Hong Kong International Day 2025: My Full Preview

Four Group 1s. Four chances to get it right. Here's how I'm approaching Sunday's card at Sha Tin.

Hong Kong International Day is one of those meets you circle on the calendar months in advance.

World-class horses. Jockeys flying in from everywhere. A crowd that absolutely roars when the favourite hits the front. And crucially for us — markets that can be beaten if you've done the work.

I've spent the last week pulling apart all four Group 1s, and I wanted to share my thinking before Sunday's coverage goes live on The King Zone.

The Sprint: Short and Sharp

Let's get this one out of the way quickly.

King Rising heads the market, and for good reason. He's beaten these horses before. He'll probably beat them again. At the price? Too short to back, too good to oppose. I'm moving on.

The Mile: This is Where it Gets Interesting

Now we're talking.

The market has Voyage Bubble and Galaxy Patch locked together at the top, but I think there's a clear lean here — and it comes down to one simple factor.

Voyage Bubble is dropping from 2000m to 1600m. He's tried this three times before. Failed three times before. At seven years old and $3.75, I'm happy to be against him.

Galaxy Patch, on the other hand, comes into this race with a story I love.

His last run in the Jockey Club Mile? Missed the kick. Got back on the fence. Copped a check at the 750m. And still picked himself up, accelerated through the line, and got the job done.

That's a horse with more to give.

There's also a Japanese 3-year-old in this field that I think is being underestimated. Eight starts, five wins, serious Group 1 form — and completely untapped potential. Worth a look at the odds.

The Cup: History on the Line

Romantic Warrior is going for four Hong Kong Cups in a row.

Four.

That would be a record. And after watching his first-up win following surgery — the acceleration still there, the class still obvious — I don't see how he gets beaten here.

At $1.15 though, there's no betting angle. This is a race to watch, not to punt.

The only query is Bellagio Opera from Japan, but even on ratings he looks a few lengths below Romantic Warrior's best. I expect the champ to be fitter second-up and improve again.

The Vase: Same Form, Different Story

Soscè and Giovatto both come out of the 2024 Arc de Triomphe — arguably the toughest race in the world to win.

Soscè ran third. Giovatto ran fourth. On raw form, you can't split them.

But I can split them on two things: experience and map.

Giovatto won this race last year. He's travelled the world and proven he handles it. Soscè has never left Europe — twelve runs, six wins, all on home soil.

And from a tactical standpoint, Giovatto will park midfield while Soscè gets back. In a race where the pace looks genuine, I want the horse with the better run in transit.

I'm siding with the proven traveller.

The Full Card Drops Sunday

This preview is the "why" — the context behind the picks.

On Sunday, you'll get the full international day coverage on The King Zone: selections, ratings, comments, and everything you need for the Sha Tin card.

If you're not signed up yet, it's free. And if you're signing up for the first time on Sunday, you'll get the entire Hong Kong card at no cost.

See you at the races.

— Kingsley

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