Written by Alan Carasso

Longines Hong Kong Cup

Purse: HK$28 million (£2,727,210/€3,227,098/A$5,229,719/

US$3,576,655)

Distance: 2000 metres

2018 champion: Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko)

THE PICK: While the defection of Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) has robbed this year’s HKIR of its marquee player, a solid octet remains for the richest of Sunday’s four events. Despite being out a very long time this season and making a remarkable 12th trip to the races over an even more remarkable 10th different surface.

Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) shows no signs of being over the top and looms the one to beat. Though the 4-year-old failed to get her picture taken in her first 10 starts this term, she ran with great credit to be runner-up in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf in January, the G1 Pretty Polly S., her lone try against her peers, the GI Arlington Million and in the G1 Irish Champion S. Fourth and not beaten far behind last year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase second Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Cox Plate on Australian debut on November 26, the bay came from 21st to fill 10th spot in the G1 Melbourne Cup on November 5. Back just four, hence the G1 Mackinnon S. over Sunday’s trip, she sat handy to the pace and outstayed the very classy Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) for a maiden top-level success.

THE CONTENDERS: Rise High (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) is the pick of the locals as Hong Kong looks to win the Cup for the third consecutive year. Held in the highest regard by trainer Caspar Fownes, the 5-year-old was a nice Class 1 animal 12 months ago, but suggested there was more under the hood with an excellent runner-up effort to Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup over the 2400 metres in May.

Winner of the G3 Premier Plate H. to close the season, he resumed with a 16-1 upset of G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hope Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. (1600 metres) on October 20, but was a touch flat when fourth in the course-and-distance G2 Jockey Club Cup on November 20.

Win Bright (Jpn), a son of 2001 Vase winner Stay Gold (Jpn), defeated Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the G2 Nakayama Kinen in February before defying overlaid odds of 47-1 to upset the G1 FWD QE II Cup here on April 28. Away six months, the grey entire resumed in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and chased from a bit off the rail before just running out of fitness in the final 200 metres in a race that also produced next-out G1 Japan Cup hero Suave Richard (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}). Win Bright should come on for the run and can be in the mix.

THE ROUGHIE: As discussed in Sunday’s TDN Europe, trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre won the 2006 Cup with the diminutive Pride (Fr) (Peintre Celebre {Fr}) and he’ll send out Edisa (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) on behalf of the Aga Khan Sunday afternoon. The chestnut filly, the lone American-bred runner in any of the four HKIR, placed twice at group level in France earlier this summer, including a runner-up effort to future G1 Prix de l’Opera winner Villa Marina (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}). She travelled to Belmont Park to scoop the valuable Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. over a mile and three furlongs September 7 and exits a second-place effort in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at ParisLongchamp October 20.

Longines Hong Kong Mile

Purse: HK$25 million (£2,435,246/€2,881,541/A$4,670,140/

US$3,193,369)

Distance: 1600 metres

2018 winner: Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus})

THE PICK: If the Mile were a beauty contest (it may well be a ‘Beauty’ contest), there would be nearly no doubt that Persian Knight (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) would take down the prize. But good looks don’t necessarily correlate one-to-one to on-track performance, and such is the case with Persian Knight, who is winless since the 2017 G1 Mile Championship S. The nearly black 5-year-old tries the Hong Kong Mile for the second year in a row, having finished a deceptively good fifth.

There have admittedly been more lows than highs this season, as he was a slow-starting 10th in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in early June, though he did finish his final three furlongs in 32.70s, fractionally quicker than the victorious Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}). Not beaten far in the G2 Sapporo Kinen and in the G2 Mainichi Okan over longer trips he may not prefer, he showed some signs of life last time, again clocking a faster final 600 metres than Indy Champ when third to that one in the November 17 Mile Championship. He clearly needs to lift on his current form, but he gets the hot-riding Oisin Murphy back in the boot and he’ll be very attractive in the market.

THE CONTENDERS: Japanese raiders have won the Mile on three occasions (Eishin Preston, 2001; Hat Trick (Jpn), 2005; Maurice {Jpn}), 2015 and Indy Champ has claims to join that group Sunday. Fourth to Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup in April, the 4-year-old got the better of the good barometer Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune) and Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen, parlaying a perfect forward trip into a neck success.

Two spots and a 0.5l ahead of Persian Knight in the Mainichi Okan, he proved the beneficiary in the Mile Championship when favoured Danon Premium petered out in the final 150 metres and joined Horse of the Year Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) in completing the Yasuda Kinen/Mile Championship double. He is an obvious win candidate and drawn to sit another golden trip, but can be taken on as the likely second choice.

Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock) is the two-time defending champ in the Mile and can join Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) as the only three-time winners of the race this weekend. Since stretching his winning streak to 10 in the G3 Celebration Cup H. Oct. 1, he has lost his cloak of invincibility, including a third to Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile November 17. It’s level weights Sunday, the reports are all positive and if you like him, you’re going to see a price you have not seen in some time.

THE ROUGHIE: While a 3-year-old has yet to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (more on that on the next page), two have succeeded in the Mile, the most recent being Lucky Owners (NZ) (Danehill) in 2003. Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) was winning the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity just shy of two years ago, completing an unbeaten championship season.

The chestnut snapped a baby two-race losing streak with a 0.5l tally in the G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo May 5 and has just one run since, a ninth to G1 Victoria Mile heroine Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) in the G3 Fuji S. (1800 metres) on October 19. He’s back at his preferred distance Sunday and has been impressive in his Sha Tin trackwork.

