The 2025 edition of FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin is shaping up to be a global spectacle with a powerful mix of homegrown talent and elite international challengers. Set for Sunday, April 27, the day features three prestigious Group 1 races offering a combined prize purse of HK$74 million. Top contenders from Hong Kong, including Ka Ying Rising, Voyage Bubble, and Cap Ferrat, are poised to take on proven Group 1 campaigners from countries such as Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Great Britain, France, and Bahrain.
A central figure in the sprinting ranks, Ka Ying Rising arrives with an unblemished streak of 11 consecutive wins, aiming to secure a fourth top-level victory this season. This lightning-quick four-year-old has already claimed the first two legs of the lucrative Speed Series and will look to complete the treble in the 1200m Chairman’s Sprint Prize. His formidable pace has etched his name into Sha Tin’s record books, and a win here could also see him pocket a sizeable bonus.
Voyage Bubble, a standout in the mile division, returns after a highly successful season marked by triumphs in several major Group 1 races, including the Hong Kong Mile and the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. The Ricky Yiu-trained gelding will face an elite field in the Champions Mile, including heavyweights such as Mr Brightside from Australia, Gaia Force representing Japan, and other formidable rivals from the UK and Bahrain.
Another exciting prospect from the Hong Kong stable is Cap Ferrat, who recently claimed victory in the BMW Hong Kong Derby. He now sets his sights on the FWD QEII Cup, aiming to join an elite list of horses who have completed the Derby-QEII double. His powerful finish in the Derby, where he outran My Wish — a consistent performer in the four-year-old series — demonstrated his readiness for the big league.
The QEII Cup this year welcomes a deep and diverse line-up, with seven runners from abroad. Among them is Goliath, one of the world’s highest-rated racehorses, who arrives in Sha Tin following success across multiple countries. The German-bred champion enters off a resounding victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and will be joined by other high-class entrants including Japan’s Prognosis, Liberty Island, and Tastiera — all of whom bring proven credentials at Group 1 level.
New Zealand’s charge is led by El Vencedor, a four-time Group 1 winner who has dominated recent middle-distance contests at home. Trainer Stephen Marsh hopes this form will translate to international glory. Meanwhile, Dubai Honour makes his fifth trip to Hong Kong, having already posted strong efforts at the venue and arriving in good form following a Group 1 victory in Australia earlier this month.
The field also includes Royal Patronage, who has been in top form in Australia, and other Hong Kong-based contenders such as Straight Arron, fresh from a win in the Chairman’s Trophy. Notably, several exciting four-year-olds, including Rubylot and Ensued, will take their chance against seasoned internationals, continuing the trend of emerging talent challenging established stars.
With 46 runners and 20 Group 1 winners among them, this year’s Champions Day underscores Hong Kong’s status as a premier racing destination. The presence of high-calibre horses from around the world adds to the prestige of the meeting. While the absence of Romantic Warrior leaves a void, it also opens up opportunities for rising stars to assert themselves.
As anticipation builds, the stage is set for a thrilling day of racing where the finest in speed, stamina, and strategy will collide. From elite sprinters to seasoned middle-distance specialists and promising four-year-olds, FWD Champions Day 2025 promises to deliver unforgettable moments on the global turf calendar.
