The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races are officially in the rear-view mirror, and now the focus switches to the coming months when the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Triple Crown and Hong Kong Speed Series all commence.

Following Ka Ying Rising’s HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) blitz, David Hayes was beaming at Sha Tin on Tuesday (16 December), indicating the world’s best sprinter will now take a short break before the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) – the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series – on 25 January. 

“He’s pulled up really well. It was, probably visually, his best performance. I think his last two runs have been career peaks and let’s hope he keeps holding that form. He will go to Conghua now and have a nice month. He’ll be back in January,” Hayes said.

Hayes is eager to point Public Attention towards the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – on 1 February – which also comprises the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) before concluding with the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March. 

The 83-rated colt has raced twice in Hong Kong. He has come within a half-length of winning both times, including his narrow third placing last Sunday (14 December) in Class 2 over 1400m.

“I thought he ran really well. He just probably needs one more run at 1400 (metres). He is the stable’s premier Hong Kong Classic Mile horse,” Hayes said.   

Ricky Yiu is satisfied with six-time Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble following the weekend. The seven-year-old now embarks on another Triple Crown campaign when he seeks a third consecutive HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) triumph on 25 January.

“He’s fine. He’s really, really well. He’s an amazing horse, and it seems like he hasn’t even had a race. He’s full of energy, and he’s tough. We’ll follow the same path as last season – next up is the Stewards’ Cup,” Yiu said.

Before the city’s best returns next month, Wednesday’s (17 December) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley sees Hong Kong International Sale graduate Super Unicorn (125lb) go for a hat-trick of wins in the Class 3 Sea Eagle Handicap (1650m) under Andrea Atzeni.

“He’s obviously improved. It’s done his confidence a lot of good getting his head in front a few starts ago. We thought going into his last run that he definitely had improved because his work at home was better going into the race. We knew we were up in class, but we weren’t overly surprised that he won the race,” Atzeni said.

Rising in grade last month, Super Unicorn quickly made ground from well back to score by a neck at odds of 19/1 under Atzeni, who recently finished a narrow second on Giavellotto in Sunday’s HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

“He (Giavellotto) ran a brilliant race,” Atzeni said. “Turning in I was going as well as the winner, if not better, but when the winner (Sosie) kicked, he got a little bit of a first run on us. My horse kept digging all the way to the line and the winner kept finding – two very good horses.”

King Oberon (134lb) is also seeking a third consecutive win tomorrow night in the Class 4 Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup Handicap (1200m) for trainer Douglas Whyte.

Whyte said: “He’s really trained on well over the last two months. He seems to be in good order. He trialled 12 days ago and Luke (Ferraris) was very happy. His comments were positive, and again, he goes into the race in good form.

“Confidence is a funny thing. He was a bit of a bridesmaid, and since he’s had that first win, and a good couple of places, I also think he’s enjoyed coming back to Happy Valley. But he bumped into some nice and up-and-coming horses at Sha Tin, and I think that broke his heart a little bit. He’s gained a bit of confidence and he’s showing that.”

Wednesday’s (17 December) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley kicks off at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Heron Handicap (2200m).