A host of overseas raiders completed light work on the dirt while a pair of local Group One winners galloped on the Sha Tin turf on Monday morning in preparation for Champions Day.
French star Goliath, top Japanese filly Liberty Island, Bahrain galloper Calif and Australian Group One winners Mr Brightside and Royal Patronage cantered on the all-weather track as they continued their build-up to Sunday’s showpiece meeting.
A brilliant winner of last year’s Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,392m) at Ascot, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Goliath caught the eye with his trademark stringhalt ahead of his much-anticipated tilt at the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m).
“He’s all good. He travelled very well. I’m very happy today because he’s a lovely horse and very relaxed,” travelling head lad Anthony David said.
Goliath is preparing to be unleashed on Sha Tin in Sunday’s FWD QEII Cup! 😤@resracingky | @jstewartrr | #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/fQqTOWn3WH
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 21, 2025
“It was his first time on the track here but he was perfect today. He has his special move, but he’s a very good horse. Today he did a hack steady canter and we’ll probably do that for a day or two. I’ll speak to the trainer about possibly going on the turf.”
Fellow QE II Cup contender Liberty Island has pleased the Mitsumasa Nakauchida stable since arriving in Hong Kong for the second time, following her second to champion galloper Romantic Warrior in December’s Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).
The multiple Group One winner had excuses last start in the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m), finishing eighth behind Soul Rush after being trapped wide throughout.
“Her condition has been improving compared to when she was in Dubai,” Nakauchida’s assistant trainer Yuya Katayama said.
Liberty Island (right) runs on behind Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Cup.
“While in Dubai, the quarantine stables were located in the middle of the desert and the surroundings allowed her to graze freely, so it seems she thought she was simply out at pasture for rest. The high temperatures there also made a difference and the climate here suits her better. She will work on the turf once more this week.”
Mr Brightside, who bids for a 10th Group One victory in the Champions Mile, continues to please co-trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes after arriving in the city early last week.
“He just worked around quietly. He will be having a nice, easy gallop tomorrow,” Ben Hayes said.
“He will just be quickening down the straight and will be running home on the bridle and just keeping him happy.”
ROYAL PATRONAGE has settled into life with ease at Sha Tin Racecourse with his trackwork rider Matthew Morgan 💛💙 @HKJC_Racing #championsday #rpontour pic.twitter.com/VvKab1kUmK
— Gai Waterhouse AO (@GaiWaterhouse1) April 21, 2025
Track rider Matty Morgan gave Champions Mile prospect Royal Patronage the tick of approval after his first piece of work in Hong Kong on Monday.
“He has settled in well and his work was good,” Morgan said of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper.
Japan’s Lugal and Gaia Force were hand-walked at the quarantine trotting area after working on the turf on Sunday. They are expected to gallop again on the turf on Wednesday morning.
Comeback sprinter Lucky Sweynesse and Victor The Winner took to the turf on Monday ahead of their clash with Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m).
Lucky Sweynesse worked strongly under Matthew Poon Ming-fai alongside stablemate Patch Of Stars and new race rider Karis Teetan put Victor The Winner through his paces in a gallop with stablemate Silvery Breeze.