Longines Hong Kong Sprint

Purse: HK$20 million (£1,948,169/€2,305,125/A$3,735,990/

US$2,554,706)

Distance: 1200 metres

2018 winner: Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus})

THE PICK: Hong Kong has been blessed with one world-class sprinter after the next over the last two decades, a list including the likes of Fairy King Prawn, Silent Witness, Absolute Champion, Sacred Kingdom and Aerovelocity (NZ). In the form of Aethero (Sebring), Hong Kong has something that could possibly surpass the lofty achievements of those before him.

As discussed at length in today’s cover story, Aethero was an expensive purchase by George Moore out of the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, a horse very much in the mould of former Hong Kong and John Moore stable star Able Friend (Shamardal {USA}). Zac Purton didn’t have to lay a finger on Aethero in three appearances at two and, while he stubbed his toe a bit on his seasonal debut on October 1, it has been nothing but smooth sailing since.

His 2l victory in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint came at the expense of nearly every top local sprinter, including Hot King Prawn (Denman) - beaten as the favourite in last year’s Sprint - and the ever-consistent Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook). Aethero will start from barrier 10, outside the other speed, and he will try to cross and clear with as little fuss as possible. Purton has given his stamp of approval and it is very much all systems go for one of the more exciting Hong Kong gallopers for many years.

THE CONTENDERS: Third to Mr Stunning (Exceed And Excel) last year, Beat the Clock would go on to champion sprinter honours after annexing the G1 Centenary Sprint Prize over Mr Stunning and the season-closing G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, beating Rattan (NZ) (Savabeel) by a 0.5l.

Beat the Clock made his seasonal debut in the Jockey Club Sprint and ran on admirably from the rear to be third. Joao Moreira has the call for trainer John Size and some improvement can be expected. Mr Stunning is the two-time defending champion in the Sprint, but he will have to make up 5l on Aethero, having finished eighth in the JC Sprint.

Hot King Prawn made the early running in last year’s Sprint, but he faded tamely into the final 300 metres and struggled home ninth at skinny odds of 11-10. Of all the first-up efforts in the Jockey Club Sprint, his was arguably the most promising, as he settled better than midfield and kept on very well to finish second.

THE ROUGHIES: On bare form, Full of Beauty (Darci Brahma {NZ}) appears to be overmatched, with his lone victory at group level coming in the G3 National Day Cup H. up the 1000-metre straight course at Sha Tin. He threw in a final 400 metres, in an other-wordly 43.42s when beaten a head into second by Seasons Bloom (Captain Sonador) in the G2 Premier Bowl H. October 20 and closed off in a race-fastest :21.79 to fill fourth spot behind Aethero in the Jockey Club Sprint last time.

He did so from gate 14, but has a much neater draw in barrier five and has each-way appeal. In Her Time (Time Thief) brings proven Group 1 form from Australia into the Sprint. Ridden by Zac Purton when victorious in the G1 The Galaxy S. (1100 metres) around a right-handed bend at Rosehill in 2018, the 7-year-old added the G1 Lightning S. up the five-furlong straight course at Flemington this past February. She has made a favourable impression during the week and should give an honest account of herself.

Longines Hong Kong Vase

Purse: HK$20 million (£1,948,169/€2,305,125/A$3,735,990/

US$2,554,706)

Distance: 2400 metres

2018 winner: Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire})

THE PICK: Despite being assigned the widest gate in the field of 14 for the Vase, Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) feels like the banker of the day in the first of the internationals. Exultant was named Hong Kong’s champion middle-distance horse and stayer in a season that also included wins in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000 metres) and G1 Champions and Chater Cup (2400 metres) after connections declined to travel the horse in between.

Resuming in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse over an 1800-metre trip that was always going to be too sharp, the 5-year-old stuck on into third, and he progressed to the G2 Jockey Club Cup two weeks later. Asked to kick fully 1000 metres from home, he made a sustained run and found the line 1 1/4 lengths to the good of Hong Kong Derby winner Furore (NZ) (Pierro). Expect Zac Purton to ride Exultant forward from out wide and try to slot in, then use his superior stamina to outstay the competition.

THE CONTENDERS: Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) split the field in last year’s Vase after veering out at the start, and similar to last year, has sprung to life with a trip to Australia for the Melbourne Spring Carnival. The 6-year-old defeated the re-opposing True Self (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) in the G3 Geelong Cup (2400 metres) October 23 just 11 days on from a runner-up effort in the G2 Herbert Power S. at Caulfield. With a ballot exemption for the G1 Melbourne Cup, Prince of Arran raced relatively handy and grinded it out late to be third before being promoted to second.

Melbourne Cup form has read well in the Vase, with both Red Cadeaux (GB) and Dunaden (Fr) using the race en route to Vase success. Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first winner of the G1 Investec Derby to race in Hong Kong. Subsequently runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby and third in the G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S.- with female stablemates Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ahead of him - he exits a solid third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf and may have gone a bit closer but for some stretch interference.

Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), second in last year’s Hong Kong Cup, has been ambitiously campaigned this year, with a marquee win in Goodwood’s G1 Nassau S. to her credit. Fourth with some trouble in the Irish Champion S., she was a latest third in unsuitably soft ground in the G1 Champion S. at Ascot. Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) has looked good in the flesh this week and will look to parlay a victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200 metres) into a Vase title.

THE ROUGHIES: Called To The Bar (Ire) (Henrythenavigtor) has been a reliable money spinner in his career, having missed the top three just twice in his 16 career starts. Repeat winner of the G3 Prix Gladiateur at Paris Longchamp September 8, he missed the G1 Prix Royal-Oak owing to heavy ground and goes fresh in the Vase.

Trainer Roger Charlton sends in Aspetar (GB) (Al Kazeen {GB}), victorious in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly (2400 metres) in June and showed an impressive finishing kick when proving the 2.5l winner of the G1 Preis von Europa at Cologne September 22. He has been specifically set for this and has trained with good energy at Sha Tin.