Mr Brightside et al take on HK's Champions

HONG KONG Ka Ying Rising, Voyage Bubble and Cap Ferrat highlight Hong Kong's selected runners for FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on April 27.

On that day, the trio face an imposing international contingent from Australia, France, New Zealand, Japan, Great Britain and Bahrain, spearheaded by Group 1 winners Mr Brightside, Goliath and El Vencedor.

Competing for a record HK$74 million (S$12.9 million) in prize money across the HK$28 million FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2,000m), HK$24 million FWD Champions Mile (1,600m) and HK$22 million Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m), the FWD Champions Day's three Group 1 features include 20 individual Group 1 winners among 46 selected runners.

David Hayes' sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising - Sha Tin's 1,200m track record holder (1m 07.20sec) - chases a fourth Group 1 win in the Chairman's Sprint Prize.

That success would mean a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus after wins in the first two legs of the three-race challenge this season: HK$13 million Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) and HK$13 million Group 1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m).

Ranked the highest-rated sprinter in the world, Ka Ying Rising's 11 successes put him third behind two Hong Kong racing legends for the most wins in a row: Silent Witness (17) and Golden Sixty (16).

Lucky Sweynesse will make his first start this season in the Chairman's Sprint Prize, while Helios Express, California Spangle, Victor The Winner, Invincible Sage, Lucky With You, Beauty Waves, Magic Control and Copartner Prance bolster the home side's defence against a Japanese quartet led by Group 1 winners Satono Reve and Lugal, as well as Danon McKinley and A Shin Fencer.

Voyage Bubble is Hong Kong's dominant miler and will also seek a fourth Group 1 triumph this season - the FWD Champions Mile - after the HK$36 million Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile (1,600m), HK$13 million Group 1 Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and HK$13 million Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m).

He will do battle with nine-time Australian Group 1 winner Mr Brightside, Japan's Gaia Force, Great Britain's Lake Forest and Bahrain's Goemon.

Royal Patronage also ships from Australia, where he won the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1,300m) in March before finishing a close second in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile Handicap (1600m) on April 5 for co-trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.

Defending champion Beauty Eternal features for Hong Kong alongside Hong Kong Classic Mile (1,600m) winner My Wish, Galaxy Patch, Beauty Joy, Chancheng Glory, Happy Together, Red Lion and Sunlight Power.

The fourth highest-rated horse in the world in 2024, Goliath will add a fourth jurisdiction to his record as Resolute Racing's global campaigner contests the FWD QEII Cup.

The German-bred - trained by Francis-Henri Graffard - captured the 2024 Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,392m) ahead of Bluestocking, Rebel's Romance, Sunway, Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg and Dubai Honour.

Seven of the 14 runners in the FWD QEII Cup are from overseas. Japan has three Group 1 placegetters at Sha Tin: Prognosis, Liberty Island and Tastiera while Stephen Marsh's gun six-year-old and four-time Group 1 winner El Vencedor is aiming to secure a first FWD QEII Cup win for New Zealand.

While four-time Group 1 victor Dubai Honour ventures back to Hong Kong for a fifth time, Bahrain's Calif is a first-time visitor.

Hong Kong's FWD QEII Cup contingent includes BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat and Hong Kong Classic Cup hero Rubylot.

Cap Ferrat is aiming to join Vengeance Of Rain (2005), Ambitious Dragon (2011), Designs On Rome (2014), Werther (2016) and Romantic Warrior (2022) by completing the Derby-QEII Cup double in the same season.

Winner of the HK$5.35 million Group 2 Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) in March, Straight Arron is joined by fellow Hong Kong-trained runners Ensued, Winning Dragon, Moments In Time and La City Blanche.

"FWD Champions Day is one of the most pre-eminent fixtures on world racing's calendar. We are delighted to have world-class representation from overseas and Hong Kong at our spring flagship meeting," said Andrew Harding, executive director of racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

"With 16 visitors from around the world, including Mr Brightside and Goliath, the might of Hong Kong's team will be tested across the three Group 1 features." HKJC