Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Sunday's card at Sha Tin live on Sky Sports Racing.
Three Kings return as Year of the Horse gathers pace
The pre-race script is simple as the kings of HK racing return at Sha Tin on Sunday.
World’s best sprinter KA YING RISING will dominate his Centenary Sprint Cup (7.00) rivals to match the 17-race winning streak of the legendary Silent Witness.
Last year’s Triple Crown hero VOYAGE BUBBLE will kick for home swinging off the home turn in the Stewards’ Cup (8.05).
And epic globetrotter ROMANTIC WARRIOR will join him soon after and set down for the first major equine showdown of 2026.
But the script is one thing and the race is another…
Rising set to romp again
No horse is flawless and Silent Witness’s golden sprint run ended when he was caught in the dying strides of the 2005 Champions Mile by stablemate Bullish Luck.
But Ka Ying Rising – last seen pulverising Raging Blizzard and Fast Network in the Hong Kong Sprint last month – isn’t stepping into the unknown over a new trip.
Nor is there any sign that connections think his HKIR romp has taken anything out of him.
Put simply, something needs to go badly wrong for David Hayes’s gelding to get turned over.
Randomness can never be ruled out, but KYR broke his own track record in this race last year and another romp looks on the cards with FAST NETWORK – who paid for trying to roll with the relentless champ six weeks ago – suggested as the Forecast option.
Ageless Warrior up for the Cup
Now to a Stewards’ Cup showdown that sees Romantic Warrior racing at a mile in HK for the first time since he chased home the mighty Golden Sixty in this race two years ago.
Danny Shum’s gelding is a formidable 2000m performer and landed his tenth G1 win at that trip when forging clear for a historic fourth consecutive HK Cup success last month.
But Romantic Warrior has much more speed than most middle-distance stars.
He proved as much by beating Japan’s best milers in the 2024 Yasuda Kinen and did so again in November, breezing past Voyage Bubble in a slowly run Jockey Club Cup (2000m) and reeling off a rapid 21.73s closer to score by a length and a half under hands and heels from James McDonald.
Voyage Bubble showed his appetite is as keen as ever when rallying to thwart old rival Soul Rush for a second HK Mile win last month and Purton will be keen to get first run in what could be another sit-sprint scenario.
But the Warrior is 3-0 up in his head to heads with the Bubble. And the ability to quicken he showed in November suggests he’s ready to prevail again as he bids for a 21st success that would nudge him close to £25m in career earnings.
Impressive trials make Patch worth covering
Shum reached a notable landmark at Sha Tin’s midweek meeting, saddling his 900th HK winner as Blazing Wind rewarded strong support, while Andre Atzeni rattled off a treble and Dylan Browne McMonagle impressed again by winning the finale on Dragon Air Force.
All three will be hoping to shine again on a strong Sunday card and several supporting contests looks well worth keeping an eye on.
Francis Lui has booked James McDonald to partner Gold Patch in the opener (4.30) and this Kiwi import has been trialling like a horse who should prove much better than an opening mark of 52 in due course.
Whether taking a shade of odds against about a newcomer is wise remains to be seen, but the Quinella appeals here and Sparkling Fellow, Yee Cheong Glory and Live Wire are the three others to note.
Noisy neighbour worth another chance
Early risers can try to pick the bones out of a very tricky Class 2 over 2000m at 5.30 as a handful of familiar foes meet again.
Winning Wing heads the overnight market as he bids for his third win of the season, but I’m tempted to give another chance to NOISY BOY.
Dennis Yip’s gelding didn’t find quite what was expected close home when just behind Winning Wing and Gentlemen Legacy in a similar contest last month.
That said, there was plenty to like about the way Noisy Boy travelled that day. Add in a small pull in the weights with his old rivals and he looks a fair win and place option.
Stars to shine again granted better fortune
The book of moderate Purton rides in HK is a slim volume, but the tough trip endured by PATCH OF STARS just before Christmas probably warrants a place in it.
Manfred Man’s gelding went into a valuable Class 2 firmly on the up last month only to get barged around out wide with very little cover swinging for home.
A strong traveller with a good turn of foot, Patch of Stars did well to finish fourth in the circumstances and, having trialled encouragingly since, he’s worth another chance to show he’s still fairly treated from a mark of 92 in the Able Friend Handicap at 8.40.
Lastly this weekend, a quick look at the Mr Vitality Handicap due off at 6.00.
Purton partners likely favourite Packing Glory for this Class 4 dash but I’m taking him on with MASTER PHOENIX and SUNNY Q.
Master Phoenix went close from gate 14 here on his latest start. A 2lb rise leaves him fairly treated under Vincent Ho, while Sunny Q hasn’t had the rub of the green on his last two starts but has J-Mac to assist as he bids to offset a wide gate of his own (13) here.
Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections
- 5.30: Noisy Boy (EW)
- 6.00: Master Phoenix/Sunny Q
- 7.00: Ka Ying Rising/Fast Network
- 8.05: Romantic Warrior
- 8.40: Patch Of Stars
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.