The Exciting Journey of Four-Year-Old Racehorses in Hong Kong

If we had done this a year ago, our top-rated runners, just turned four years old, were The Winnabe, Ka Ying Rising, and Wunderbar. They remind us how much can change in a year. Everyone knows how Ka Ying Rising turned out. Wunderbar, the only horse to conquer the champion sprinter, suffered an injury that sidelined him for months and slowed him down. The Winnabe faced an even tougher fate, as an injury kept him out of racing for an entire year. He was finally retired late last season after only three career starts.

The bottom line with these horses, and perhaps all horses, is that nothing is guaranteed in the upcoming season. However, some have already shown the talent to feature prominently in the run to the 2026 Derby and other prestigious races.

The Rise of Sky Jewellery

While observant readers may notice that he isn’t the top-rated on our list, Sky Jewellery is the most exciting four-year-old in Hong Kong. After five starts, he boasts three wins and two unlucky defeats. Racing fans might argue that he hasn’t won any notable races yet, as he hasn’t participated in any Group races that are highly sought after in other jurisdictions. However, the quality of these races often varies, especially since many participants are two-year-olds or three-year-olds.

Hong Kong has only a handful of age-restricted races. There are three four-year-old series events: the Classic Mile, Classic Cup, and Derby. Additionally, there are a couple of Class 4 events reserved for three-year-olds in mid-season, along with griffin events that mix southern hemisphere two-year-olds with northern hemisphere three-year-olds. The quality of these races can vary widely, but last season's three-year-old races were of good standard. Horses that emerged from that path include Ka Ying Attack, Juneau Pride, and Etalon Or, all of whom make our list.

To put things in perspective, if Sky Jewellery were a three-year-old last season, he would have likely won a race akin to the 2000 Guineas or the Australian Guineas in another country. In comparison, a Guineas overseas would typically equate to a Hong Kong Class 2 or, just as often, a strong Class 3 race.

To be competitive in the four-year-old classic series in Hong Kong, a horse needs a rating of 90 or better, ideally closer to 95. Sky Jewellery’s peak rating is 96, and he has achieved a rating of 90 or better in all but one of his starts. The exception was a disastrous second start, where he faced traffic issues but would have rated over 90 had he won comfortably.

We rate him higher at this stage than stablemate Helios Express, who won the Classic Mile and Cup two seasons ago, or another stablemate in Sun Jewellery, who achieved the same double in 2016.

The Promising Colourful King

Our top-rated four-year-old is Colourful King, trained by David Eustace. Previously known as Blue Renegade in Australia, he appears to be more of a short-course sprinter. He must bring a solid Happy Valley 1000m number to Sha Tin, covering at least 1000m to compete in any Group race. If it’s a Group 1, he needs to stretch to 1200m.

He faces established rivals in these races, including Ka Ying Rising, which presents challenges ahead. However, Eustace has another potential Classic Mile horse in Dazzling Fit. This horse was unlucky in his early defeats but made a strong statement with two victories before tapering off at the end of his first racing preparation.

Dazzling Fit's regular partner is Luke Ferraris, who won the 2025 Classic Mile for Mark Newnham on My Wish. This horse is better than My Wish at the same stage and likely better overall if he remains sound. Although untried beyond 1400m so far and sired by Ribchester, known for speed, Dazzling Fit has the right style and rating to be a contender in the four-year-old series, provided he can stretch out further in distance.

Bright Prospects: Bulb General

The final Sha Tin day of the season showcased a bright prospect for trainer Jamie Richards in Bulb General. He caught everyone's attention at long odds during his debut in February, finishing brilliantly into a close third despite the race shape being against him. He was beaten by two other promising horses, Crossborderpegasus and Ahren. After a bout of colic requiring surgery, he returned to race on July 13, where he delivered an outstanding win in Class 4.

Although he didn’t beat much, the pace was against him again, as he came from the rear to reel off a big final sprint. He won comfortably under 132 pounds, narrowly missing the day’s best final 400m time, which was achieved by Bundle Award, who won the day’s Group 3 feature with only 116 pounds aboard.

Bulb General’s sire, Embellish, a son of Savabeel, was a 2000 Guineas winner at 1600m in New Zealand. Hong Kong has had limited exposure to this sire, which includes a couple of lesser-grade stayers. Therefore, there is optimism that Bulb General can run further than the 1200m races he has contested so far.

