The Hong Kong racing season has moved into its final quarter and there’s plenty on the line between now and the concluding meeting on 15 July, headlined by what Caspar Fownes has described as “the most exciting trainers’ championship ever”.

Rarely has the fight for the trainers’ premiership been so evenly poised so deep into a campaign, with Fownes and Mark Newnham level in the lead on 50 winners and Danny Shum (49), David Hayes (48), Francis Lui (43) and John Size (41) in striking distance.

Fownes is no stranger to premiership success, bagging the title on four previous occasions, and he revealed just how much he is relishing the fight for a fifth crown.

“I’m really enjoying it. I’m enjoying the competition, and I’m so glad there’s six guys fighting it out. The pressure is constant, and I’m just enjoying the fact it’s game on and everyone is having a go,” he said.

“I would say it’s the most exciting trainers’ championship ever. When you’ve got that many in the hunt – normally a couple clear out from the rest and fight it out – it’s really up for grabs.”

Fownes, who last took the title in 2020/21, finished third last season with 52 winners and is confident he has a nice spread of young horses on the up and older horses on the right ratings.

“I’ve got many winners left. I’m not going to let my competitors know what they are but I’ve got quite a few that can win two or three,” he said.

“I’ve just got to see if there are enough to get done what I want to get done – I want to win a fifth title. I’m in for the fight.

“I’m happy where I’m sitting. I’m sure someone will overtake me and I will overtake them and it will go back and forth and people will have a run. It’s going to be hard fought and it’s really exciting.”

Fownes has had a consistent season, starting strongly with seven winners in each of September and October and really putting his foot down with nine victories in December.

He kept things ticking over with half a dozen winners in February and March, and he has reeled off seven successes in April, thanks to a little help from none other than the “Magic Man”, Joao Moreira.

Moreira wasted no time after coming on as Fownes’ retained rider in early April, steering home a four-timer for his new boss at Happy Valley on 8 April to add another layer to the title race.

“It’s great to have Joao on board and I really want to win it this year. It would mean a lot. I’m focused and I’m putting everything into it,” Fownes said. “I’m working hard and I just hope I can get it done.”

Fownes saddles up nine runners at Sha Tin this Sunday, including Joy Of Spring in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) and Kaholo Angel in the Class 2 Members Cup (1600m).

Trainers’ Ranking (Top 6) – As of 30 April, 2026

Romantic Warrior again showed why he sits at the top of Hong Kong racing, producing another dominant display in the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin.

The Danny Shum-trained champion went into the race as the clear headline act of FWD Champions Day, and once again he delivered under James McDonald, adding another major race to a career that continues to grow in stature.

It was the performance of a horse who has made winning at the highest level look routine.

Romantic Warrior came into the race with a remarkable record, having won 19 of his 23 local starts and 22 of his 28 starts on turf. At Group 1 level, he had already established himself as one of the most reliable elite performers in world racing, with 13 wins and five seconds from 19 Group 1 starts.

At Sha Tin, and particularly over 2000m, his record is almost untouchable.

The eight-year-old son of Acclamation had won 17 of his 21 starts at Sha Tin before the race, while his course-and-distance record over 2000m stood at 13 wins and one second from 14 attempts. Overall at the trip, he had won 14 of 16 starts, further underlining why the QEII Cup has become one of his natural targets.

This season, Romantic Warrior has been perfect.

He resumed with an impressive Group 2 win over Voyage Bubble in November, before taking out another Group 1 over 2000m in December. He then showed his versatility by dropping back to the mile in January and beating Lucky Sweynesse, before returning to 2000m in March and winning easily by four lengths over Ensued.

That last-start victory came in 1:59.77, with Romantic Warrior closing off in 22.52, and it confirmed that the local champion was still in outstanding form heading into Champions Day.

For owner Peter Lau Pak Fai, trainer Danny Shum and McDonald, he has been the horse of a lifetime.

Bought for HK$4.8 million, Romantic Warrior has now earned more than HK$254 million in stakes and built a record that places him among the greats of Hong Kong racing.

