A steadily run staying contest often rewards patience, and that is exactly the scenario Dylan Mo is anticipating as attention turns to Sha Tin on Sunday for the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup over 2400 metres. The build-up has been shaped as much by reading the rhythm of the race as by assessing the opposition.
Champions & Chater Cup 2026 Sha Tin preview
That is the race picture jockey Dylan Mo has been working towards as he prepares to partner Winning Wing in Hong Kong’s premier staying event.
Mo, who takes the ride for trainer Francis Lui, believes the five-year-old is best suited by the full staying trip, particularly in a race likely to unfold at a controlled early tempo.
“I think he’s a long-distance horse,” Mo said. “I think 2400m is a good distance for him because, always at 2000m, he doesn’t have the gate speed to get a good position. And now, in 2400, I think the first section may be slow, and that can help him.”
Winning Wing arrives with a profile built steadily at staying distances. His most recent effort came in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap over 2400m, where he finished strongly to take third, just under two lengths behind Romantic Thor, who re-opposes on Sunday. That run reinforced the gelding’s ability to sustain a late charge when conditions are in his favour.
Mo felt the performance carried plenty of encouragement. “Last time he ran over 2400m, and he gave me a good feeling. I think he can handle it this Sunday,” he added.
Earlier in the season, Winning Wing also stepped up to Group 1 level for the first time, finishing a respectable third behind Romantic Warrior in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m. Between those strong efforts, however, came an uncharacteristic eighth-place finish in a Class 2 contest, a performance Mo still finds difficult to fully explain.
“I don’t know what happened in that Class 2. I was a little bit disappointed,” he said.
On reflection, the shorter 1800m trip may not have suited the horse, particularly given his tendency to finish strongly rather than position early. In that race, he still closed late with intent, recording the fastest final 200m split of the field and finishing within a few lengths of the winner.
Winning Wing’s consistency is well established in Hong Kong, where he has raced 18 times under Mo, producing four wins, two seconds and four thirds. That long-standing partnership has provided both rider and horse with a clear understanding of each other’s strengths and preferences.
Mo expressed gratitude for the continued support from connections. “I’m grateful to the owner and the trainer for giving me the chance to ride this Sunday in a Group 1,” he said. “This race is a big one, and it’s top-class horses in this race. So that I can get in this race… I’m very happy already! I don’t have any expectations, I’ll just try my best. I’ll enjoy the horse and enjoy the race.”
The Champions & Chater Cup 2026 Sha Tin preview also highlights a competitive field, with Winning Wing drawn in barrier six alongside major contenders including Romantic Warrior, Deep Monster, Cap Ferrat, Rousham Park, Numbers, Ka Ying Generation, Gentlemen Legacy and Romantic Thor.
Sunday’s 11-race programme at Sha Tin begins at 12.30pm with the Class 5 Standard Chartered Digital Assets Handicap over 1600 metres.
Champions & Chater Cup 2026 Sha Tin preview remains the central talking point as the field assembles for Hong Kong’s defining staying contest of the season.
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