On 28 April, the FWD Insurance Champions Raceday organised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club was successfully held at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. This spring highlight event in the international horse world, including three international Group 1 races with a total prize fund of up to 72 million Hong Kong dollars, attracted global attention. In the end, all three international races were won by Hong Kong, China's representative horses, once again demonstrating Hong Kong's status as a world-class horse race.
On the day of the race, the racecourse was very crowded, with more than 33,500 spectators entering. This included more than 5,100 visitors from the Mainland, the highest number of visitors this season. On the eve of the May Day Golden Week in the Mainland, this international event not only helps tourists discover Hong Kong's unique charm, but also showcases the vitality of Hong Kong's international city, injecting strong impetus into Hong Kong's tourism and economic development.
Speaking to the media after the race, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said that he was delighted to witness the strength and talent of many outstanding horses and jockeys today, which reflects the world-class level of horse racing in Hong Kong. At the same time, today's race attracted a large number of fans from home and abroad, and he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the fans and owners for their support.
Three Group 1 races were staged on the day, with a total prize fund of HK$72 million, including the Chairman's Sprint Prize (HK$22 million, 1,200m), the FWD Champions Mile (HK$22 million, 1,600m) and the FWD Queen's Cup (HK$28 million, 2,000m). According to statistics, a total of 33 horses participated in the three key races, of which 11 were from Japan and the United Kingdom, making it the largest number of overseas horses to participate in the first Champions Race Day event in 2018.
After fierce competition, the results of the three Group 1 events were finally announced. Invincible Sage from Hong Kong, China, won the Chairman's Sprint Award for his consistent performance and outstanding speed. Three-time Hong Kong Horse King "Golden Sixty" and "Forever Beautiful" competed in a thrilling battle in the FWD Insurance Champions Mile, and finally "Forever Beautiful" won the crown. In the FWD Insurance Queen's Cup, Hong Kong's representative "Romantic Warrior" lived up to expectations and became the first horse to win the Cup for three consecutive years.
For the first time, Sage Invincible won the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Award
The Chairman's Sprint Award attracted 11 runners from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Japan, with Tony's California Planet taking on the momentum of the summit in Dubai at the end of March. After the start of the race, this horse remained in the forefront. But at the same time, another Hong Kong representative, "Invincible the Sage", also caught up from the mid-range and gradually took the lead 150m from the finish line, eventually throwing away "California Planet" by a multi-marathon to win the HK$12.32 million prize. This is the first time he has won the Group 1 title in Hong Kong. The other two horses from Hong Kong, China, representing California Planet and Green Unlimited, finished second and third respectively.
Forever Beautiful won the FWD Insurance Championship Mile for the first time
The FWD Insurance Champions Mile has attracted 11 great mile riders, with the favourite being the three-time Hong Kong King of Horses, Golden Sixty, who is ranked sixth in the Longines World's Best Horse 2023 rankings, the highest ranking of any horse in Hong Kong. In the end, however, FOREVER BEAUTIFUL went from strength to strength under jockey Purton and eventually crossed the finish line by one and a half lengths, while two other horses from Hong Kong, China, were second and third respectively. Jockey Ho Chak Yiu's "Golden Sixty" was unfortunately fourth. Despite this, the audience paid tribute to the three-time horse king after the race, and the cheers came one after another, pushing the lively atmosphere of the scene to the climax.
After the race, the Secretary for Economic Development of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Yau Ying-wah, presented the FWD Insurance Champions Mile trophy to the owners, trainers and jockeys of Always Beautiful.
"Romantic Warriors" made history by winning the FWD Insurance Queen's Cup three times
The FWD Insurance Queen's Cup, a Tier 1 race, was staged at the end of the day, with a total prize fund of HK$28 million, which also attracted 11 horses to participate. The six-year-old Romantic Warrior lived up to the hype and became the best horse to win the Cup for the third time in a row. Shen Chengcheng, the trainer of "Romantic Warrior", said that he plans to arrange "Romantic Warrior" for the time being
In June, we will travel to Japan to compete in the Class 1 Yasuda Memorial Race, but the health and condition of the horses are the primary consideration, and the final decision will be made based on the horses' recovery.
After the race, the Deputy Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Michael Wong, presented the FWD Insurance Queen's Cup to owner Lau Pak-fai, trainer Sim Cheng Cheng and jockey Mr McDonnell Madwell.