Veteran Japanese trainer Hideyuki Mori is set to make a significant comeback at Sha Tin for the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), after a 27-year hiatus. Renowned for his trailblazing achievements in the 1990s, Mori aims to recreate his past success at this marquee event. He previously clinched victory in the 1995 Group Two Hong Kong International Cup (now the Group One Hong Kong Cup) with Fujiyama Kenzan, marking the first Group win by a Japanese horse abroad.
Mori’s career has been distinguished by early successes, including winning the Group One Japan Cup in his debut season as a trainer. He also prepared Seeking The Pearl, the first Japanese horse to win an overseas Group One in the 1998 Prix Maurice de Gheest. Despite shifting his focus to Europe and America in subsequent years, Mori is part of Japan’s latest pursuit of international glory at HKIR.
This year, 13 Japanese horses will compete, as the country seeks to add to its impressive tally of 20 HKIR victories. Mori’s contender, Jasper Krone, may be an outsider in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint, but the trainer remains confident in the four-year-old’s potential, especially after a less-than-ideal performance at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Mori is not the only Japanese trainer making a noteworthy return. Hiroyasu Tanaka, a former jockey who finished 10th in the 2009 Hong Kong Cup aboard Queen Spumante, is back as a handler with two strong contenders: Lebensstil in the Vase and Rousham Park in the Cup. Lebensstil, the Vase favorite, has shown significant improvement this autumn, while Rousham Park has settled well and is in good form.
Joao Moreira, renowned as the Magic Man, will partner with three Japanese horses, including Moreira’s second ride with Hishi Iguazu in the Cup, hoping to add to his seven HKIR victories. Yasutoshi Ikee, present with his father Yasuo, the trainer of Deep Impact, eagerly anticipates competing against Hong Kong’s Golden Sixty in the Mile.
Yasuo Tomomichi, another seasoned Japanese trainer, returns with high expectations for his mare Divina in the Mile. Having achieved notable success in previous HKIR events, including a victory over Beauty Generation with Admire Mars, Tomomichi is confident in Divina’s pedigree and competitive spirit.
The Hong Kong International Races are set to be a showcase of international talent, with Japan’s strong contingent poised to make a significant impact. Mori’s return, along with the presence of other esteemed Japanese trainers and horses, adds an exciting dimension to this prestigious event, highlighting the enduring strength and versatility of Japanese horse racing on the global stage.
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