O’Brien sets sights on Hong Kong for Group One record
The Ballydoyle handler drew level with his previous best of 28 at the Breeders’ Cup.
Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Benvenuto Cellini could spearhead Aidan O’Brien’s challenge at the Hong Kong International Races in Sha Tin next month, as the Ballydoyle handler bids to break his own record for Group One winners in a season.
The Ballydoyle maestro drew level with his own previous best of 28 Group or Grade Ones in a season set in 2017 when saddling three winners at the Breeders’ Cup in Keeneland including Benvenuto Cellini in the Turf.
The flashy chesnut could spearhead a team which also includes multiple Group One-winning filly Diamond Necklace, 2025 Derby winner Lambourn, the classy Minnie Hauk as well as Queenstown, True Love and Puerto Rico at Sha Tin’s flagship meeting.
With around £12.3million in prize-money the meeting features four Group One races all sponsored by Longines, the £3.8m Hong Kong Cup over 10 furlongs, the £3.4m Hong Kong Mile, the £2.6m Hong Kong Sprint over six furlongs and the £2.5m Hong Kong Vase over a mile and a half.
Other European contenders include Marco Botti’s Giavellotto who won the Vase in 2024 and was second last year who could bid to reclaim his crown and Ed Walker’s Almaqam, who is entered for the Hong Kong Cup.
Joseph O’Brien could return to Sha Tin with Galen, fourth in the 2025 Hong Kong Cup and may beef up his team with Bright Light, Goodie Two Shoes, James J Braddock, Omni Man, Sons And Lovers and Trustyourinstinct.
Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have entered Military Order in the Cup and could take up his option after contesting the Bahrain International Trophy on November 13, along with fellow entrants Glacius and Wimbledon Hawkeye.
Roger Varian’s Enfjaar – third in the Caulfield Cup and 15th in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup is another Hong Kong Vase possible while Andrew Balding could pitch Never So Brave into the Mile along alongside Royal Ascot winner Docklands, who also has an entry in the Cup.
Fresh from his triumph with Libertango at Keeneland, Newmarket trainer George Boughey has entered Survie for both the Hong Kong Cup and Vase, while Ollie Sangster’s Tuco Salamanca is the sole entry from the UK in the Sprint where he could take on the official best horse in the world in Ka Ying Rising.