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| Staff Writer |
In a defining moment for Hong Kong racing, Romantic Warrior etched his name into the history books by becoming the first horse to win the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup three times at Sha Tin. The champion stayer, trained by Danny Shum, has now amassed career earnings of US$22.7 million, surpassing Golden Sixty's previous record of US$21.4 million.
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While the home team dominated proceedings, Britain celebrated its first success at the "Turf World Championships" since 2012 as Giavellotto claimed the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. The victory marked a significant breakthrough for international raiders at the prestigious meeting.
Ka Ying Rising demonstrated his prowess in the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, overcoming fierce competition from fellow Hong Kong contender Victor The Winner. Meanwhile, Voyage Bubble secured victory in the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, with Soul Rush delivering an impressive performance to claim second place.
The meeting drew a combined attendance of 80,691 across Sha Tin and Happy Valley venues – the highest since 2018. Notably, mainland visitors set a new record with 6,511 attendees, marking a 40 percent increase from the previous year.
Hong Kong Jockey Club's Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges reflected on the occasion: "I personally think it was one of the best, if not the best, LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and an incredible week. Starting with the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship, it was an amazing success. Today, we hoped to create a highlight and I personally think everything went to perfection."
The international reach of the event was evident with live broadcasts across 29 countries. The meeting achieved a new commingling record of US$60.7 million, representing a 10 percent increase from last year's figures.
Executive Director of Racing, Andrew Harding, emphasised the global significance of the event: "The emphasis was on international. We were so pleased to see the entries from so many countries, including for the first time for a little while from Australia, and the quality of the entries was outstanding – I would like to acknowledge our team in achieving that."
The presence of football legend Sir Alex Ferguson added to the occasion's prestige, with Engelbrecht-Bresges noting: "We have one new racing fan in Sir Alex. He was absolutely enthused about Hong Kong and what he saw, so he promised me to come back."
This showcase of international racing excellence not only highlighted Hong Kong's position in global racing but also demonstrated the city's capacity to host world-class sporting events. The success of the meeting reinforced Hong Kong's status as a premier racing jurisdiction, while setting new benchmarks for attendance and international participation.