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| Staff Writer |
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Next month at Sha Tin, Aidan O'Brien plans to unleash one of his strongest contenders in an attempt to defeat the current champion, Romantic Warrior, and win the prestigious Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup. This race holds great significance for O'Brien, as he aims to secure his first victory in this esteemed event.
The highly anticipated Longines Hong Kong International Races will see 16 Group One champions from around the world, including the impressive Luxembourg, with an international rating of 123, the highest ever sent by Irish master to the city since Highland Reel. Luxembourg will be going head to head with local hero Romantic Warrior, who also boasts a rating of 123, making for an exciting clash in the HK$118 million race on December 10.
There will be a strong Japanese presence in the race, with Prognosis, Rousham Park, and Hishi Iguazu making the journey from the Land of the Rising Sun. Meanwhile, French 3YO Horizon Dore will be flying the flag for France, hoping to claim his first Group One success after finishing third at Ascot last month.
Luxembourg, with victories in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Irish Champion Stakes, and the 2021 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes, is one of the top contenders for the race. In contrast, Horizon Dore is still chasing his first Group One success. Prognosis, who finished third in the Group One Tenno Sho Autumn at Tokyo, takes aim at Romantic Warrior once again after coming second to Danny Shum Chap-shing's star in April's Group One QE II Cup.
Rousham Park, with three straight wins, will make his Group One debut after winning the Group Two Sankei Sho All Comers in September. The local contingent includes last year’s third placegetter Money Catcher, Group Two Jockey Club Cup victor Straight Arron, Sword Point, Nimble Nimbus, Running Glory, and Champion Dragon. The Longines HKIR Selection promises to be an exciting event, with a strong international field vying for victory.