The Hong Kong Classic Mile is the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and an important race for assessing emerging stars. Formerly known as the Hong Kong Derby Trial, it was first held in the 1980/1981 season and has now been run 45 times, giving it a long and meaningful history.

Here are five fun facts to help you understand this key race more easily:-

Fastest Winning Time: That honour goes to Able Friend! This superstar—Hong Kong's Most Popular Horse, Champion Miler, and Horse of the Year in the 2014/2015 season—won the 2014 Hong Kong Classic Mile by half a length over Designs On Rome, who later became Horse of the Year that same season.

Biggest Upset: The shock result came in 2003 with Self Flit. Many long-time racing fans will remember this one—ridden by Eddie Lai and trained by Ivan Allan, the horse defeated hot favourite Bowman's Crossing by a short head at odds of 25/1. (Official records only go back to 1992.)

Most Wins by a Jockey: Tony Cruz (counting only his riding career) and João Moreira both have three wins. Tony Cruz won in 1981, 1989), and 1993. Moreira won with Able Friend (2014), Rapper Dragon (2017), and Nothingilikemore(2018). A small extra fun fact: trainer Jimmy Ting, who sends out Little Paradise this year, actually rode Industrialist to victory in this race back in 2000.

Most Wins by a Trainer: That title goes to seven-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer John Moore, who has won this race six times. Among active trainers, the one most likely to catch or surpass him is John Size, who has won it four times—though he does not have a runner this year.

Largest Winning Margin: In 1999, Resfa—ridden by Basil Marcus—won by three and a half lengths over Billion Win. (Official records only go back to 1992.)