Pedigree preview ahead of Hong Kong Vase | Botanik to bloom at Sha Tin

Since the turn of the century, 12 European invaders have embarked on successful raids to Sha Tin for the coveted and valuable Group One Hong Kong Vase. From 21 renewals that’s more than half and that number increases to 13 if you include Saeed bin Suroor’s Mastery who was trained from his base in Newmarket. In actual fact, go back to the preceding editions from 1994 when the race was first established, and five of six winners were based in Europe.

With a prize fund of HK$22 million (£2,085,308 to the winner) is it any surprise the roll of honour exudes such brilliance and class? From dual Oaks and seven time Group One heroine Ouija Board (Cape Cross) to fellow globe trotting superstar and dual winner Highland Reel (Galileo), the race attracts a special type of middle distance equine talent.

The arduous journey to Hong Kong at the end of a likely testing season would be a valid excuse for a misfire for any horse, yet so consistently the raiders are producing the goods. Stringent quarantine measures and a drastic change in climate and environment are just two more of the challenges these horses need to overcome which only adds to the remarkable record European horses can boast.

In a season where the Derby winner is yet to grace the track since his crowning moment and leading ladies Alpinista and Tuesday have retired to their second careers, let’s look at the main European contenders to establish whether or not we’ll be taking home the final international prize of 2022.

Find out more here regarding the Hong Kong International Races

Currently vying for favouritism in this neck of the woods is Aidan O’Brien’s admirably consistent Stone Age (Galileo). Take that consistency with a pinch of salt as he is without a win since propelling himself to Derby favouritism in the Leopardstown Derby Trial, one of his two lifetime wins from 13 starts to date. That said, he rarely runs a bad race having placed in 6 of those starts and only disappointed twice. He accounted for all bar one in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and appears by all accounts to be a horse on the up. A respectable pair of fifth place efforts in both the Irish and British Champion Stakes preceded that improved performance with the step up on trip undoubtedly playing a role. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is the winning-most trainer of the Hong Kong Vase following Mogul’s 2021 success and Stone Age ticks a lot of boxes. From a pedigree point of view, his sire Galileo has tasted more success in this race than any other. If the stars are going to align for the late great former Champion sire to achieve a landmark 100 Group One winners, Stone Age could provide the assist of the tournament. Galileo needs just four to reach the elusive century with just two crops left to race, the second of which is less than twenty. Stone Age might not have been the brightest star of 2022 but could earn his place in immortality for his connections if he edges Galileo one step closer to 100.

Also hailing from the Ballydoyle stable is Group One winner Broome whose paternal grandam is 2005 winner Ouija Board. That of course makes his paternal grandsire Galileo who has enjoyed so much success in this race, and like Stone Age who is out of a mare by Anabaa, Broome is out of a mare by another sprinter in Acclamation. In these international contests where the pace tends to be hot and fast, a high cruising speed is of paramount importance as well as the stamina to get involved at the business end. This pair of Galileo descendants with their blend of speed and class imparted from both sides of their pedigrees are well equipped to provide formidable opposition and extend their trainer’s record.

There’s a colloquial belief that when a stallion or mare dies, their best will emerge just to add salt to their owner or breeder’s wound. Moving to the National Hunt stallion ranks is certainly not the same as dying but were Botanik to provide Golden Horn with a first top flight winner, there would be an indelible taste of too little too late for his supporters on the flat. Botanik is the sole winner from five foals out of the winning Street Cry mare Autumn Lily. Street Cry’s global influence as a damsire is no secret amongst students of pedigrees and Botanik’s newfound improvement in 2022 was just the latest feather in his cap. Botanik comes from a family of well-travelled international talent – Autumn Lily is a half sister to fellow Mr. Prospector descendant Alexandros (Kingmambo) whose best achievement was at Group Three level. He busied himself racing in five racing jurisdictions including two of his own apparently unfruitful trips to Sha Tin. Unfruitful at face value, Alexandros didn’t place but was beaten less than three lengths on both endeavours. A fine example of his family’s durability and consistency – he won or placed in 20 of his 28 starts. Botanik’s Group One winning second dam High Hawk was similarly well travelled so it’s no surprise she bred triple Group One winner In The Wings (Sadler’s Wells) who remarkably won each Group One in a different country. We’ve already eluded to the type of agreeable temperament and nature required to overcome the nature of such a demanding international expedition and Botanik is lacking none of it on paper. His trainer Andre Fabre was the last French trainer to take home the prize in 2014 with Flintshire (Dansili) and a win here would be his third, thus equalling Aidan O’Brien’s record-breaking haul.

Neighbours Japan often provide the stiffest competition and this year is no exception. Dual winner Glory Vase has shown unrivalled affinity for this track and trip and appears to find his best form at this time of year. A third win in the race would epitomise everything the Japanese look for in a racehorse with admirable longevity that we are far from accustomed to in this neck of the woods. Given Glory Vase is the sole stakes winner amongst his first two dams, it’s not unfair to attribute much of his talent to his late sire Deep Impact. There is very little Deep Impact hasn’t achieved and a triple Hong Kong Vase winner from the grave would merely serve as a reminder of his immense talent as a sire. Glory Vase’s pedigree is Japanese homegrown through and through. His third dam Mejiro Ramonu was Japan’s Champion Two Year Old and Three Year Old in 1985 and 1986, and his first four dams all proudly boast a JPN suffix. Glory Vase is the perfect racehorse to advertise what the Japanese have become so synonymous with, and a third win would be much deserved, both for connections and for the Japanese racing industry.

Locally trained Senor Toba (Toronado) may have done the majority of his racing at home in Hong Kong, but his profile and pedigree possesses the most international flair of all. Bred in Australia, he is by former shuttler Toronado (High Chaparral) who this year was announced would not be returning to Europe. Senor Toba’s Group Three winning dam Bahamas was bred in Australia but is by former Darley shuttler Teofilo has enjoyed a stellar year as a damsire in 2022. Having began life under the capable tutelage of Chris Waller, Senor Toba was switched to Hong Kong in 2021 where he has progressed from handicap company to Grade One placed in May of this year over course and distance. In fact his finest hour came in a Grade Three over the same track and trip and though he hasn’t won since May, three respectable efforts over a trip arguably short of his optimum should have the favoured home contender primed and ready to keep the Hong Kong Vase at home.

The international flavour to this contest already renders it a winner with the Hong Kong racing authorities undoubtedly thrilled with the foreign and local representation. With such a variety of jurisdictions represented, the only way to make a selection is on pedigree. If that’s the case, Cape Cross sired one of the most famous winners of the race in Ouija Board and it is his grandson Botanik who is bred and ready to shine on this international stage.

More from Sporting Life

• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

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.