News

Hong Kong Races Preview: Ka Ya Rising set for glory?

by
The Racing Ahead Team
24 April 2025

By Sean Trivass

For exclusive stories and all the detailed Racing news you need, subscribe to the Racing Ahead website, digital edition, or magazine from as little as 8p a day.

It would be fair to admit that I have been living the dream in recent years, gallivanting around the World (at my own expense, by the way) and taking in some of the best racing on the planet.

I still enjoy the Breeders’ Cup now and then, which gives me more to write about with a hat full of European challengers, but in the last decade or so, I find myself gravitating to Dubai or the Far East whenever I can.

Japan is amazing full stop, but when it comes to horse racing, Hong Kong is King of the World.

At the risk of repeatedly banging the same drum, there does seem to be a huge difference between those of us who have bookmakers and a weak Tote (where the majority of profits go to (in my opinion) undeserving shareholders) and a Tote monopoly, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Yes Hong Kong has a vibrant betting market, and yes, they take their percentage out of the pool – but it’s how they spend it that really counts.

I can only imagine the infighting if we had the same in the UK with owners, trainers and (worst of all) racecourses all screaming for a bigger slice of the pie – but as the Hong Kong Jockey Club own the courses and the training centres, and licence both trainers and jockeys, their word is law – and it works.

Owners have no issues either with high prize money leaving them sitting pretty, with their top races attracting plenty of runners from overseas looking to plunder the cash, and with enough money left over for charitable works (they contributed $HK10.2 billion, or a fraction short of £1billion) in 2023/24) while keeping all their facilities state of the art (and their customers happy), so there really isn’t a loser here.

On to the racing and I see this as their second best meeting of the year after the international races in December. Known as FWD Champions day and sponsored by FWD Insurance, there will be a full card but my knowledge does not stretch that far, so we will focus on the three big races – which makes sense to me!

Chairman’s Sprint Prize

“Just” the $2.8 million US up for grabs in this Group One over 1200 metres and although we will have a heavily odds-on favourite here in Ka Ying Rising, I still felt the sensible move was to wait for the draw (the four box looks ideal) before making any decisions.

Still only a four-year-old, so a relative baby in sprinting terms, there is every chance we are yet to see the best of the 125 rated gelding who is officially 6lb better than any of his rivals as he looks for his 12^th win on the bounce.

The New Zealand bred has certainly been a real money spinner for connections with his career earnings now approaching £5 million, and truth is, this has been his season’s long-term target and he is impossible to oppose.

For those looking for a bit of each way value, you could do a lot worse than Japanese raider Satono Reve, who was less than a length behind the jolly here in December and who won his prep race at Chukyo in March, and with the benefit of “magic man” Joao Moreira who is still worshipped here in Hong Kong in the saddle, he could be the one to serve it up to the favourite from the 6 stall.

FWD Champions Mile

Our second Group One, this time over 1600 metres (the clue is in the title), and another big pot up for grabs, this time $3.1 million US and with a pretty competitive field, on paper at least.

Beauty Eternal lowered the colours of the amazing Golden Sixty (fourth) last season, form which clearly makes him a challenger here, but he has had six unsuccessful starts since and trainer John Size will need to work miracles here if he wants to follow up.

Voyage Bubble is officially the best of the home team off a mark of 120 and he arrives here off the back of an easy win in the Hong Kong Gold Cup over an added quarter of a mile, though he is equally adept over this trip and has the assistance of James McDonald in the plate which is always a positive around here.

Mr Brightside is certainly another to consider for Australia with the seven-year-old the talk of the morning trackwork all week, though he may be better suited by a softer surface with connections potentially praying for rain on race day, and I still feel home advantage favours my suggestion.

FWD QEII Cup

Sadly, no Romantic Warrior for 2025 after his wins here in 2022, 20203, and 2024, but that only makes this year’s renewal even more competitive.

First run in 1975 to mark a State visit by Queen Elizabeth II, it started as a handicap at Happy Valley – and is now a Group One at Sha Tin – how Hong Kong racing has changed and grown over the years.

We don’t want to see another result like 2004 (58/1 chance River Dancer left most punters stunned that year), but with strong European form on offer, we have to talk about Goliath first.

Francis Henri Graffard’s five-year-old takes on three from Hong Kong, two from Japan, one from Bahrain and one from New Zealand here in a race with a true international feel to it, and he will need to be at his best to win.

The gelded son of Adlerflug had a good 2024 with a win in the King George at Ascot (beating subsequent Arc winner Blue Stocking) and then at Longchamp before he ended his campaign with a fifth in the Japan Cup, where he didn’t get a fast run race which would have allowed him to attack the leaders late on.

His flamboyant owner ensures plenty of publicity wherever he runs, and he is the class act but be warned – he is yet to win over this trip and will either need a fast pace to attack from – or to make his own if necessary.

Talking to my French colleagues here they pointed out the ridiculously good recent form of his trainer (a 45% win strike rate at the time of writing), and that he feels the horse has the speed needed to drop in distance, all of which helped me make my final decision.

Prognosis is an obvious danger from Japan having come home second here for the last two renewals, but he is inclined to miss the break before finishing with a late rattle and he cannot afford to do that here.

Four wins from 14 starts and none at this level are a red flag to me I’m afraid, though this is a fascinating contest where the unknown quantities of early pace and gate speed may decide the final outcome.

Cap Ferrat warrants a mention after running his best race yet when winning the Hong Kong Derby over course and distance at odds of 26/1 last month, but he needs to back that up and then some if he wants to figure here.