McDonald’s connection with the horse has also become one of the defining partnerships of his career. Before Sunday, he had ridden Romantic Warrior 18 times for 15 wins and two placings, a record that reflects both the horse’s brilliance and the understanding between jockey and champion.

There are very few horses who can carry the expectation Romantic Warrior does and keep answering it.

He has won from 1200m through to 2040m, placed out to 2400m, travelled overseas and come back, and still returned to Sha Tin as the benchmark horse in Hong Kong.

The FWD QEII Cup was another chance for the racing world to see what Hong Kong fans already know.

Romantic Warrior is not just a local champion.

He is one of the great racehorses of his generation along with Ka Ying Rising.

By Scott Bailey

Trainer Mike Stewart has expertly managed Demanding Dave, guiding the progressive sprinter through the ranks to stakes company. The in-form gelding lines up at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday, bidding for a breakthrough victory in the Champagne Stakes over 1200m.

A crowd favourite in Cape Town, Demanding Dave has won four of his last six starts, showcasing a sharp turn of foot and an eye-catching late surge. His last run in the Easter Sprint saw him finish 1.3 lengths behind Dance Variety, but traffic issues at a crucial stage likely cost him momentum. Jockey Andrew Fortune, unbeaten in three rides aboard him, reunites at a light weight, boosting confidence of a rebound.

Sardinia Bay, another promising three-year-old, finished just ahead of Demanding Dave last time and meets him at level weights. His natural early pace is a weapon, though softer ground could test him. Dance Variety, despite inconsistency, remains a major threat if reproducing his best form.

Earlier on the card, The Cullinan appeals in Race 1 after a solid debut, while Godric Gryffindor poses a fitness query returning from a break. In Race 2, Vercicat showed promise when runner-up after gelding and could improve further under Tristan Godden.

Race 3 sees Pay The Palace dropping in class after competing against top company, including a credible run behind Jet Force. With Richard Fourie aboard, he looks a leading contender.

The mile contest (Race 4) is competitive, with Spanish Verse overdue a win after consecutive narrow defeats, while Blizzardboy, Zagreb, and See The Sign all hold claims.

In Race 5, Spirit Of Nical has shown improvement and could capitalize, though Up In Flames may bounce back. Race 6 is open, but Devil A Saint is well treated at the weights and could reverse recent form, while Oliver, from an in-form yard, is a late-running danger if the pace suits.

The closing stages feature Star World, who impressed last start and could follow up, with Iona Castle emerging as a progressive threat.

The international horses have arrived, the local champions have gone through their final pieces of work, and the atmosphere around Sha Tin has steadily built towards one of Hong Kong racing’s biggest days. Three Group 1 races will headline the meeting — the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, the FWD Champions Mile and the FWD QEII Cup — and each race carries its own storyline.

This is not just a meeting about prize money or prestige. It is a meeting that gives Hong Kong the chance to showcase its best horses against international opposition, and this year there are two local stars in particular who will command global attention.

Ka Ying Rising has become the horse everyone wants to see. Romantic Warrior is already one of the great names of Hong Kong racing. Both have looked well during the week, both appear to have handled their preparations professionally, and both have the chance to add another major chapter to their careers on Sunday.

The Chairman’s Sprint Prize will be all about Ka Ying Rising. He has taken Hong Kong sprinting to another level and now carries the expectation that comes with being the world’s leading sprinter. Watching him through the week, the most impressive part has not been anything flashy. It has been how calm and professional he looks in everything he does and the team are very confident they have him on song.

Great sprinters can sometimes carry nervous energy, but Ka Ying Rising gives the impression of a horse who knows exactly what is required. He has the speed to put himself wherever Zac Purton wants him, but he also has the strength to sustain it. That is what separates him from very good sprinters. He does not just quicken but he keeps going.

This race is another chance for him to build on what is already becoming an extraordinary winning sequence taking it to twenty straight wins. The pressure is there, but he has continued to answer every challenge placed in front of him. From what he has shown in his races and what he has looked like this week, there is no obvious reason to suggest he is ready to come back to the field.

