The Sha Tin Racecourse will once again shine for the 2009 Hong Kong International Races. This race day features four of the greatest races on turf. Certainly, each race will live up to its billing as this Cathay Pacific-sponsored event promises to one memorable day for the ages.

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The first among four races is the Hong Kong Vase which is ran for 2,400 metres. This is the longest race among the four and this year’s competitors are 14 thoroughbreds aged three and above. These horses will give their best for a big part of the HK$14,000,000 or US$1.8 million prize pool.

Leading the horse parade is seven-time Group 1 winner and Hong Kong horse of the year Viva Pataca with a 3:1 betting odds. He will be chased by highest-ranked runner Youzmain with an identical 3:1 odd and Grand Prix de Saint Cloud winner Spanish Moon with a betting odd of 7:1.

The next race is the Hong Kong Mile which is run over 1,600 metres or a mile of turf. It was first held in 1991 as the 1,400-metre Hong Kong International Bowl. However, its “1992” edition was staged in April 1993 due to a spreading equine virus.

Fourteen horses will also fight for a large sum of the HK$16,000,000 or US$2 million prize pool with Good Ba Ba looking for a third straight Hong Kong Mile victory with a betting odd of 11:8. His dominance will be challenged by Happy Zero that has a 4:1 betting odd and Egyptian Ra, the second best horse in Hong Kong, with a 12:1 betting odd.

The third race is the 1,200 metre Hong Kong Sprint which is the shortest race among the four. This race has a Hong Kong vs. the world billing as the best sprinters from America, Europe, Australia and Japan will race to end Hong Kong’s seven-year reign on this HK$12,000,000 or US$1.55 million race.

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Leading the charge for the non-Hong Kong pack is Australia’s Horse of the Year Scenic Blast with a 6:1 betting odd and eight-time Australian Group 1 winner Apache Cat with odds of 8:1. Joining forces with them is All Silent with a 5:1 odd. Also joining the fray are 2007 Hong Kong Sprint winner Sacred Kingdom with an 11:1 odd and America’s top turf sprinter California Flag with an odd of 6:1

And finally, the grandest of them all: the Hong Kong Cup. No thoroughbred has won this race more than once since its inception in 1989. That is just right for competitors will give their all to win a big part of the HK$20,000,000 or US$2.58 million pool. The early favourite in 2009 edition is defending Hong Kong Cup champion and Breeder’s Cup Turf runner-up Eagle Mountain with a 7:1 odd.

Eagle Mountain’s closest competitors are Audemars Piguet QEII Cup winner Presvis with a 5:2 betting odd and French Derby winner Vision D’Etat with a 5:1 odd. Though it has a 50:1 odd, Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Trial and CX International Cup Trial defending champion Unique Jewelry might be the dark horse of this event.

With each race possibly disputed down the wire, the 2009 Hong Kong International Races will give horse racing bettors their money’s worth. Therefore, place a bet on your favorite horses at your favourite online betting websites before the race gates open.

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