£1.86 million is the prize awaiting the winner of the world’s richest 2000m turf race on Sunday at Sha Tin ahead of the 2022 Hong Kong Cup.
Twelve runners go to post all looking for their maiden victory in the race and the field is headed by William Hill’s 3.00 favourite Romantic Warrior for trainer Danny Shum.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: December 9th, 10:30 P.M. (GMT)
The 4-year-old has won eight of his nine outings, all of which have been run in Hong Kong. His only previous Grade 1 race was a win over this course and distance in the QEII Cup before taking the Grade 2 Jockey Club Cup last month, his first run under James McDonald, who will be on board this weekend.
Jack D’Or is Japan’s best hope of extending their winning streak in this race to four as the 4.50 second favourite, running for Kenichi Fujioka who, like Shum, is looking for his first Cup win. Jockey Yutaka Take knows what it takes to win, having done so on A Shin Hikari in 2015.
The 4-year-old has only raced five times, with two wins coming in Grade 2s, but two Grade 1s have resulted only in a fifth and – last time – fourth in the Tenno Sho at Tokyo.
Second that day at Tokyo was Panthalassa, who in turn was second to Jack D’Or in the Sapporo Kinen. Panthalassa is another making the trip over from Japan with trainer Yoshito Yahagi and is a 5.50 chance for this race.
Yahagi is looking for successive victories having trained last year’s champion Loves Only You. Regular jockey Yutaka Yoshida takes the ride.
It’s nearly two years since Danon The Kid (7.00) last tasted victory but second in the Mile Championship at Hanshin has increased belief in a long-awaited win. Lei Papale (11.00) is one of three survivors from last year’s race where Tomokazu Takano’s 5-year-old finished sixth and no wins since keeps hopes reserved.
Third a year ago was Russian Emperor, ridden by Blake Shinn. The pair are teaming up once again but at 34.00 they are not expected to feature, thanks to a last place in the Jockey Club Cup last month and 12th of 14 in the Sha Tin Trophy in October. Tourbillon Diamond (26.00) was fifth in 2021 and second in the Jockey Club Cup, but will be ridden by Hugh Bowman for the first time having always previously been partnered with Alexis Badel.
Irish challenger Order Of Australia’s form has been patchy while racing in various countries, 3-year-old Geoglyph (15.00) has the potential to run well.
