Since its inception in 2018, Champions Day has struggled to live up to its name but 2025 could be the year when the spring fixture finally finds its groove.
The event is still more than six weeks away but the early indications are that the three Group 1s will all be fascinating clashes, even if Hong Kong's all-conquering hero Romantic Warrior does not return for a history-making shot at a fourth consecutive FWD QEII Cup.
In an increasingly crowded international calendar there was a sense that Sha Tin's spring showpiece was being squeezed out but an easing of quarantine restrictions for horses that competed in Saudi Arabia and a growing appetite for travel by some prominent owners could make this year's Champions Day the best yet.
The Chairman's Sprint Prize is likely to be the final start in Hong Kong for hometown hero Ka Ying Rising before his shot at The Everest in Sydney during the Australian spring.
There isn't a sprinter in the world that could stop Ka Ying Rising starting as long-odds on favorite and no serious international contenders are likely to try, which could mean the race plays out like a time trial for David Hayes' speed machine.
Ka Ying Rising will scare off any serious challengers but the other two Group 1s will more than make up for the sprint in terms of competitiveness.
Some hard work behind the scenes by Hong Kong Jockey Club officials has resulted in a change to quarantine guidelines for horses that competed at last month's Saudi Cup carnival.
Standout Japanese filly Ascoli Piceno, winner of the 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh, would transform the Champions Mile, a contest in which Hong Kong horses have dominated, winning 23 of its 25 editions.
William Haggas-trained Lake Forest, a brilliant winner of Sydney's rich Golden Eagle last November, will add a new dimension to a race that has never had a European- or British-trained winner.
Not that the internationals will be needed to make it a mouthwatering clash: if Voyage Bubble sticks to his best distance he will face a strong batch of four-year-olds that will come via the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Ten days out from the Derby, most experts see the 2,000-meter race as having a clear-cut top five chances: the top four from the Classic Cup - Rubylot, My Wish, Johannes Brahms and Packing Angel - plus last Sunday's brilliant Class 2 winner Bundle Award. All five look like milers of the future and their graduation into open-age company, dropping back in distance for the Champions Mile, will provide a welcome boost to the stocks of what is traditionally a strong category in Hong Kong.
What would make Champions Day even more memorable is if trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing takes advantage of the relaxed quarantine rules in the Middle East and brings Romantic Warrior back in time for Champions Day after he runs in the Dubai Turf on April 5.
Shum has told the media that Romantic Warrior's season will be over after he runs at Meydan but the trainer has been known to change his mind when it comes to travel plans - or at least tailor his answer to whoever happens to be asking him at the time.
Waiting for Romantic Warrior could be the classy French-trained globe-trotter Goliath and his outspoken American owner John Stewart. Proven globe-trotter Dubai Honour could return after competing in Sydney. The usual strong representation from Japan's deep middle-distance ranks is also expected.
From a fan perspective, Champions Day looms as a great day of racing, but let's hope Romantic Warrior returns to defend home turf, blessing the meeting with a true champion.
It remains to be seen whether Romantic Warrior will return from Dubai in time for a shot at a fourth consecutive FWD QEII Cup success on Champions Day.
