Elite Japan Entrants for HK's Champions Day

Japan's elite are among the list of 77 horses holding entries for FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, 25 April, 2021, reports racingnews.hkjc.com. Champions Day features three world class Group 1 races, the HK$25 million FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m), the HK$20 million FWD Champions Mile (1600m), and the HK$18 million Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m). A total of 19 Group 1 winners are among this year's exciting entries. Japanese filly Daring Tact tops the billing of the international entrants after becoming only the sixth Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown winner, and the first undefeated last year. In addition to her, fellow Japanese nominees Chrono Genesis, Loves Only You and Glory Vase – tear away winner of the 2019 Gr1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) – all could feature in this year's FWD QEII Cup. Danon Smash, winner of the 2020 Gr1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) is entered to return to Hong Kong to contest the Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m). The powerful Japanese cohort also includes three-time Group 1 winner Chrono Genesis who fought gamely to claim December's Gr1 Arima Kinen (2500m) at Nakayama, as well as 2019 Gr1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) winner Glory Vase, a comfortable victor of December's feature that year. Japan's team could also have 2012 QEII Cup winner Rulership's enigmatic son, Kiseki, winner of the 2017 Gr1 Kikuka Sho (3000m) and a five-time placegetter at the top-level. Among the powerful Japan entries, Indy Champ and Salios are possible Champions Mile runners. The former was luckless when joint favourite with Beauty Generation in the 2019 Gr1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, finishing seventh and since returning to Japan for a win at Group 2 level and two consecutive Group 1 placings behind Gran Alegria, each at the mile. The latter, Salios, was a smart winner of the 2019 Gr1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1600m) as a juvenile.