2012 Longines Hong Kong International Races Entries

The final big event on the international horse racing calendar is the Longines Hong Kong International Races. The four Group 1 events will be contested over the right-handed turf course at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon (late Saturday night/early Sunday morning in America), all of which are under weight-for-age conditions. North American racing fans can watch the races at selected simulcast locations with the first race of the 10 race card going off at 12:25pm (Saturday 11:25pm ET). Racing conditions should be ideal with sunny skies and a high in the upper 60's forecast.

The Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) will kick off the day's stakes action at 2:00pm local time (1:00am ET) The race drew 13 entrants and will be run over the classic distance of 2400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles). Last year's winner California Memory drew identically to last year in gate one which pleased his connections. Trainer Tony Cruz said, "It's a good sign that we've got the same gate as last year!" said .

The Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) is the next race at a distance of 1200 meters (about 6 furlongs) around one turn, and a field of 12 goes to post at 2:40pm (1:40am ET). The biggest reaction at the barrier draw was reserved for local hero Lucky Nine, seeking a second successive win in the Sprint, who seems more often than not to pull a disadvantageous draw on the big days. An aching groan permeated the arena and trainer Caspar Fownes was once again left ruing ill-luck as owner Dr. Chang Fuk To drew the widest berth of all, the dreaded gate 12.

The Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1), at 1600 meters around 1 turn, drew a full field of 12 and will run at 3:50pm (2:50am ET). John Size was more than satisfied after his stable star Glorious Days was drawn in gate three as he seeks to confirm recent G2 Jockey Club Mile superiority over Hong Kong’s two-time Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon, drawn in gate 11.

The highlight race of the day is the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1), a 2000-meter (about 1 1/4 mile) trip around two turns, where a field of 13 will go to post at 4:30pm (3:30am ET). Cirrus des Aigles heads to the Cup as the world's highest-rated horse in training. This will be his fourth try at the Cup where he was an unfortunate fifth last year from gate two. This year he will break from gate five. The six-year-old’s trainer, Corine Barande-Barbe said, "Five is definitely a good draw. It will prevent him being boxed in or having to go wide, and now it will be up to Olivier (Peslier) and the horse."

Below are all the entries with post positions and race numbers. You can get a free form guide here in PDF format. These are not traditional North American type past performances, but you should be able to understand them pretty well. Other info like past winners is also provided here. Check here for a race card with trainers, jockeys, weights, and the silks of each horse. The Vase is race 4, the Sprint race 5, the Mile race 7, and the Cup race 8.