Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup

Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup

Group One Betting Guide
When: Sunday, January 19, 2025
Location: Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
Prize Money: HK$13,000,000
Distance: 1600m

The Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup is a Group 1 race held every January at Sha Tin.

The 1600m feature is the first leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown, which also features the Hong Kong Gold Cup and the Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup.

With a purse of HK$10 million, the Stewards’ Cup attracts all the big names in Hong Kong racing and the past winners list is full of champion thoroughbreds.

It’s an extremely popular betting race, both locally and in Australia, so check out our recommended bookmakers for the best deals and odds available.


2025 Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup betting odds

Markets for the 2025 Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup are currently unavailable.


Best Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup bookmakers

All of the bookmakers listed below offer markets for the Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup.

Check closer to the race for in depth betting markets.


Ricky Yiu, James McDonald land Stewards’ Cup with Voyage Bubble
Voyage Bubble has sealed his ascent into Hong Kong’s elite class with emphatic victory in the HK$13 million Group 1 ...
Ricky Yiu seeks Group 1 breakthrough with Voyage Bubble
Ricky Yiu is hopeful Voyage Bubble can become Hong Kong’s newest Group 1 champion with victory in the HK$13 million ...
Sha Tin racing tips
The Group 1 Stewards' Cup will headline a bumper 10-race program at Sha Tin this Sunday afternoon. Check out Horsebetting's ...
Cruz upbeat over Group 1 Stewards’ Cup hopes
Tony Cruz believes a gear change and a more favourable weight scenario could pave the way for California Spangle’s form ...
Zac Purton hopes to seal eighth Stewards’ Cup for John Size
John Size will aim to continue his dominance of the HK$13 million Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on Sunday afternoon ...
Wide open Stewards’ Cup presents opportunity for Voyage Bubble
Golden Sixty’s domination of Hong Kong’s mile ranks will take a pause on Sunday, January 21, which presents a great ...

2025 Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup Final Field

HorseBetting will update this page when the 2025 Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup final field is released.


Previous Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup Fields

  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    California Spangle
    Tony Cruz
    Hugh Bowman
    2
    126lb
    2 Silks
    Voyage Bubble
    Ricky Yiu
    James McDonald
    3
    126lb
    3 Silks
    Straight Arron
    Caspar Fownes
    Vincent Ho
    1
    126lb
    4 Silks
    Russian Emperor
    Douglas Whyte
    Andrea Atzeni
    6
    126lb
    5 Silks
    Beauty Eternal
    John Size
    Zac Purton
    8
    126lb
    6 Silks
    Beauty Joy
    Tony Cruz
    Derek Leung
    5
    126lb
    7 Silks
    Healthy Happy
    Frankie Lor
    Alexis Badel
    7
    126lb
    8 Silks
    Fantastic Treasure
    David Hayes
    Karis Teetan
    4
    126lb
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Golden Sixty
    Francis Lui
    Vincent Ho
    2
    126lb
    2 Silks
    Romantic Warrior
    Danny Shum
    Karis Teetan
    4
    126lb
    3 Silks
    California Spangle
    Tony Cruz
    Zac Purton
    3
    126lb
    4 Silks
    Waikuku
    John Size
    Ryan Moore
    5
    126lb
    5 Silks
    Russian Emperor
    Douglas Whyte
    Harry Bentley
    7
    126lb
    6 Silks
    Beauty Joy
    Tony Cruz
    Hugh Bowman
    1
    126lb
    7 Silks
    Panfield
    Tony Millard
    Antoine Hamelin
    6
    126lb

2024 Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup result


1stVoyage Bubble (-111.11)
2ndBeauty Eternal (-2000)
3rdBeauty Joy (+105)

