Hong Kong Cup
Group 1 race | |
Location |
Sha Tin Racecourse Hong Kong, China |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1988 |
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Sponsor | Longines |
Website | Hong Kong Jockey Club |
Race information | |
Distance | 2,000 metres ( 1 1⁄4 miles) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
Weight |
123 lb (3y); 126 lb (4y+) Allowances 4 lb for fillies and mares |
Purse | HK$25,000,000 (2014) |
The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres (about 1 1⁄4 miles) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December.
The race was first run on 24 January 1988, and its distance was initially set at 1800 metres. The inaugural running was restricted to horses trained in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Added to this list for the following season were horses from Australia and New Zealand. The race was switched to December for its third running, therefore taking place twice within 1989. Horses trained in Europe were admitted in 1990, followed by those from the United States in 1991, and Canada and Japan in 1992. The distance was increased to its present length, 2,000 metres, in 1999. Also at this time the race was promoted to Group 1 status.
The Hong Kong Cup is one of the four Hong Kong International Races, and it presently offers a purse of HK$25,000,000 in 2014/15(approximately US$3.23 million), making not just the richest race in Hong Kong and also the richest 2000 metre Turf race in the world.
Records
Speed record: (at present distance of 2,000 metres)
- 2:00.60 – A Shin Hikari (2015)
Most wins:
- 2 - California Memory (2011,2012)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – Frankie Dettori (2000, 2003, 2007)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 – Saeed bin Suroor (2000, 2007), Anthony S. Cruz (2011, 2012)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – Godolphin Racing (2000, 2007), Howard Liang Yum Shing (2011,2012)
Winners
Year |
Winner |
Trained |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
2nd/3rd |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | Flying Dancer | Hong Kong | 5 | Bartie Leisher | Brian Kan Ping-chee | Lim Por-yen | 1:48.60 | Top Grade / Yuno When |
1989 | Colonial Chief | Singapore | 4 | Tony Cruz | Ivan W. Allan | Promise Stable | 1:49.30 | Top Grade / Stingray |
1989 | Grey Invader | New Zealand | 4 | Gary Stewart | Alvin Clark | E. J. Johnson et al. | 1:48.00 | Latitude / St James |
1990 | Kessem | New Zealand | 5 | Kevin Moses | Brian Smith | B. Duncan et al. | 1:48.40 | Livistona Lane / Colonial Chief |
1991 | River Verdon | Hong Kong | 4 | Gérald Mossé | David Hill | Cheung / Arculli | 1:49.80 | Prudent Manner / Majestic Boy |
1992 | Romanee Conti [1] | New Zealand | 4 | Greg Childs | Laurie Laxon | Peter & Philip Vela | 1:48.20 | Fraar / Charmonnier |
1993 | Motivation | Hong Kong | 5 | John Marshall | John Moore | Mr & Mrs Hui Sai Fun | 1:49.20 | Verveine / Stark South |
1994 | State Taj | Australia | 5 | Damien Oliver | James L. Riley | Neville Begg & Partners | 1:48.40 | River Majesty / Volochine |
1995 | Fujiyama Kenzan | Japan | 7 | Masayoshi Ebina | Hideyuki Mori | Tatsuya Fujimoto | 1:47.00 | Ventiquattrofogli / Jade Age |
1996 | First Island | UK | 4 | Michael Hills | Geoff Wragg | Mollers Racing | 1:48.20 | Seascay / Kingston Bay |
1997 | Val's Prince | USA | 5 | Cash Asmussen | James E. Picou | Martin / Weiner | 1:47.20 | Oriental Express / Wixim |
1998 | Midnight Bet | Japan | 4 | Hiroshi Kawachi | Hiroyuki Nagahama | Shadai Racehorse Co. Ltd. | 1:46.90 | Johan Cruyff / Almushtarak |
1999 | Jim and Tonic | France | 5 | Gérald Mossé | François Doumen | John D. Martin | 2:01.40 | Running Stag / Lear Spear |
2000 | Fantastic Light | UAE | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 2:02.20 | Greek Dance / Jim And Tonic |
2001 | Agnes Digital | Japan | 4 | Hirofumi Shii | Toshiaki Shirai | Takao Watanabe | 2:02.80 | Tobougg / Terre A Terre |
2002 | Precision | Hong Kong | 4 | Michael Kinane | David Oughton | Wu Sai Wing | 2:07.10 | Paolini / Dano-mast |
2003 | Falbrav | UK | 5 | Frankie Dettori | Luca Cumani | Sc. Rencati / Yoshida | 2:00.90 | Rakti / Elegant Fashion |
2004 | Alexander Goldrun | Ireland | 3 | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Miriam O'Callaghan | 2:03.30 | Bullish Luck / Touch Of Land |
2005 | Vengeance of Rain | Hong Kong | 4 | Anthony Delpech | David E. Ferraris | R. G. Chow Hon Man | 2:04.50 | Pride / Maraahel |
2006 | Pride | France | 6 | Christophe Lemaire | Alain de Royer-Dupré | NP Bloodstock Ltd | 2:01.60 | Admire Moon / Vengeance of Rain |
2007 | Ramonti | UAE | 5 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 2:02.80 | Viva Pataca / Musical Way |
2008 | Eagle Mountain | South Africa | 4 | Kevin Shea | Mike de Kock | M. bin K. Al Maktoum | 2:00.92 | Balius / Linngari |
2009 | Vision d'Etat | France | 4 | Olivier Peslier | Eric Libaud | Detré / Libaud | 2:01.86 | Collection / Presvis |
2010 | Snow Fairy | UK | 3 | Ryan Moore | Ed Dunlop | Anamoine Limited | 2:02.94 | Irian / Packing Winner |
2011 | California Memory | Hong Kong | 5 | Matthew Chadwick | Anthony S. Cruz | Howard Liang Yum Shing | 2:04.57 | Irian / Zazou |
2012 | California Memory | Hong Kong | 6 | Matthew Chadwick | Anthony S. Cruz | Howard Liang Yum Shing | 2:03.09 | Giofra / Alcopop |
2013 | Akeed Mofeed | Hong Kong | 4 | Douglas Whyte | Richard Gibson | Pan Sutong | 2:01.96 | Tokei Halo / Cirrus des Aigles |
2014 | Designs On Rome | Hong Kong | 5 | João Moreira | John Moore | Cheng Keung Fai | 2:01.96 | Military Attack / Criterion |
2015 | A Shin Hikari | Japan | 4 | Yutaka Take | Masanori Sakaguchi | Eishindo Co Ltd | 2:00.60 | Nuovo Record / Blazing Speed |
1 The "1992" race actually took place in April 1993 – it had been postponed in December due to an equine virus.
References
- Racing Post:
- Racing Information of Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (2011/12)
- Website of Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (2011/12)
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Hong Kong Cup (2009).
- pedigreequery.com – Hong Kong Cup – Sha Tin.