Satono Reve brings the strongest international challenge. The Japanese sprinter is a genuine Group 1 horse, he has travelled here before, and he has the class to make his presence felt if Ka Ying Rising is even slightly below his best. He looked to go through his work well during the week, and Japan’s sprinters always command respect when they travel.

Helios Express is another runner who deserves respect. He has been racing honestly and has the local form to run well again but has been unlucky to run into a generational talent that is Ka Ying Rising, while Raging Blizzard, Beauty Waves, Fast Network and Tomodachi Kokoroe give the race further depth. Comanche Brave adds something different from the overseas angle and will be watched closely.

But in reality, they are all trying to bring down one horse. Ka Ying Rising is the benchmark. If he runs to anything like his best, the Chairman’s Sprint Prize should be his race to lose.

The FWD Champions Mile looks the most open of the three Group 1 races and could easily be the race where tempo, luck and positioning decide the result. A full field gives it a very different shape to the other features, and there are several runners with legitimate claims.

Voyage Bubble is the proven Hong Kong Group 1 miler and comes into this race with the right profile. He has been a terrific horse for local racing, and his best form over this course and distance is strong enough to win again. He has looked well in his work and appears to have come through his preparation in good order even after a niggling issue but connections are happy with him and he will take his place.

This is his chance to step back into the spotlight. With Romantic Warrior staying at 2000 metres, Voyage Bubble gets the chance to be the main local force over the mile. He has the tactical speed to hold a position, which is always important at Sha Tin, and if he gets the right run, he will be hard to hold out.

Jantar Mantar brings serious Japanese quality to the race. He is a proper miler, he has the class, and his form reads strongly enough to make him one of the key winning chances. Japanese horses have a long history of travelling well to Hong Kong, and he has the profile of a horse who can make an impact if he settles into the race and produces his turn of foot.

Docklands is also interesting. The Royal Ascot winner has already shown he can be competitive at Sha Tin and he is the type of horse who could be strongest late if they overdo it in front. He may not have the same headline profile as some others, but he is certainly not here to make up the numbers.

Lucky Sweynesse adds another layer of interest. He was once the dominant sprinter in Hong Kong, and his move towards the mile has given him a new storyline. It is never easy for a horse to change his racing pattern at this level, but class can take a horse a long way, and he still has plenty of that.

The Champions Mile is the race where I would be most cautious about being too confident. Voyage Bubble has the local Group 1 credentials, Jantar Mantar has the international class, and Docklands looks the one who could be finishing strongly. The race may be decided by who gets the cleanest run at the right time.

The FWD QEII Cup is where Romantic Warrior again takes centre stage. He has been the face of Hong Kong middle-distance racing for several seasons now, and the chance to win this race for a fourth time gives Sunday another layer of significance.

Few horses have carried expectation as well as Romantic Warrior. He has travelled, returned, backed up big performances, and continued to turn up at the elite level. That is what makes him so special. It is not just his talent, it is his consistency and professionalism.

Watching him this week, he looks like the same seasoned champion. He went through his work with purpose, and there was nothing to suggest he has gone backwards. Danny Shum has managed him with great care throughout his career, and James McDonald knows exactly how to get the best out of him.

The challenge this year is real. Masquerade Ball comes from Japan with strong credentials and looks the main threat. He has the profile of a serious 2000-metre horse and has the right jockey booking in Christophe Lemaire. If Romantic Warrior is going to be tested, this is the horse most likely to do it. His second placing to the worlds best horse Calandagan in the Japan Cup was exceptional and his rider has hinted ‘he could be one of the Japan greats’. From a rider that has ridden plenty of them that is some wrap.

Sosie also brings major European form into the race. He was excellent in Hong Kong in December when winning the Vase, and while dropping back to 2000 metres is a different challenge, his class and stamina make him a dangerous runner if the race becomes a genuine staying test. He has been tested in his trackwork during the week but his condition is glowing and he will look a danger at some point down the Sha Tin straight.