Recent Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup winners

  • Voyage Bubble sealed his ascent into Hong Kong’s elite class with emphatic victory in the HK$13 million Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin as James McDonald anointed Ricky Yiu’s flagbearer as an emerging star. Providing Yiu with his first Group 1 triumph since Amber Sky’s 2014 Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), Voyage Bubble propelled McDonald to his sixth Hong Kong Group 1 spoil after stalking California Spangle and Beauty Eternal from third place before asserting his superiority with terminal acceleration from the 350m mark. Improving his career record to six wins and six minor placings from 15 starts and prize money of HK$41.05 million, Voyage Bubble gave McDonald his second Hong Kong Group 1 score this season after Romantic Warrior’s Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) success.
  • Underlining enduring greatness with a towering performance to claim victory in a blockbuster Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin, Golden Sixty could be bound for the international stage as Francis Lui and Vincent Ho plot future conquests for Hong Kong’s champion. As Hong Kong’s benchmark performer over the past three seasons, Golden Sixty unleashed a trademark terminal sprint to eclipse two younger pretenders to his throne – Romantic Warrior and California Spangle – to extend his record for the most Hong Kong wins (23 from 27 starts), while boosting his prize money to an unmatched HK$129,690,600. Beaten in the 2022 Group 1 Stewards’ Cup by Waikuku when attempting to equal Silent Witness’ streak of 17 consecutive wins, Golden Sixty’s redemption materialised in facile fashion as Ho patiently stalked Zac Purton on California Spangle, who was flanked by Karis Teetan and Romantic Warrior. As Purton idled California Spangle through a sedate first 800m in 49.12s, Ho calmly bided his time before Teetan – racing at the leader’s flank – struck first as the trio rounded the home turn, urging dual Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior to challenge California Spangle in a clash of three world-class talents. Sitting behind California Spangle, Ho angled Golden Sixty into clear running inside the final 200m and accelerated sharply as his two adversaries weakened, coming away to score by a length as the remarkable seven-year-old swept over the final 800m in a slick 44.63s for an overall time of 1m 33.99s.
  • Given a supreme ride by Zac Purton, Waikuku lifted for his second Stewards’ Cup success after prevailing in 2020, giving trainer John Size a seventh win in the race. The result saw the legendary Golden Sixty be beaten for the first time in 16 starts and thus failed to defend his Stewards’ Cup victory in 2021. Sent off as a $15 chance, Waikuku stepped away cleanly from gate four – settling behind Healthy Happy who led for the most part, before taking over at around the 350m mark.
  • Hong Kong’s latest superstar Golden Sixty stretched his unbeaten run to 12 in the Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin. However, Francis Lui’s five-year-old was made to pull out all the stops to add a second Group One to his record. Dropped out as he usually is by Vincent Ho, he began his customary late surge early in the straight, but on this occasion the response was not quite as electric as it has been in the past. While Golden Sixty was charging down the outside, neither Ka Ying Star nor Southern Legend were prepared to give an inch. Golden Sixty got to within a neck and for a few strides it looked as if his winning run was about to come to an end as he could not get his head in front. Champions need tenacity as well as class, though, and Golden Sixty forged ahead close home to beat Southern Legend by a head.
  • Waikuku defeated Beauty Generation in an exhilarating showdown of the Group 1 Steward’s Cup, a result that all but confirmed a changing of the guard at the very top of Hong Kong’s pecking order. Joao Moreira’s victorious mount quickened from the rear through a closing 400 metres clocked at 22.38s to register a time of 1m 33.04s, the eighth-fastest at the course and distance in more than a decade. Waikuku had finished ahead of Beauty Generation – the track record holder – three times this season already, but today the old champ’s hunger for the fray was back as he rolled along on the lead. Under a near-pristine Zac Purton ride, the seven-year-old, who not long ago was sweeping aside all-comers with ease, kicked on down the home stretch and fought bravely when Waikuku pressed him.
  • The odds were as short as you can get but it was a case of money in, money out for Beauty Generation backers. Jumping out as a $1.10 favourite, Beauty Generation never looked in trouble after gaining an uncontested lead, dictating the pace before streaking away in the straight to record a commanding victory ahead of Conte and Southern Legend.
  • It was a stellar ride by the Magic Man on Seasons Bloom, who delivered a terrific turn of foot in the straight to secure the Stewards’ Cup. Entering the straight Moreira had a choice between taking an inside run or steering Seasons Bloom to the middle of the track, and ultimately he made the right call as the horse darted away once taken to the outside. The challengers came late but the bird had flown as Seasons Bloom maintained solid lead to record his maiden Group 1 title.
  • Black Heart Bart was a stylish winner in 2017 when winning with a good galloping display. The Darren Weir-trained gelding took its record at Caulfield to four wins from five starts when beating Turn Me Loose and Ecuador. The former Perth-trained runner continues to run at the highest level in Australia. Read full report.
  • Giant Treasure scored a dramatic win in 2016 when winning by a short head over Luger, with Contentment only a neck back in second. The Richard Gibson-trained gelding was a well-backed runner at odds of $3.80, but punters didn’t have it easy. The field was full of stars which included Beauty Only, Blazing Speed and Designs On Rome. Hong Kong-based Frenchman Christophe Soumillion rode Giant Treasure to victory for Gibson, who was formerly based in France.
  • The punters cheered in 2015 when Able Friend defeated the field as the odds-on favourite. The John Moore-trained superstar was in stellar form prior to the race and it continued that rich vein of form with a 1.5-length win over Beauty Flame and Rewarding Hero. The five-year-old by Shamardal paid $1.20 for the win, the shortest priced winner in history and champion jockey Joao Moreira was in the saddle. Able Friend ran the quickest time (1:33.50) since Good Ba Ba in 2009.
  • Blazing Speed came of age when winning in 2014 at long odds. The five-year-old by Dylan Thomas wasn’t a favoured runner considering the field featured Gold-Fun, 2013 winner Glorious Days and Military Attack, with it paying $18.20 with bookmakers. The Tony Cruz-trained outsider only narrowly scored the prize by a short head of Dan Excel which paid $6.60 for the place and Helene Spirit which returned $5.60 – setting up a big trifecta and first-four payout. Also included in the field was Pure Champion which would later be exported to New Zealand where it won at Group one level.
  • Glorious Days was trained by Stephen and Trevor McKee in New Zealand before being transferred to the John Size stables in Hong Kong. The five-year-old was a highly-regarded import which scored another close Stewards’ Cup finish. The son of Hussonet won by a short head over Dan Excel, which would again finish second in 2014, and also California Memory in third. Glorious Days won paying $4 with Dan Excel almost creating the boil over at odds of $11.30 to place. Race favourite and 2012 winner Ambitious Dragon finished in fourth.
  • Ambitious Dragon was a popular winner for punters in 2012. The Tony Millard-trained gelding won at odds of $2.30 and it never looked like getting beaten. The 1.25-length win gave Douglas Whyte the first of two consecutive Stewards’ Cup wins and although it wasn’t the strongest field in history, the win was still full of class. In second was Xtension and third was California Memory.

Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup winners list

Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup Past Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2024 Voyage Bubble James McDonald Ricky Yiu
2023 Golden Sixty Vincent Ho Francis Lui
2022 Waikuku Zac Purton John Size
2021 Golden Sixty Vincent Ho Francis Lui
2020 Waikuku Joao Moreira John Size
2019 Beauty Generation Zac Purton John Moore
2018 Seasons Bloom Joao Moreira Danny Shum
2017 Helene Paragon Tommy Berry John Moore
2016 Giant Treasure Christophe Soumillon Richard Gibson
2015 Able Friend Joao Moreira John Moore
2014 Blazing Speed Micro Demuro Tony Cruz
2013 Glorious Days Douglas Whyte John Size
2012 Ambitious Dragon Douglas Whyte Tony Millard
2011 Beauty Flash Gerald Mosse Tony Cruz
2010 Fellowship Zac Purton Paul O’Sullivan
2009 Good Ba Ba Christophe Soumillon Andreas Schutz
2008 Good Ba Ba Olivier Doleuze Andreas Schutz
2007 Armada Douglas Whyte John Size
2006 Russian Pearl Gerald Mosse Tony Cruz
2005 Bullish Luck Christophe Soumillon Tony Cruz
2004 Super Kid Shane Dye John Size
2003 Electronic Unicorn Robbie Fradd John Size
2002 Electronic Unicorn Robbie Fradd John Size
2001 Fairy King Prawn Robbie Fradd Ivan Allan
2000 Resfa Basil Marcus David Hayes
1999 Race Not Held
1998 Billion Win Felix Coetzee Ivan Allan
1997 Smashing Pumpkin Basil Marcus David Hayes
1996 Michael’s Choice Eric Legrix Patrick Biancone
1995 Mr Vitality Basil Marcus Ivan Allan
1994 Right Way Willie Ryan Brian Kan
1993 River Verdon Basil Marcus David Hill

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