Hong Kong Racing
Hong Kong’s three equine heavenly kings shine on the world stage at LONGINES Hong Kong International Races
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has hailed the 2025 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) as “a very, very special day” after an afternoon of history and world-class racing at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 December).
As Hong Kong racing glistened on the international horseracing stage with the history-making feat of Romantic Warrior to win a record fourth G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and the victories of Ka Ying Rising (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint) and Voyage Bubble (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile), Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said the competition was "absolutely world-class."
"In summarising, when we look at the racing itself, it was absolutely world-class. The LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship (on Wednesday, 10 December) was a wonderful prelude but today was the absolute pinnacle of what we could have hoped for.
"We believe this was one of the greatest days of Hong Kong racing."
"We saw an outstanding Vase with the winner Sosie being a wonderful stayer and last year winner Giavellotto as runner up, which has confirmed the quality of the Vase, and both horses repeated their Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe form. I would like to send my appreciation and thanks to Andre Fabre, who had his birthday this week and hopefully this is a little birthday present for him and wife who was here," said Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges.
"I call it poetry in motion, I call it the best horse I have ever seen at least in the sprinting distances. He's not from this planet — the way he dominated from the gate and left other world-class horses trailing in his shadow was simply extraordinary," Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
"To see a horse in Romantic Warrior winning for the fourth time – it's never happened in history – in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and in emphatic style is amazing and he is now on HK$240 million in prizemoney and Danny Shum and James McDonald are incredible team with this champion horse.
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges praised the entertainment performances of Rain and Now United as Hong Kong shimmered on the world stage with the successful staging of the Club's flagship meeting. He also thanked LONGINES' great sponsorship for the flagship event.
"So today, is not just the result of the efforts of the Racing Division, but colleagues right across the Club and we've seen just extraordinary and how excellent they are.
"This year has generated a level of international attention that has been quite exceptional and the Club is grateful for all of that."