Royal Champion arrives with confidence after his win in Saudi Arabia, and he is another who has shown he can travel and perform. Giovanni, June Take, Rubylot and Numbers add depth, but the race still revolves around whether Romantic Warrior can again produce his best at Sha Tin.

The champion has been here before. He knows this race having won it multiple times, he knows the track, and he has made a habit of delivering when the pressure is at its highest. Masquerade Ball gives the race a genuine international edge, but Romantic Warrior remains the horse they all have to beat.

FWD Champions Day has shaped as a meeting with real global appeal. Ka Ying Rising is trying to continue one of the great winning runs in modern sprinting. Voyage Bubble leads the local hopes in a strong and competitive Champions Mile. Romantic Warrior is chasing another piece of history in a race he has made his own.

The international runners have added quality and intrigue, but after watching the build-up during the week, the strongest impression is that Hong Kong’s headline horses look ready. They have carried themselves like top-class racehorses, and now they get the chance to prove it again on one of the biggest stages in Asian racing.

By Scott Bailey from Sha Tin

Longchamp will stage the first Group 1 of the European season on Sunday with the running of the Prix Ganay World Pool by PMU, and while the field may be small, there is plenty of quality and intrigue around the 2100-metre contest.

Only six runners will line up, with the race featuring no overseas representation and just four trainers involved, but that should not take anything away from the depth of the field. This is a proper Group 1, bringing together last season’s Arc winner, proven top-level performers and a strong team from Andre Fabre that already has race fitness on its side.

The clear headline runner is Daryz, who returns for the first time since his outstanding victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last year. That performance announced him as one of the leading middle-distance horses in Europe, as he defeated Minnie Hauk and put a clear gap on the rest of a high-class field.

The son of Sea The Stars now begins a new campaign, and this will be an important first step. He has the class to win this, but there are a few small queries. He was at his strongest late in the Arc over 2400 metres, so the drop back in distance to 2100 metres may not be ideal, particularly if the race is slowly run. He is also resuming, and connections are likely to have bigger targets later in the season.

That said, Daryz is a genuine Group 1 horse and the one they all have to measure up against. If he is anywhere near forward enough, he can make a winning return and confirm himself as one of the major names to follow through the European season.

Aventure also brings strong Group 1 form into the race. Her Arc run behind Daryz was not her best, but she is better than that and has shown enough quality at the top level to be highly competitive here. Like Daryz, she is first-up and may be better over further, but she has the class to be involved if she is ready to go.

Arrow Eagle is another runner with Group 1 form next to his name after his win in the Prix Royal-Oak last season. He is tough, genuine and proven at the level, but this distance looks short of his best. He may find this a little sharp on his return, although he still adds real depth to the race.

The race-fit runners could be the key to the contest, especially the Andre Fabre-trained trio of Bright Picture, Cualificar and First Look. All three come through the Prix d’Harcourt, where Bright Picture was able to win, Cualificar finished close up in third and First Look was not far away.

Bright Picture has to be respected off that last-start Group 2 win. He is fit, in form and represents one of the great European stables. First Look also has claims, particularly if he can improve from his return run, but Cualificar may be the most interesting of the Fabre runners.

Cualificar was beaten only narrowly in the Prix d’Harcourt and should take improvement from that run. His effort in the Arc at the end of last season can be forgiven, as he may simply have been at the end of his preparation. Back to 2100 metres with race fitness on his side, he looks well placed to run a big race.

The Prix Ganay looks a fascinating clash between proven Group 1 stars returning from a break and race-fit horses ready to take advantage if the big names are not fully wound up. Daryz is clearly the horse with the most upside and the strongest piece of form, but this is not a soft return.

He deserves to be favourite, but Cualificar looks the runner capable of making things interesting. If Daryz is forward enough, he can win and start his season in the perfect fashion. If he is just short of peak fitness, Cualificar may be the one ready to capitalise.

By Scott Bailey