Hong Kong champions Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior will bid to extend their record-breaking successes against strong international opposition at Sha Tin this month, after the Jockey Club confirmed the expected fields for the three FWD Champions Day features.
Ka Ying Rising, who topped March’s first edition of the 2026 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, will chase a record-extending 20th straight victory when he defends his Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) crown on April 26.
Romantic Warrior, the world’s highest-earning racehorse with HK$254.66 million in prize money, faces a stern test in his pursuit of a fourth Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) triumph.
In what shapes as one of the strongest editions of the HK$30 million feature in many years, Romantic Warrior will take on seven overseas raiders headlined by Japanese duo Masquerade Ball and Museum Mile and French star Sosie.
Group One winner Masquerade Ball ran a close second to Calandagan – a QE II Cup entrant who will not take his place – in the Group One Japan Cup (2,400m) last year, while Museum Mile is a dual Group One victor.
Sosie returns to Hong Kong after his Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) success in December, while Group One winner Royal Champion, June Take, Andreas Vesalius and Giovanni round out the international assault on the QE II.
Local hopes Ensued, Rubylot, Numbers, Stormy Grove and Gentlemen Legacy complete the QE II line-up.
Japan’s Satono Reve, Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) victor Native Approach and Donnacha O’Brien’s Comanche Brave are the overseas sprinters taking up the daunting challenge of dethroning Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.
Satono Reve, a brilliant last-start winner of the Group One Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m), ran second to Ka Ying Rising in the race last year and was third behind the superstar sprinter in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) in 2024.
Helios Express, Fast Network, Raging Blizzard, Tomodachi Kokoroe, Beauty Waves, Lucky With You and Colourful King complete the Chairman’s Sprint Prize field.
“FWD Champions Day is always an outstanding day of racing, and we are delighted at the quality of the 2026 renewal,” Jockey Club executive director of racing Andrew Harding said.
“We have 13 visitors from overseas, including Masquerade Ball and Royal Champion, who will test the mighty Romantic Warrior in what shapes as one the FWD QE II Cup’s best renewals. Ka Ying Rising has won 19 races in a row, and his continued streak adds an increasing layer of excitement. In addition, our exciting four-year-olds will rise to the Group One challenge, including Invincible Ibis, Little Paradise and Stormy Grove.”
Only two internationals have won the Group One Champions Mile since 2000, but Japan’s four-time Group One hero Jantar Mantar will be fancied to buck the trend.
Fellow Japanese galloper Strauss and Group One Royal Ascot winner Docklands will also tackle the Champions Mile, with six-time Group One victor Voyage Bubble, reigning Champions Mile conqueror Red Lion, Lucky Sweynesse and Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Invincible Ibis among the top local hopes.
Galaxy Patch, My Wish, Cap Ferrat, Sunlight Power, Chancheng Glory, Copartner Prance and Little Paradise round out the field. Patch Of Theta, Beauty Joy and Stormy Grove are the standby starters.
