3 minute read

Brett Davis provides exclusive Preview of Sha Tin races.

"FWD CHAMPIONS DAY 2026"

(International Runners/Country)

"FWD Chairman's Sprint Prize"

SATONO REVE        (Japan)

COMANCHE BRAVE   (Ireland)

"FWD Champions Mile"

JANTAR MANTAR   (Japan)   

DOCKLANDS       (Great Brittain)

STRAUSS           (Japan)

"FWD QE II Cup"

MASQUERADE BALL   (Japan)

ROYAL CHAMPION     (Ireland)

SOSIE                (Ireland)

GIOVANNI            (Japan)

JUNE TAKE            (Japan)

Rail - A Course

R1 - 11,9,5,3,1

R2 - 6,1,7,13,11

R3 - 1,5,2,13,9

R4 - 12,1,5,3,9

Race 5

FWD CHAIRMAN'S SPRINT PRIZE - HKD $24 million (WORLD POOL)
(Gp1 - 1200m - Set Weights)

#1 KA YING RISING ended season 2024/2025 with a twelfth consecutive victory by claiming the Gp1 Chairman's Sprint Prize and Hong Kong "Horse of the Year" title before being aimed directly at a trip to the G1 Tab Everest in Sydney/Australia. It was a memorable performance to successfully navigate travel and quarantine procedures before wowing a world wide audience with a dominant and inspirational display. Now almost 12 months on, he arrives at the door step of the 2026 edition of the FWD Chairman's Sprint prize with the seventeenth consecutive win record of the almighty SILENT WITNESS surpassed, a nineth G1 victory in waiting, a second Hong Kong "Horse of the Year" title secured and the recently crowned tittle of Worlds Best Racehorse. Both Zac Purton and David Hayes re-confirmed his remarkable well-being, despite the challenges of a long arduous season, during Thursday mornings Sha Tin press conference.  Therefore, it basically comes down to getting him to the starting stalls safe and sound, before a twentieth consecutive victory arrives alongside a well deserved rest.

#3 HELIOS EXPRESS is a genuine Gp1 galloper in his own right but with KA YING RISING in his way he remains winless at the highest level. With a total of 12 cracks against the worlds best galloper he's finished a courageous second on eight occasions, third on three occasions whilst the closest margin between the pair, registered in the 2024 Hong Kong Sprint, was just a slender half a length. He's enjoyed another wonderful season under the masterful eye of trainer John Size and accumulated well over HKD $8 million in prizemoney.

#2 SATONO REVE was less than a length behind KA YING RISING in the 2024 Hong Kong Sprint before returning to Hong Kong four months later to finish second in the 2025 G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize. On both occasions, he was able to position well from the low to medium barrier but it'll be more difficult this Sunday after drawing gate 8. However, he's arrives back in Hong Kong in terrific condition after a dominant success in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at the end of March. He's worked most mornings like a four legged ball of muscle and is expected to run upto his best.

#4 FAST NETWORK underwent throat surgery during the last off-season break which has proven to be a prosperous and complete success. He then bounce back with an exciting win in the Gp3 National Day Cup down the Sha Tin straight before chasing home KA YING RISING on three occasions for minor results. A challenging run over 1600m in Gp2 Chairman's Trophy was a strong piece of work last outing and shall hold him in good stead here, particularly with a low draw to exit from and James McDonald to ride.

#5 RAGING BLIZZARD was thoroughly deserved of his opportunity to compete in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint last December and in the process soaked up the harsh mid-race tempo before closing wonderfully well to grab 2nd behind the king, KA YING RISING. Another career best is predicted today after an excellent week on the track and he continues to race with great heart and determination. The battle for minor prize money is certainly one of intrigue and he'll be in amongst it.

Selections : 1,3,2,4,5

R6 - 6,4,5,13,3

Race 7 

FWD CHAMPIONS MILE - HKD $24 million (WORLD POOL)
(Gp1 - 1600m - Set Weights)

#1 JANTAR MANTAR makes his second trip to Hong Kong after finishing down the track at his first attempt on foreign soil in the 2025 G1 Hong Kong Mile, won by VOYAGE BUBBLE. With wins since in the 1600m G1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo, and 1600m G1 Mile Championship in Kyoto his confidence is once again sky high. He's arrived in immaculate condition, caught the eye of most world form experts and galloped impressively in the lead up to today's most open G1 event. Should he win, he becomes just the third International galloper in history to take out this blue ribbon event, following in the foot steps of champion Japanese galloper MAURICE in 2016, and South African super star VARIETY CLUB in 2014. He's drawn perfectly in gate 6 and consequently tipped to conquer whilst in the process enhancing his immaculate G1 record to 5 wins, from just 7 attempts.

 #4 LUCKY SWEYNESSE was the undisputed king of Hong Kong's sprinting ranks a few years back. He then returned first up this season with a hard-core chase of KA YING RISING in the Chief Executives Cup which followed on from a long injury forced layoff. Ultra competitive efforts in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint, G1 Hong Kong Sprint, G1 Stewards' Cup and G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup further confirmed his well-being before he deservedly cracked it for his first win, in over two years, in the 1600m G2 Chairman's Trophy. With Zac Purton cautiously mentioning his name during Thursday mornings press conferenace as a potential danger, be prepared, because he hasn't been this fit, or sound, in an extremely long time.

