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Fabulous sprinters feature in the history of the Longines Hong Kong Sprint run at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Lord Kanaloa did it twice and is now making noise off the track as a sire. Who is the fastest of the sprinters in the 2018 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday?
2018 HONG KONG SPRINT - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Longines Hong Kong Sprint is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for the sprinters at Sha Tin conducted by Hong Kong Jockey Club.
It is run as part of the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) meeting run in December each year.
The Longines Hong Kong Sprint is run over 1200m. It was first run in 1999 and was won by Fairy King Prawn.
The first runnings were as a Listed Race over 1000m but became 1200m in 2006.
It was then a Group 3 in 2000, Group 2 after that before becoming a Group 1 from 2002.
Most wins by a Trainer (3): Ricky Yiu and Tony Cruz.
Most wins by a Jockey (3): Brett Prebble.
Five horses have won the Sprint twice:- Falvelon, Silent Witness, Sacred Kingdom, Lord Kanaloa and Aerovelocity.
Some grand sprinters over the years have won and some all-time favourites from Hong Kong are amongst them. That is because the sprinters are the horses best known internationally from there - Silent Witness, Absolute Champion, Sacred Kingdom, Lucky Nine and Aerovelocity amongst them.
Of the overseas winners, Falvelon won twice for Brisbane trainer Danny Bougoure and Damien Oliver before it became a G1, winning up the 1000m straight. J J The Jet Plane scored for South Africa and the Japanese powerhouse Lord Kanaloa won twice.
The Longines Hong Kong Sprint is now the final leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.
The Longines Hong Kong Sprint is worth HK$20m in 2018.
Notable winners of the Longines Hong Kong Sprint include Mr Stunning (2017), Aerovelocity (2014/2016), Lord Kanaloa (2012/2013), Sacred Kingdom (2007/2009), Absolute Champion (2006), Silent Witness (2003/2004), Falvelon (2000/2001) and Fairy King Prawn (1999).
The 2017 Longines Hong Kong Sprint was won by Mr Stunning from D B Pin and Blizzard.
