Last year’s winner Giavellotto will lead a European assault on the Group One Longines Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) and bid to become the first horse since 2008 to win the HK$26 million prize back to back.

Just two horses, Doctor Dino (2007-2008) and Luso (1996-1997), have won the race in consecutive years since the race was given Group One status in 1994, while Highland Reel (2015 and 2017) and Glory Vase (2019 and 2021) are the only other horses to have repeat wins.

That shows the mountain that Giavellotto will need to climb, but the Marco Botti-trained galloper could not have been more impressive in scything his way through the field 12 months ago under Oisin Murphy.

The six-year-old has enjoyed a strong campaign, with a Group Three win at Kempton and a brilliant fourth in the Group One Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) being the highlights.

He will be joined from the United Kingdom by Hong Kong regular Dubai Honour, who is yet to strike in the city from five visits but was not disgraced behind Voyage Bubble in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) in May.

William Haggas’ globetrotter was second to Goliath in September’s Group One Grosser Preis von Baden (2,400m) before going down a neck in a French Group Two and will arrive at the peak of his powers.

Eydon, a Group Two winner in Italy for Andrew Balding last month, rounds off the British runners.

The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Goliath, who won last year’s Group One King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot, is also among the Vase field.

Ninth behind Tastiera in April’s Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin, Goliath was last seen running below his best in the Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf (2,400m) at Del Mar in November.

Aidan O’Brien and Andre Fabre are the most successful trainers in the race, tied on three, and both have entries to try and nick the honour outright.

O’Brien will saddle Los Angeles, while Fabre will send across the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe third Sosie. The latter will likely be ridden by his regular partner Maxime Guyon, who starts a short-term Hong Kong stint this weekend.

O’Brien’s son Joseph will also tackle the Vase with Al Riffa, who won the Group One Irish St Leger (2,800m) before a decent seventh in the Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m).

Japan rounds out the international entries with Ryo Takei’s Urban Chic, who won last year’s Group One Kikuka Sho (3,000m) but has been below his best in three runs this campaign.

The home team will be represented by John Size-trained pair Ensued and Bundle Award, while Danny Shum Chap-shing’s Moments In Time and Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s Ka Ying Generation complete the field.