTAZHELL (Shane Foley) is respected after competing consistently at the highest level. Local hope SEGURO (Benjamin Marie) continues to improve and could make his presence felt.