The 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) has received a world-class entry list, comprising 191 horses, crowned by 58 individual Group 1 winners, all chasing glory at the ‘Turf World Championships’ at Sha Tin on 8 December.

Offering record prize money of HK$126 million, the year-end showcase has drawn entries from four continents for four elite Group 1 races – the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

Romantic Warrior, California Spangle, Auguste Rodin, Liberty Island, Antino, Goliath, Mr Brightside, Jantar Mantar, Rebel’s Romance, Lugal and Lazzat are among the headline entries. Japan leads with 55 nominations – including 13 individual Group 1 winners – while horses from Australia, Great Britain, France, Ireland, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Bahrain and Singapore also feature. 

Romantic Warrior leads the home side’s defence. Danny Shum’s earner of HK$151.92 million – an eight-time Group 1 winner overall, who also successfully raided the G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) and G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) last season – is aiming to become the first three-time winner of the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup, following victories in 2022 and 2023.

California Spangle, winner of the 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, seeks a second triumph at the meeting. The gelding won two top-level races last season – the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) and G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) – after reverting to sprinting and trainer Tony Cruz is eyeing a fourth LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint after prevailing with Silent Witness (2003 & 2004) and Peniaphobia (2015).

Emerging stars Galaxy Patch and Ka Ying Rising – both last-start Group 2 winners – are entered for the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, respectively.

Group 1-placed Galaxy Patch has quickly risen through the local mile ranks, while Ka Ying Rising has done the same over short-course distances, recently blitzing the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin in a time of 1m 07.57s – slightly outside Sacred Kingdom’s 2007 course record (1m 07.50s).

2024 HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Massive Sovereign may run in either the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup or LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. Group 1 winners Beauty Eternal and Voyage Bubble hold entries for the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, with Voyage Bubble also holding a LONGINES Hong Kong Cup option; Victor The Winner and Invincible Sage are entered in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint.

Beauty Joy, Red Lion, Lucky With You, Five G Patch, Straight Arron, Taj Dragon, Happy Together, Mugen, Nimble Nimbus, Helios Express, Encountered, Ka Ying Generation, Flying Ace, Howdeepisyourlove, Chancheng Glory, Sword Point, Beauty Waves, La City Blanche and The Golden Scenery are also in the mix.

Mr Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “We are beyond pleased with the entries for the 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. Hong Kong’s very best horses and many more from around the world are nominated, setting the scene for yet another world-class day of sporting action on 8 December at Sha Tin.

“Romantic Warrior – Hong Kong’s current banner horse – will aim to become the first horse to win three LONGINES Hong Kong Cups. Galaxy Patch and Ka Ying Rising – two of our most exciting horses – also feature and, we are very encouraged by the support we have received from our international friends around the world. We are confident that this year’s list has the right mix to deliver another memorable LONGINES Hong Kong International Races – which boasts a record purse of HK$126 million for the four Group 1 races.”

Stunning winner of the 2024 G1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in Australia, Antino raced to a near-seven length demolition of rivals this month and the Redwood gelding is among entries for the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.

Outstanding stayer Liberty Island – Japan’s 2023 Triple Tiara heroine – might contest the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup. The brilliant mare’s trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida has also entered Prognosis, Serifos and Gran Dia.

Japan’s domineering entry includes seven horses for globetrotting trainer Yoshito Yahagi, whose fleet comprises 2024 G1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) third Shin Emperor, Chase The Dream, Bathrat Leon, Tenkaharu, King Hermes, Ravel and 2024 G1 Kentucky Derby (2000m, dirt) third Forever Young – winner of the 2024 G3 Saudi Derby (1600m, dirt) and 2024 G2 UAE Derby (1900m, dirt).

Trainer of the brilliant Maurice, Noriyuki Hori may seek further Sha Tin success with Tastiera, Danon Beluga, Struve, Satono Reve, Sakura Toujours, Gonbade Qabus and J Palms, while trainer Haruki Sugiyama’s entry features Lugal, Justin Palace, Elton Barows and Aguri. Lugal is entered in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint following victory in September’s G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama. Second in that race, Toshin Macau, also has an entry.

Star three-year-old Jantar Mantar won the 2024 G1 NHK Mile Cup (1600m) and holds an entry for the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. Top-level winners Brede Weg, Killer Ability, Geoglyph, Namur and Stunning Rose also have entries from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Goliath has evolved into a powerful force on the global stage, capturing the 2024 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2400m) at Ascot over quality opposition, including subsequent 2024 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) winner Bluestocking, Rebel’s Romance, Sunway, Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg and Dubai Honour.

Goliath is entered in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase and LONGINES Hong Kong Cup. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard may also be represented by Zarir and emerging three-year-old Calandagan.

Calandagan races for His Highness the Aga Khan, who also owns Tarawa, an entry for Irish trainer Dermot Weld. Dubai Honour has competed three times in Hong Kong for trainer William Haggas and may return for the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Aidan O’Brien is one of the world’s finest trainers and Ballydoyle’s legendary figurehead has 15 horses nominated, led by Auguste Rodin, who is entered for the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. O’Brien has won the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase three times – Highland Reel (2015 & 2017) and Mogul (2020). Undefeated English Classic winner Jan Brueghel may feature in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, while Luxembourg is dual entered for the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Rebel’s Romance is expected to return after his crushing victory in the 2024 G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m). Charlie Appleby’s well-travelled Dubawi gelding is a winner in the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Qatar and Great Britain in the famous blue colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s powerhouse operation Godolphin.

Six Group 1 winners are entered from France – Marhaba Ya Sanafi, Iresine, Facteur Cheval and Calif – as well as Lazzat and Goliath. Undefeated across six starts, Jerome Reynier-trained Lazzat has enjoyed a swift rise in France, winning the 2024 G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m) in August. Reynier has entered Facteur Cheval – triumphant of the 2024 G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) – in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.

Andre Fabre has scooped a trio of LONGINES Hong Kong Vases: Borgia (1999), Flintshire (2014) and Junko (2023). The remarkable trainer could chance at winning a fourth with Maniatic and Godolphin-owned Marquisat.

Also among the Australian entry are Group 1 winners Via Sistina, Buckaroo, Land Legend and Lady Laguna. As well, Without A Fight became the first horse in 22 years to complete the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) double in 2023. He has a LONGINES Hong Kong Vase entry.

Recent Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa is one of four entries for Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, who has also nominated I Am Me, Royal Supremacy and Recommendation.

Fantastic Moon, Straight and Best Of Lips are entered from Germany. Fantastic Moon is a dual Group 1 winner. Two-time Royal Ascot Group 1 winner Khaadem holds an entry for the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, while Ramadan, Prague, Swingalong, Giavellotto and Docklands could also represent Great Britain. The Sir Alex Ferguson part-owned Spirit Dancer is entered.

David Menuisier’s classy three-year-old Sunway, winner of the 2023 G1 Criterium International (1600m) and second in the 2024 G1 Irish Derby (2400m), is entered for the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Canada has two entries, both last start Group 1 winners at Woodbine. Full Count Felicia for trainer Kevin Attard and Win For The Money trained by Mark Casse. The United States of America could be represented by Group 1 winners Johannes, Cogburn, Isivunguvungu, Nobals, Lukka, Howard Wolowitz, Gold Phoenix and Far Bridge. Recent Group 2 winner First Peace is also among entries for trainer Mark Glatt.

New Zealand’s entries are Sacred Satono and Positivity, Bahrain’s two entries are Goemon and Group 3 winner Sprewell, while Singapore has a sole entry in Lim’s Saltoro.