Romantic Warrior on course for Hong Kong Cup with 191 entries from four continents in line to feature at Sha Tin

Romantic Warrior remains on course in his bid to become the first horse to win the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in three consecutive years.

The six-year-old is one of 58 Group 1 winners entered in the Turf World Championships at Sha Tin on December 8, with the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) receiving 191 entries for the ten-race card.

The prestigious fixture, which will offer record prize-money of HK$126 million (£12.5m), has attracted entries from four continents, with the Hong Kong Mile (HK$36m/£3.6m), Hong Kong Sprint (HK$26m/£2.6m) and Hong Kong Vase (HK$24m/£2.4m) acting as Group 1 races alongside the Hong Kong Cup (HK$40m/£4m).

As well as Romantic Warrior, top-class horses like Aidan O’Brien’s Prince of Wales's hero Auguste Rodin, King George scorer Goliath and Rebel’s Romance, a top-level winner in Germany, Hong Kong, Dubai and America, all feature among the entries, which also includes horses from the likes of Australia, Singapore and Canada.

Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s executive director of racing, said: “We’re beyond pleased with the entries for the 2024 Longines Hong Kong International Races. Hong Kong’s very best horses and many more from around the world are nominated, setting the scene for yet another world-class day of sporting action on December 8 at Sha Tin.

“Romantic Warrior – Hong Kong’s current banner horse – will aim to become the first horse to win three Longines Hong Kong Cups. Galaxy Patch and Ka Ying Rising – two of our most exciting horses – also feature and we’re very encouraged by the support we’ve received from our international friends around the world.

“We’re confident that this year’s list has the right mix to deliver another memorable Longines Hong Kong International Races.”

Richard Hannon-trained Etonian disqualified from Solario win in 2020

Richard Hannon has not been penalised after Etonian tested positive for the prohibited raceday substance tramadol, but the horse has been disqualified from first place in the 2020 Solario Stakes.

The source of the positive test for the painkiller was not established, but the disciplinary panel found that on the balance of probabilities Hannon had taken all reasonable precautions to prevent contamination with a prohibited raceday medication.

An application was made for Etonian not to be disqualified and for connections to retain their winning prize-money. This was rejected by the panel, with King Vega promoted to first instead.

In its written judgement, the panel outlined five previous occasions when horses trained by Hannon had tested positive for tramadol. These included Euginio, who tested positive in 2018, with the panel outlining the case around that horse had yet to be heard.

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