The fields announced today for the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup and Champions Mile double-bill confirms its rank among the leading fixtures on the international racing calendar.

Top class horses from around the globe will battle for combined prize-money of HK$26m for the two Group 1 international races at Sha Tin on Sunday, 26 April with South Africa being represented by Imbongi (pictured) in the Champions Mile and Archipenko in the AP QEII Cup itself.

“This year’s renewal of the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup will feature two former champions in Archipenko and Viva Pataca and we are also delighted to have leading competitors from Australia, France, Great Britain, South Africa and the United States.

“In the Champions Mile, we are delighted that increasing the race’s purse by 50 per cent to HK$12m has resulted in its strongest ever field. Four very interesting runners representing Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates will try to break a local stranglehold in this race but Good Ba Ba, the reigning champion and Horse of the Year, still appears the one to beat.”

“Audemars Piguet has been a terrific supporter of Hong Kong racing. This, in fact, is the 11th year for our partners, the master Swiss watchmakers, to sponsor the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, the season’s springtime showcase,” said Mr William A Nader, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director of Racing.

“This meeting has clearly become a very important day of international racing which, I’m sure, will enthrall fans from around the world”.

Selections in ratings order for the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (Gr.1 – 2000m – HK$14m (approx US$1.8m))

Since being backed by renowned Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet in 1999, this race has been won six times by overseas raiders from France, Germany, Japan (twice) and South Africa (twice) with the remainder from Hong Kong.

Viva Pataca – Six-time Gr.1 winner, including a comfortable success in this race in 2007. Completed his preparation for this event with a sound third-placed run from top weight in last weekend’s Chairman’s Trophy (HK Gr.2).
Archipenko – Scored readily in this race last year to precede a Gr.2 win in England and an unlucky reverse in the Arlington Million. Started favourite for the Dubai Duty Free last month but was never dangerous in sixth.
Presvis – Capped a fine Dubai International Carnival with a fine runners-up finish in the Dubai Duty Free from a wide barrier and looks to be still on the upgrade.
Niconero – Veteran winner of five Gr.1 races is in the form of his life. Has twice collected at the highest level and finished a creditable fourth in the Dubai Duty Free in recent weeks.
Packing Winner – HK Gr.1 winner of the Citi Champions & Chater Cup last year from Viva Pataca having run fourth in this event.
Artiste Royal – American-trained Gr.1 winner who was not tested when hemmed in on the rails in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup last December. Has since won at Gr.2 level in California.
Chinchon – Three times placed in French Pattern events, including once last year in front of Collection, the subsequent Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby champion.
Thumbs Up – Triumphant in the HK Gr.1 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile in January and runner-up to Collection in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby last month.
Bullish Cash – Triumphant in the HK Gr.3 Premier Plate last season and placed in the same race last month.
Viva Macau – Dual winner of the Ladies’ Purse (Class 1) and Gr.1 placed both locally and in France.
Roma Pegasus – Fifth in both the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas in Australia before similar finishes in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile, Derby Trial and Derby.
Danesis – Runner-up in his last start in the HKGr.3 Premier Plate to leap to a triple figure HK rating.

(12 selections)

Selections in ratings order for the Champions Mile (Gr.1 – 1600m – HK$12m (approx US$1.54m)

Home-based horses have successfully defended each of the last five international Gr.1 races to take place over a mile at Sha Tin and Hong Kong horses have never failed to dominate the first four in this event since it was opened to international competition in 2005.

Good Ba Ba – Six-time Gr.1 winner, current Horse of the Year and defending champion of this race. His international rating of 124 for winning the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile is the highest ever accorded to a Hong Kong horse.
Egyptian Ra – Only two horses are rated higher in Hong Kong after his all-the-way success in the HK Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup from Good Ba Ba. He won the HK Gr.2 Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial in similar fashion.
More Bountiful – Shot up by 21lbs in the ratings – a record rise this decade – in the wake of his authoritative success in the Chairman’s Trophy (HK Gr.2) last time.
Alexandros – Career best performance last time out when third in the Dubai Duty Free on the back of two earlier wins at the Dubai International Carnival for Godolphin.
Armada – Former Champion Miler for winning the HK Gr.1 Stewards’ Cup in 2007. Runner-up in both this race and the Yasuda Kinen last year.
Fellowship – Placed in his last three starts, two of those at the highest level and knocking on the door of his maiden HK Gr.1 victory.
Imbongi – Dual Gr.2 winner and also Gr.1 runner-up in South Africa.
Collection - The new star of Hong Kong racing after his terrific triumph in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby. Drops back in distance here.
Sight Winner – Most Improved Horse in Hong Kong last season and his consistency in the best local races has maintained the upward curve this season.
Dao Dao – Four wins last season for John Size in Hong Kong and a Listed winner in Sydney last weekend for his former trainer, John Hawkes.
Sir Slick – Six-time Gr.1 winner in New Zealand where he is known as the ‘People’s Champion’.
Unique Jewellery – Winner of the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial and a commendable fourth in the Classic itself.
Gem Of Chiu Ton – Listed placed in England before arriving in Hong Kong where he appears on the verge of a breakthrough success.