The Competitive Landscape

Aside from Sky Jewellery, champion trainer John Size has a strong group of horses turning four as he seeks a fourth Derby win, a fifth Classic Mile, and a sixth Classic Cup.

Under-rated Juneau Pride won't be out of place in those races. Crossborderpegasus, who has won three of five despite erratic racing manners, has been highly-rated by the stable. The table above provides a guide to others with local exposure, but examining the new season’s imports with overseas form can be a trickier process.

Those in Hong Kong at the start of the season represent only a fraction of those who will eventually arrive. Some of the better Northern Hemisphere imports are often not available for sale until connections have tested them at a good level and received a reality check during August, September, or even October. They then become available as their opportunities may decline after three races in Europe, Ireland, or England. However, they still have a chance in Hong Kong as four-year-olds, and some benefit from the extra time.

Noteworthy Private Purchases

For what it’s worth, let’s take a quick look at some interesting Private Purchase (PP) horses—imports with overseas race form—who have already arrived.

Most do not have new names or even a handicap rating at the time of writing, so they are listed with their old names and their Hong Kong branding code.

Owner Marc Chan has enjoyed G1 wins in Europe and the UK in recent years but is still seeking high-grade success in Hong Kong. He has a new import called SHAMUS ENIGMA (L093), a stylish winner at his only run in New Zealand. This very smart young horse, Shamus Storm, is already here and has the potential to become a classic series contender with just a little improvement from three to four. However, Chan will likely regard his main Derby hope this season as SERAPH GABRIEL (L108), who was the runner-up in what appears to be a strong 2000m G3 at Royal Ascot and is joining the Eustace yard.

The fact that his standout performance came at 2000m isn’t ideal, as it may indicate he is too dour for the sharper Hong Kong style of racing. However, he has performed well at all five starts from 1300m upwards, suggesting he may be more versatile than anticipated.

Former Aidan O’Brien inmate, SERIOUS CONTENDER (L113), had two wins and three seconds from six starts. He joins the Danny Shum yard, owned by Chan Kam-hung, who won the Derby in 2024 with another ex-O'Brien horse, Massive Sovereign (ex Broadhurst). He’s another with a best performance at 2400m when runner-up in the Irish Derby behind Lambourn, which isn’t ideal. He is likely to receive a tough handicap mark to start his Hong Kong career.

GLITTERING LEGEND (L109) is another interesting PP joining Eustace, boasting a nice record of seven starts for four wins and a third placing in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes, which appears to be his peak effort. He has also won multiple races at 1600m.

From the Southern Hemisphere, perhaps the most intriguing import is SHANWAH (L123), formerly with Ciaron Maher and now joining Douglas Whyte. Shanwah achieved four wins from nine starts in Australia, peaking with a G2 Alister Clark Stakes win over 2040m at Moonee Valley before finishing third in the G1 Australian Derby at Royal Randwick.

Also noteworthy is PUBLIC ATTENTION, who has retained his Australian name after joining the David Hayes yard. He arrives with eight starts for two wins and two placings. He was a G3 winner over 1200m in Sydney and finished less than two lengths away in fourth place in Broadsiding’s G2 Hobartville Stakes at 1400m. He has been assigned an 80 rating as his starting point in Hong Kong, which is a challenging place to begin, but he is more than capable.

KING OF THUNDER (L080) was trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton when he finished runner-up to stablemate Maison Louis in the G1 2400m Queensland Derby in June. His overall form appears smart rather than outstanding, with two wins and six placings from twelve appearances. While the Queensland Derby has historically produced Derby prospects for Hong Kong, like Werther, Eagle Way, and Ruthven, it has been several years since it has been relevant.

Some PPs arrive with impressive form on paper but struggle to acclimatize or develop problems. Others may come in unheralded and prove to be the real deal. One of the successful finds from last season was Eustace-trained Light Years Charm, who arrived after winning just a maiden race at Lismore in the third tier of Australian racing. Mark Newnham had previously discovered Talents Ambition from similar competition the season before.

Both trainers have intriguing new imports with similar low-key backgrounds this term, as does Frankie Lor with L116, a staying-bred horse who raced as DUNLEARY in Australia for Angela Davies and excelled over 1100m at Scone in his only start there.