About the Hong Kong International Races
The Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) brings together elite thoroughbreds, leading jockeys and trainers from around the world for one of the most prestigious fixtures on the international racing calendar. Held annually at Sha Tin Racecourse, the event features four Group 1 contests across distances from 1200m to 2400m, showcasing world-class competition across sprint, mile and middle-distance racing.
Photo: © Hong Kong Jockey Club
Group 1 · 1200m
Hong Kong Sprint
Contested over 1200m at Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Sprint brings together some of the world’s fastest thoroughbreds in a high-intensity test of speed and acceleration. As one of the four Group 1 highlights of the Hong Kong International Races, it has become an important international stage for elite sprinters, with Hong Kong’s leading speedsters regularly taking on challengers from overseas.
2025 Winner
Ka Ying Rising
Photo: © Hong Kong Jockey Club
Group 1 · 1600m
Hong Kong Mile
Run over 1600m at Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Mile brings together elite milers in a contest where speed, tactical positioning and a strong finishing kick are equally important. The race has become a major international benchmark for the distance, with Hong Kong’s leading milers regularly facing accomplished challengers from overseas.
2025 Winner
Voyage Bubble
Photo: © Hong Kong Jockey Club
Group 1 · 2000m
Hong Kong Cup
Contested over 2000m at Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Cup is the richest of the four Group 1 races at the Hong Kong International Races. Combining tactical speed with middle-distance stamina, it attracts elite international competitors and has produced some of the meeting’s most memorable performances.
2025 Winner
Romantic Warrior
Photo: © Hong Kong Jockey Club
Group 1 · 2400m
Hong Kong Vase
Run over 2400m at Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Vase is the longest of the four Group 1 contests at the Hong Kong International Races. A test of stamina, balance and finishing strength, the race has traditionally attracted accomplished international middle-distance and staying horses, adding a distinctly global dimension to the meeting.
2025 Winner
Sosie
Photo: © Hong Kong Jockey Club
Group 1 · 1200m
Hong Kong Sprint
Contested over 1200m at Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Sprint brings together some of the world’s fastest thoroughbreds in a high-intensity test of speed and acceleration. As one of the four Group 1 highlights of the Hong Kong International Races, it has become an important international stage for elite sprinters, with Hong Kong’s leading speedsters regularly taking on challengers from overseas.
2025 Winner
Ka Ying Rising
Photo: © Hong Kong Jockey Club
Group 1 · 1600m
Hong Kong Mile
Run over 1600m at Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Mile brings together elite milers in a contest where speed, tactical positioning and a strong finishing kick are equally important. The race has become a major international benchmark for the distance, with Hong Kong’s leading milers regularly facing accomplished challengers from overseas.
2025 Winner
Voyage Bubble
Photo: © Hong Kong Jockey Club
Group 1 · 2000m
Hong Kong Cup
Contested over 2000m at Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Cup is the richest of the four Group 1 races at the Hong Kong International Races. Combining tactical speed with middle-distance stamina, it attracts elite international competitors and has produced some of the meeting’s most memorable performances.
2025 Winner
Romantic Warrior
Photo: © Hong Kong Jockey Club
Group 1 · 2400m
Hong Kong Vase
Run over 2400m at Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Vase is the longest of the four Group 1 contests at the Hong Kong International Races. A test of stamina, balance and finishing strength, the race has traditionally attracted accomplished international middle-distance and staying horses, adding a distinctly global dimension to the meeting.
2025 Winner
Sosie
9 December 2026 · Happy Valley
International Jockeys' Championship
Before the world’s leading thoroughbreds take centre stage at Sha Tin, the spotlight turns to the jockeys at Happy Valley Racecourse. Held on the Wednesday evening preceding the Hong Kong International Races, the International Jockeys’ Championship brings together leading riders from Hong Kong and overseas for a four-race competition under the lights.
With points awarded according to finishing positions across the designated races, the championship celebrates riding skill, tactical judgement and consistency in one of racing’s most atmospheric settings.
Photo: © Hong Kong Jockey Club
Past Winners
Explore a decade of champions across the four Group 1 races at the Hong Kong International Races, from 2016 to 2025.
