Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior headline Sunday’s FWD Champions Day meeting at Sha Tin when the Hong Kong champions bid to extend their unbeaten records this season and repel a strong overseas contingent.

First and second in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2026 so far, Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior will be short-priced favourites to win the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) and Group One QEII Cup (2,000m) respectively at the city’s second-biggest race day on the calendar.

The David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising is expected to make it 20 consecutive victories, having broken Silent Witness’ Hong Kong record of 17 straight wins earlier this year.

While his dominance has scared off some international rivals, multiple Group One winner Satono Reve has returned from Japan for his fourth clash with Ka Ying Rising, while Irish trainer Donnacha O’Brien – the son of legendary trainer Aidan – will also take up the challenge with his galloper, Comanche Brave.

Romantic Warrior, the world’s highest-earning racehorse of all time with HK$254.66 million in prize money, will chase a record-extending fourth QEII Cup.

However, the 13-time Group One winner will face one of his toughest tests when he clashes with Japanese star Masquerade Ball, France’s Sosie and British galloper Royal Champion.

Masquerade Ball is the highest-rated international raider to race in Hong Kong, boasting a figure of 128, and has been hailed by jockey Christophe Lemaire this week as potentially “one of the best horses in Japanese racing history”.

Masquerade Ball arrives in Hong Kong with a strong record of four wins from eight starts and was narrowly beaten by Calandagan – last year’s Longines World’s Best Racehorse – in December’s Group One Japan Cup (2,400m).

The blockbuster clash between Romantic Warrior and Masquerade Ball will be a highlight, while Sosie – who won December’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) – and fellow Group One victor Royal Champion also add intrigue to the HK$30 million race.

Sunday’s other Group One race, the HK$24 million Champions Mile, shapes as a more open contest.

Hong Kong has dominated the race in the past nine years, but that streak could come to an end with Japan’s four-time Group One winner, Jantar Mantar, likely to start favourite on Sunday.

He will bid to become the first international winner of the Champions Mile since Japan’s Maurice in 2016.

The capacity field of 14 also features Royal Ascot Group One winner Docklands, Japanese galloper Strauss and top local hopes such as Lucky Sweynesse, My Wish, Voyage Bubble and promising four-year-olds Invincible Ibis and Little Paradise.

There will also be plenty of excitement off the track, with K-pop powerhouse vocalist HWASA and renowned singer Pakho Chau performing live at Sha Tin.

Racegoers can also join the FWD Champions Day Year of the Horse Golden Lucky Draw for a chance to win a designated Gold Bar Set worth about HK$100,000.

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