Record tourist numbers flock to Champions Day but filly’s death mutes celebrations

Record tourist numbers flock to Champions Day but filly’s death mutes celebrations

A record number of tourists flocked to Sha Tin for FWD Champions Day on Sunday, with Jockey Club chief Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges hailing the event a success despite the death of superstar Japanese filly Liberty Island....

SHA TIN (HK), DIMANCHE QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP (GR1) TASTIERA, TWO YEARS AFTER JAPANIS DERBY The winner of Japanese Derby (Gr1) 2023, Tastiera (Satono Crown), had not won since his classic success. On Sunday, he did not miss the opportunity opened by the absence of the local champion Romantic Warrior (Accclamation) and he had a second day of glory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr1). Everything went well for the resident of Noriyuki Hori, who gal…

Ka Ying rises to Champions Day challenge

HONG Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, has hailed 2025 FWD Champions Day as one of the best editions of the flagship meeting in a “very long period of time” after Ka Ying Rising, Red Lion and Japan’s Tastiera took Group One honours at Sha Tin on Sunday (27 April). Ka Ying Rising gave the 46,000 in attendance, and the millions watching across the globe, a reminder of why he’s regarded as the world’s best s…

HKJC Champions Day Marred by Death of Japan's Triple Tiara Winner Liberty Island

Hong Kong's Champions Day at Sha Tin was overshadowed by tragedy with the death of Japan's Triple Tiara winner of 2023, Liberty Island (Jpn). The five-year-old daughter of Duramente (Jpn) went amiss after some scrimmaging in the home straight during the G1 FWD QEII Cup, which was won by her compatriot and fellow Classic winner Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}). Trained by Mitsu Nakauchida for Sunday Racing, Liberty Island followed up her Filli…