#5 MY WISH was superb in last seasons 4yo Classic Series where he narrowly tasted defeat in the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby, but won the Hong Kong Classic Mile. He possesses excellent tactical speed, is capable of finding under pressure, whilst importantly possessing the ability to break 22.00 seconds through the final 400m. He's yet to fully stand up to the demands of a set weights G1 contest, but, he works, trials and applies himself as though one day he can. A wider draw today provides Hugh Bowman with space and options throught the critical first half, so perhaps after being narrowly defeated last start in the G2 Chairman's Trophy behind LUCKY SWEYNESSE, today is his day.

#10 INVINCIBLE IBIS arrived in Hong Kong an unraced "Private Purchase Griffin" but was recently crowned the 2026 Hong Kong Derby winner. History elaborates the fact most Hong Derby winners go on to contest the 2000m G1 QE II Cup, opposed to the G1 Champions Mile, but the presence of the almighty ROMANTIC WARRIOR is the obvious and cringing deterrent.  However, In what's the most open G1 Champions Mile seen in many years, the combination of a capacity field, predicted high race speed and maneuverable draw to work with could see him sharply emerge into the finish over the lesser trip.

#14 LITTLE PARADISE arrived in Hong Kong an unraced private purchase griffin but delivered the goods in early February with an explosive and highly exciting win in the 4yo Hong Kong Classic Mile. A slow start in the 1800m Hong Kong Classic Cup and chequered passage in the 2000m Hong Kong Derby, where he started race favourite, went against him when it mattered but he mustn't be taken for granted returning to the 1600m. Remebering, Zac Purton played a pivotal role in his early education and with the pair reuniting from a low advantageous draw, he's one of multiple winning prospects.

Selections : 1,4,5,10,14

R8 - 10,5,4,7,11

Race 9  

FWD QE II CUP - HKD $30 million (WORLD POOL)
(Gp 1 - 2000m - Set Weights)

#2 ROMANTIC WARRIOR maid his seasonal return as a 7yo in November 2025 to win the G2 Jockey Club Cup before an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in the G1 Hong Kong Cup in December. Since then, he's continued on his merry way capturing the G1 Stewards Cup in January, before a second Gp1 Hong Kong Gold Cup in March. With victories at the highest level in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and Dubai he's the true meaning of the title "CHAMPION" and was recently crowned the "World's Highest Earning Thoroughbred". With a 1600m trial completed under his own steam on the 14th of April and a brisk final turf gallop undertaken early last Thursday morning, both under jockey Hugh Bowman, he's again ready to rock. The event maybe tactical, and the overseas opposition incredibly fascinating, but a defeat on his home deck seems respectfully unachievable. 

#1 MASQUERADE BALL has been the talk of the town all week here in Hong Kong and when you analyse the facts and figures, absorb the prudent words of jockey Christophe Lemaire and then combine them with the aura displayed during the week, a fascinating battle is about to unfold. After finishing second in the G1 Japanese Derby in June last year he resumed with an impeccable victory first up in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn before finishing runner-up, in an epic battle, to the almighty CALANDAGAN in the G1 Japan Cup. He hasn't raced since, and it's his first encounter on foreign soil against one of the greatest Hong Kong horses of all time, but pound for pound he's a chance of measuring up.

#4 SOSIE has all the ability required to get the job done, as his form over the past 12 months would suggest, however the questionable factor that must be pondered is the drop back in distance. With three G1 wins in France under race day rider Maxine Guyon already established, a third in the 2025 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a victory here at Sha Tin in the G1 Hong Kong Vase at 2400m, the only questionable issue is the potency of his acceleration over a mile and a quarter. He's breezed up, trotted up and walked around Sha Tin all week with the utmost professionalism, so it's impossible to suggest he won't run well.

#8 NUMBERS has handled most things thrown at him since arriving from Australia and you can guarantee he'll give the opposition a proper tempo out in front following sensational recent form. The former Australian galloper was a well credentialled 3yo, known as KING OF THUNDER, before joining the Frankie Lor trainers syndicate and has made a seamless transition to Asia's world city. The key ingredient to recent Hong Kong results has been the decision to lead and allow him to flow, which as a result, has ignited fluency, power and self-confidence. The low barrier draw should allow him to push confidently for the running rail heading out of the stretch, provided ROYAL CHAMPION does take him on.

#3 ROYAL CHAMPION arrives in career for best form new trainer Karl Burke following wins in the G2 York Stakes, G2 Bahrain International Trophy and G1 Neom Turf Stakes in Riyadh/Saudi Arabia. During the week, particularly Thursday morning, he's blasted around the Sha Tin tracks with eagerness, perspiration and the whites of his eye's visible, but without displaying signs of fatigue or a lack of puff. Judged on all the above, who could over-race early after drawing the inside gate, take a sit and pull, drop his head and relax perfectly or even attempt to lead by a big space. Whatever unfolds, he's extremely fit and fully aware of what's on the horizon so it'll be fascinating to see how he parades, and then performs.

Selections : 2,1,4,8,3

R10 - 3,14,6,1,10

R11 - 11,5,12,13,9