Hong Kong Vase runner-by-runner guide
FIRST run in 1994, the Group One Hong Kong Vase is one of the best 2400m races in the world.
Routinely drawing the best staying horses from right around the globe, the Vase is one of the most-watch races of the Hong Kong International Races.
Online bookmakers like Neds realise the importance of the Hong Kong Vase and elect to open markets well in advance of the mid-December group one.
Our runner-by-runner guide of the Hong Kong Vase shows all the runners in the HK$16.5 million feature, including all the recent form so you can invest your money wisely on the 2400m race.
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1175450_04]
1. Highland Reel (6) (IRE) | ||
Jockey: Ryan Moore 57kg | ||
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien | ||
Form: 11433 | ||
6yo Bay Horse | ||
Country: Ireland | ||
The Irish superstar is looking to win the Hong Kong Vase for the second time in three years. Last year saw the horse get toppled in the latter stages by Satono Crown in heartbreaking fashion. The Aidan O’Brien runner just does not know how to run poorly, winning back-to-back group one crowns in England before placing a further two times in the group one races in England and the US respectively. The six-year-old looms as the horse to beat. | ||
2. Talismanic (1) (GB) | ||
Jockey: Maxime Guyon 57kg | ||
Trainer: André Fabre | ||
Form: 22131 | ||
5yo Bay or Brown Horse | ||
Country: France | ||
Godolphin gun Talismanic comes into this race as a key elect and its easy to see why. The horse is making its first-start since a terrific win in the Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf just over a month ago, and that win capped off a memorable 2017 which also saw it register a group two win in France. Alongside Highland Reel, the horse looks to be the best of the international invaders. | ||
3. Tiberian (9) (FR) | ||
Jockey: Olivier Peslier 57kg | ||
Trainer: Alain Couetil | ||
Form: 17117 | ||
6yo Bay Horse | ||
Country: France | ||
The second of the French gallopers comes into this race as a live-chance to bounce back after a disappointing seventh-placed finish in the Melbourne Cup. Prior to that the horse had won three of its previous four, all of which were group races in France. The punters have come for Tiberian, which opened at $9. | ||
4. Chemical Charge (4) (IRE) | ||
Jockey: Oisin Murphy 57kg | ||
Trainer: Ralph Beckett | ||
Form: 63116 | ||
6yo Chestnut Horse | ||
Country: United Kingdom | ||
The first of three English gallopers looks to be one of the true outsiders of the field. A last-start win in the Grade One Canadian International Stakes might entice some punters to get after the Sea The Stars product, but we think your money is better spent elsewhere. | ||
5. Danehill Kodiac (10) (IRE) | ||
Jockey: Sean Levey 57kg | ||
Trainer: Richard Hannon | ||
Form: 14213 | ||
5yo Bay Horse | ||
Country: United Kingdom | ||
Danehill Kodiac’s chances are reflected by its odds coming into this one. A last-start third in the Group Three Worthington’s ‘Indigo Leisure’ Stakes was an over-the-odds run, but nothing to write home about given it never quickened after a decent run in transit. We cannot see it making an impression here. | ||
6. Eagle Way (5) | ||
Jockey: Tommy Berry 57kg | ||
Trainer: John Moore | ||
Form: 21365 | ||
5yo Chestnut Gelding | ||
Country: Hong Kong | ||
Aussie punters will be familiar with Eagle Way given it has won the Group One Queensland Derby before taking up a residency in Hong Kong, and the horse has experienced plenty of success since making the trip. The horse has been down on its best form since returning in the The Celebration Cup, finishing no better than fifth. Would take an upswing of form for the Moore galloper to get up here. | ||
7. Max Dynamite (2) | ||
Jockey: Glyn Schofield 57kg | ||
Trainer: Willie Mullins | ||
Form: 30913 | ||
8yo Bay Gelding | ||
Country: Ireland | ||
The eight-year-old Max Dynamite comes into the Hong Kong Vase as the oldest horse in the field, but the last-start placing in the Melbourne Cup boosts the confidence that there is plenty of life in the old legs. This will be the first time the former hurdler has raced in Hong Kong, but if it runs up to the standard of that Flemington gallop it can cause a similar impact. | ||
8. Tosen Basil (7) (JPN) | ||
Jockey: Joao Moreira 57kg | ||
Trainer: Hideaki Fujiwara | ||
Form: 03872 | ||
6yo Bay Horse | ||
Country: Japan | ||
Japanese import Tosen Basil lacks the class of its compatriot Kiseki, and we think it will take a special effort to get up here. A last-start second in the Group Two Kyoto Daishoten may have lulled punters into investing but we’re not fooled. An eighth-placed finish in Group One Tenno Sho and 11th in the Group One Japan Cup shows that its top-tier racing is not up to scratch. We’ll be avoiding Tosen Basil like the plague. | ||
9. Gold Mount (7) (GB) | ||
Jockey: Zac Purton 57kg | ||
Trainer: Tony Cruz | ||
Form: 03514 | ||
5yo Bay Gelding | ||
Country: Hong Kong | ||
The best rated chance of the local hopes brings decent form into the Vase. While the horse has only placed once in three group event attempts, the last-start fourth behind Werther in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup was very encouraging. The solitary Cruz runner would need to improve to take this one out though, so we are only considering it a place chance. | ||
10. Helene Charisma (6) (FR) | ||
Jockey: Sam Clipperton 57kg | ||
Trainer: John Moore | ||
Form: 43088 | ||
5yo Bay Horse | ||
Country: Hong Kong | ||
A sibling to fellow outsider Danehill Kodiac, the Moore-trained runner has not registered a victory since taking out the Group One Grand Prix de Paris back in 2016. The horse has finished eighth in back-to-back races, and while those runs were against quality fields, if you can’t finish inside the first half of the field in group two and three contests you will struggle to do it against G1 class. Avoid. | ||
11. Smart Call (6) (SAF) | ||
Jockey: Jim Crowley 55.5kg | ||
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute | ||
Form: 34746 | ||
6yo Bay Mare | ||
Country: United Kingdom | ||
The winner of three group one events in South Africa, Smart Call may find it a bit more difficult to match the top-tier performers in a better racing jurisdiction. The horse has been outclassed since leaving South African racing, placing just once – in the Group Two Middleton Stakes – across five group attempts. We’re happy to leave Smart Call out of our numbers. | ||
12. Kiseki (3) (JPN) | ||
Jockey: Mirco Demuro 55kg | ||
Trainer: Katsuhiko Sumii | ||
Form: 13321 | ||
6yo Bay Mare | ||
Country: Japan | ||
Japanese superstar Kiseki opened as the $4 favourite alongside Highland Reel for the Hong Kong Vase, but after vets found the horse to be suffering from ringworm upon its arrival, there are no guarantees the the Lui runner will take its place. If it does however, expect the odds to shorten significantly again given the horse’s huge class factor. | ||