| YEAR | WINNING HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | TRAINER / JOCKEY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | KA YING RISING | David Hayes | Zac Purton | David Hayes (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| 2024 | KA YING RISING | David Hayes | Zac Purton | David Hayes (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| 2023 | LUCKY SWEYNESSE | Manfred Man | Zac Purton | Manfred Man (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| 2022 | WELLINGTON | Richard Gibson | Ryan Moore | Richard Gibson (T) Ryan Moore (J) |
| 2021 | SKY FIELD | Caspar Fownes | Blake Shinn | Caspar Fownes (T) Blake Shinn (J) |
| 2020 | DANON SMASH | Takayuki Yasuda | Ryan Moore | Takayuki Yasuda (T) Ryan Moore (J) |
| 2019 | BEAT THE CLOCK | John Size | Joao Moreira | John Size (T) Joao Moreira (J) |
| 2018 | MR STUNNING | Frankie Lor | Karis Teetan | Frankie Lor (T) Karis Teetan (J) |
| 2017 | MR STUNNING | John Size | Nash Rawiller | John Size (T) Nash Rawiller (J) |
| 2016 | AEROVELOCITY | Paul O'Sullivan | Zac Purton | Paul O'Sullivan (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| YEAR | WINNING HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | TRAINER / JOCKEY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | VOYAGE BUBBLE | Ricky Yiu | Zac Purton | Ricky Yiu (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| 2024 | VOYAGE BUBBLE | Ricky Yiu | James McDonald | Ricky Yiu (T) James McDonald (J) |
| 2023 | GOLDEN SIXTY | Francis Lui | Vincent Ho | Francis Lui (T) Vincent Ho (J) |
| 2022 | CALIFORNIA SPANGLE | Tony Cruz | Zac Purton | Tony Cruz (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| 2021 | GOLDEN SIXTY | Francis Lui | Vincent Ho | Francis Lui (T) Vincent Ho (J) |
| 2020 | GOLDEN SIXTY | Francis Lui | Vincent Ho | Francis Lui (T) Vincent Ho (J) |
| 2019 | ADMIRE MARS | Yasuo Tomomichi | Christophe Soumillon | Yasuo Tomomichi (T) Christophe Soumillon (J) |
| 2018 | BEAUTY GENERATION | John Moore | Zac Purton | John Moore (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| 2017 | BEAUTY GENERATION | John Moore | Derek Leung | John Moore (T) Derek Leung (J) |
| 2016 | BEAUTY ONLY | Tony Cruz | Zac Purton | Tony Cruz (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| YEAR | WINNING HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | TRAINER / JOCKEY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ROMANTIC WARRIOR | Danny Shum | James McDonald | Danny Shum (T) James McDonald (J) |
| 2024 | ROMANTIC WARRIOR | Danny Shum | James McDonald | Danny Shum (T) James McDonald (J) |
| 2023 | ROMANTIC WARRIOR | Danny Shum | James McDonald | Danny Shum (T) James McDonald (J) |
| 2022 | ROMANTIC WARRIOR | Danny Shum | James McDonald | Danny Shum (T) James McDonald (J) |
| 2021 | LOVES ONLY YOU | Yoshito Yahagi | Yuga Kawada | Yoshito Yahagi (T) Yuga Kawada (J) |
| 2020 | NORMCORE | Kiyoshi Hagiwara | Zac Purton | Kiyoshi Hagiwara (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| 2019 | WIN BRIGHT | Yoshihiro Hatakeyama | Masami Matsuoka | Yoshihiro Hatakeyama (T) Masami Matsuoka (J) |
| 2018 | GLORIOUS FOREVER | Frankie Lor | Silvestre de Sousa | Frankie Lor (T) Silvestre de Sousa (J) |
| 2017 | TIME WARP | Tony Cruz | Zac Purton | Tony Cruz (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| 2016 | MAURICE | Noriyuki Hori | Ryan Moore | Noriyuki Hori (T) Ryan Moore (J) |
| YEAR | WINNING HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | TRAINER / JOCKEY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | SOSIE | André Fabre | Maxime Guyon | André Fabre (T) Maxime Guyon (J) |
| 2024 | GIAVELLOTTO | Marco Botti | Oisin Murphy | Marco Botti (T) Oisin Murphy (J) |
| 2023 | JUNKO | André Fabre | Maxime Guyon | André Fabre (T) Maxime Guyon (J) |
| 2022 | WIN MARILYN | Takahisa Tezuka | Damian Lane | Takahisa Tezuka (T) Damian Lane (J) |
| 2021 | GLORY VASE | Tomohito Ozeki | Joao Moreira | Tomohito Ozeki (T) Joao Moreira (J) |
| 2020 | MOGUL | Aidan O'Brien | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien (T) Ryan Moore (J) |
| 2019 | GLORY VASE | Tomohito Ozeki | Joao Moreira | Tomohito Ozeki (T) Joao Moreira (J) |
| 2018 | EXULTANT | Tony Cruz | Zac Purton | Tony Cruz (T) Zac Purton (J) |
| 2017 | HIGHLAND REEL | Aidan O'Brien | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien (T) Ryan Moore (J) |
| 2016 | SATONO CROWN | Noriyuki Hori | Joao Moreira | Noriyuki Hori (T) Joao Moreira (J) |