Ka Ying Rising and host of overseas stars headline Hong Kong International Races entries

Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising and a host of international stars headline 142 entries for the showpiece Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) meeting at Sha Tin on December 13.

The Jockey Club confirmed on Wednesday that 36 individual Group One winners are among entries for the four elite races – the HK$40 million Group One Hong Kong Cup, HK$36 million Group One Hong Kong Mile, HK$28 million Group One Hong Kong Sprint and HK$26 million Group One Hong Kong Vase.

Rated 135 at the top of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, Ka Ying Rising will aim to become the first three-time winner of the Hong Kong Sprint after victories in 2024 and 2025.

Despite his record win streak ending at 21 in a row last month in Australia, Ka Ying Rising’s dominance in Hong Kong has led to just 21 entries for the Hong Kong Sprint, with Japanese Group One victors Puro Magic and Star Anise and Australia’s Jigsaw among his potential rivals.

With four-time Hong Kong Cup hero Romantic Warrior retired, the city’s richest race has attracted strong interest from overseas owners and trainers, with 53 of the total 73 entries from international representatives.

They include last weekend’s Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Benvenuto Cellini, Diamond Necklace, Lambourn and Minnie Hauk for legendary trainer Aidan O’Brien, British Group One winners Almaqam, Docklands, Glacius and Survie, a host of Japanese stars headlined by Masquerade Ball and Australian Group One winners Sir Delius and Land Legend.

“We are incredibly pleased with the support from our international friends with outstanding entries for the 2026 Longines Hong Kong International Races,” Jockey Club executive director of racing Andrew Harding said.

“Hong Kong will once again meet world-class opposition on an exciting afternoon of action on Sunday, December 13 at Sha Tin.

“Sitting at the top of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, our record-breaking champion Ka Ying Rising is trying to win a record third successive Longines Hong Kong Sprint, while Voyage Bubble will attempt to join Golden Sixty and Good Ba Ba – who each won three editions of the Longines Hong Kong Mile – by becoming a three-time winner at the Longines Hong Kong International Races when he contests the Longines Hong Kong Cup.

“My Wish and rising star Numbers are also on their respective missions towards the Longines Hong Kong International Races, which again carries HK$130 million across the four elite races, and we are confident this year will be another memorable renewal.”

Francis Henri-Graffard’s star three-year-old Erdenali, a brilliant winner at four of five races including the Group One Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in France, is one of the headline acts of the Hong Kong Mile entries.

Group One Yasuda Kinen victor Sixpence is also among the overseas entries for the race, while Group One Champions Mile conqueror My Wish spearheads the 25 local contenders.

O’Brien’s quartet of Hong Kong Cup nominees also feature in Hong Kong Vase entries, along with 2024 Vase winner Giavellotto, last month’s Group One Caulfield Cup winner Kingswood and America’s Far Bridge and Gold Phoenix.