Who will be fast enough to win the Longines Hong Kong Sprint run at Sha Tin on Sunday?

The evergreen Wellington won last year. Will we see new blood in the 2023 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday?

2023 LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Longines Hong Kong Sprint is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for the sprinters at Sha Tin conducted by Hong Kong Jockey Club.

It is run as part of the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) meeting run in December each year.

The Longines Hong Kong Sprint is run over 1200m. It was first run in 1999 and was won by Fairy King Prawn.

The first runnings were as a Listed Race over 1000m but became 1200m in 2006.

It was then a Group 3 in 2000, Group 2 after that before becoming a Group 1 from 2002.

Most wins by a Trainer (3): Ricky Yiu, Tony Cruz and Takayuki Yasuda

Most wins by a Jockey (3): Brett Prebble.

Six horses have won the Sprint twice:- Falvelon, Silent Witness, Sacred Kingdom, Lord Kanaloa, Aerovelocity and Mr Stunning.

Some grand sprinters over the years have won and some all-time favourites from Hong Kong are amongst them. That is because the sprinters are the horses best known internationally from there – such as Silent Witness, Absolute Champion, Sacred Kingdom, Lucky Nine and Aerovelocity.

Of the overseas winners, Falvelon won twice for Brisbane trainer Danny Bougoure and Damien Oliver before it became a G1, winning up the 1000m straight. J J The Jet Plane scored for South Africa and the Japanese powerhouse Lord Kanaloa won twice. His son Danon Smash won in 2020.

The Longines Hong Kong Sprint is now the final leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

Mr Stunning was one of Hong Kong's four home trained winners on International Day 2018.

The 2021 version was marred by a horrible fall where four horses didn't complete the course and their jockeys were left strewn on the track. Some of the horses sadly didn't make it home.

The Longines Hong Kong Sprint was worth HK$26m in 2023.

Notable winners of the Longines Hong Kong Sprint include Wellington (2022), Danon Smash (2020), Mr Stunning (2017/2018), Aerovelocity (2014/2016), Lord Kanaloa (2012/2013), Sacred Kingdom (2007/2009), Absolute Champion (2006), Silent Witness (2003/2004), Falvelon (2000/2001) and Fairy King Prawn (1999).

The 2022 Longines Hong Kong Sprint was won by Wellington from Sight Success and Sky Field.