The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced the final list of nominees for the 2025/26 Champion Awards, setting the stage for a competitive battle for the prestigious Horse of the Year title. Among the standout contenders are sprinter Ka Ying Rising and internationally raced star Romantic Warrior.
Ka Ying Rising has secured the Champion Sprinter category following an undefeated season, underscoring its dominance in short-distance events. Meanwhile, Romantic Warrior is the sole nominee in both the Champion Middle-Distance Horse and Champion Stayer categories, highlighting the versatility and endurance that have marked its recent performances.
In addition to these categories, Romantic Warrior is also vying for the Champion Miler award, facing competition from contenders My Wish and Voyage Bubble. This category is expected to generate considerable interest, given the quality of the nominees.
The awards presentation will be held at Rosewood Hong Kong on July 10, where the winners across all six categories, including the highly sought-after Horse of the Year, will be revealed. The event was officially launched by Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Year of the Horse Ambassador Aaron Kwok Fu-shing.