Draws on the Brightside for 2025 Champions Mile Day fancies at Sha Tin

Sunday’s Hong Kong racing festival at Sha Tin is shaping up beautifully following a crucial barrier draw, with key contenders well placed across the Group 1 features, including the Champions Mile.

Ben Hayes was all smiles after Mr Brightside came up with barrier two, a prime gate that could prove pivotal. In contrast, rival Voyage Bubble drew 10.

“Very happy,” Hayes said in response to the draw.

Voyage Bubble will contest the Champions Mile instead of the longer QE II Cup, having recently won the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).

“It is an easier task,” trainer Ricky Yiu said. “We preferred to go over the mile even though he goes well over both and even as a six-year-old he is like he was when he came to us at four. There’s still improvement in him.”

Adrian Bott, preparing his first runner in Hong Kong, brings Doncaster Mile runner-up Royal Patronage to the race, confident but realistic.

“Rightly so,” Bott said of the attention on Mr Brightside. “He’s got the form around the right horses and we bring similar form here.”

“No doubt that if it was as straight forward as bringing his form over from Sydney, I think that is enough to see him being competitive,” he said. “We feel that we have brought the right horse here.”

Ka Ying Rising will start from gate four in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, while Helio Express will need luck from barrier 13.

“There’s no strategising against Ka Ying Rising,” said trainer John Size, conceding the upper hand to the local star.

Japanese mare Liberty Island, the favourite for the QE II Cup, has drawn wide in gate 11.