Courtesy HKJC:


With a heritage that spans just five years, the HK$10-million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (G1) has already established a niche as a premier race for world-class speedsters. Offering the highest purse anywhere on the globe for a 1000-metre turf event, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint will be run this year on Sunday, 12 December, as part of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races programme at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The Hong Kong Sprint was added to the Hong Kong International Races roster in 1999 and the inaugural running - a Listed race, and even then richest 1000m dash in the world - was won by Fairy King Prawn at 13 to 1. Sha Tin hasn't seen a price for the dual Horse of the Year like that since. The International Cataloguing Standards Committee upgraded the Sprint to Group 1 status in 2002 and the prize money was increased to HK$10 million since then.

The richest race over 1000m in the world. Hong Kong horses have won three of five editions to date, with Falvelon winning twice for Australia.

The eyes of the world will focus on the living legend that is Silent Witness when the exceptional five-year-old seeks to defend the race he won last year and become the first Hong Kong horse to win consecutive international titles. Undefeated in 12 starts, Hong Kong's Horse of the Year is also the world's highest-ranked sprinter and in his first start after a seven-month break last weekend, he posted a one-length success in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial (HKGr.2-1000m).

The opposition, however, is particularly strong this year, with the best sprinters from Europe, Japan and the United States on a mission to dethrone the champ.



Prize Money
Place Prize (HK$) Prize (US$)
1st 5,700,000 (approx. 731,000)
2nd 2,200,000 (approx. 282,000)
3rd 1,000,000 (approx. 128,000)
4th 570,000 (approx. 73,000)
5th 330,000 (approx. 42,000)
6th 200,000 (approx. 26,000)