Superstar Daring Tact headlines an entourage of five Japanese Group One winners set to raid Sha Tin for FWD Champions Day later this month.

The Haruki Sugiyama-trained four-year-old, who swept the Japanese Fillies’ Triple Crown last year, joins Loves Only You, Kiseki and Glory Vase, who captured the 2019 Hong Kong Vase, in a four-pronged attack on the QE II Cup (2,000m).

They take on Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year Exultant, stablemates Furore and Time Warp, as well as Glorious Dragon and Chefano in the HK$25 million Group One.

The other traveller is Danon Smash, who has won the Hong Kong Sprint and Takamatsunomiya Kinen in his past two starts, and he returns for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

Takayuki Yasuda’s six-year-old surprised punters by saluting at $22 in December, but he is set to start a short-priced favourite with Hong Kong’s elite sprinting ranks at their lowest depths in years.

Following the withdrawals of Classique Legend and Hot King Prawn last week – and the shock of Amazing Star winning the Group Two Sprint Cup at 178-1 on Monday – the home team faces a tough task holding out the two-time Group One winner.

Unlikely duo Vagner Borges and Jimmy Ting combine to cause huge Sprint Cup boilover with 178-1 chance Amazing Star

The trio from the Sprint Cup – Amazing Star, Stronger and Beauty Applause – have all paid the HK$180,000 supplementary entry fee to take part.

They join Richard Gibson’s duo of Wellington and Rattan, the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained pair of Big Party and Fat Turtle, Voyage Warrior and Jolly Banner from the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai stable, as well as Computer Patch, Sky Field and Wishful Thinker in the HK$18 million feature.

While the visitors are set to dominate the markets in those two events, Hong Kong is assured of at least one victory on the day with no internationals making the trip for the HK$20 million Champions Mile.

Just seven horses will take part in the Group One Champions Mile but fans will be excited to see the clash between the city’s best horse Golden Sixty – who is chasing his 14th consecutive win – and Hong Kong Derby hero Sky Darci.

Last year’s champion Southern Legend is back to defend his title with Chairman’s Trophy winner Mighty Giant, Ka Ying Star, Healthy Happy and More Than This rounding out the field.

Golden Sixty’s connections are playing with fire if they keep racing him beyond a mile

In total, 29 horses – including nine individual Group One winners – will contest the three features on April 25 that are worth a combined HK$63 million.

Given the logistical challenges presented by Covid-19, the fact there is any international competition at all is a big win, according to Jockey Club executive director of racing Andrew Harding.

“It is very exciting to see that the 2021 edition of FWD Champions Day will provide such thrilling sporting action, with the best of Hong Kong lining up against a top-line contingent of Japanese raiders,” he said.

“We started work in January to once again overcome the myriad challenges from the global pandemic and stage a day of world-class sport, including some international participation consistent with our core principles for managing Covid-19 risks and meeting all health precautionary requirements set by the [Hong Kong government].”

Once in Hong Kong, the Japanese participants will be able to operate in a “racing bubble” just as they did for last year’s Hong Kong International Races, meaning they will not have to complete the mandatory three-week quarantine.

Those in the bubble will be allowed to travel in separate groups to Sha Tin to work their horses, however they will be required to spend any remaining time in their hotel rooms.