Owner John Stewart eyes QE II Cup glory with Goliath as the last overseas runners for Champions Day arrive
American owner John Stewart's pursuit of the world's biggest races will take him to Hong Kong for the first time on Sunday when Goliath tackles the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m).
Stewart has become a big player in thoroughbred breeding and racing worldwide under the banner of Resolute Racing in recent years, including the acquisition of a majority share in Goliath last year.
The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained gelding caught Stewart's attention after his upset win in a star-studded Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,392m) at Ascot last July.
Goliath won the Group Two Prix du Conseil de Paris (2,200m) at his following start in October before running sixth in November's Group One Japan Cup (2,400m).
With Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior resting after an arduous Middle Eastern campaign and multiple Group One winner Dubai Honour absent, Goliath will be the QE II Cup's star attraction.
'He's already at Sha Tin and seems in great shape,' Stewart told the Jockey Club.
'At this stage in his career he's the ideal horse to travel the world and we've had this race in mind for him for a long time.
'As I'm building my stable, competing internationally is at the top of my agenda. The Hong Kong fans are so passionate and it's good for them to get the chance to see him. I tell my trainers I'm not interested in prize money – I just want to run in the best races.
The beast has arrived in Hong Kong @HKJC_Racing and is ready to pound the competition! GOLIATH! pic.twitter.com/UcD0JIuT0t — Jstewartrr (@jstewartrr) April 19, 2025
'It's a shame some of the bigger names won't be turning up, but it will still be a competitive race as you always have to take the Japanese horses seriously and the local horses deserve respect.
'Christophe (Soumillon) is a world-class rider and he and Francis will sit down and talk about how they want the race to go during the week. We think he could have been ridden more positively in the Japan Cup.'
Goliath arrived in Hong Kong on Saturday morning, while the last of the international raiders for FWD Champions Day arrived on Sunday – Japan's Satono Reve and Tastiera and Bahrain's Goemon.
Fresh from a last-start Group One triumph in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at Chukyo, Satono Reve faces a rematch with Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) after running third to Hong Kong's star sprinter in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) last December.
Tastiera clashes with Goliath in the QE II Cup, while Goemon takes on the likes of Voyage Bubble and Mr Brightside in a strong edition of the Group One Champions Mile.
Hayes praises apprentice
David Hayes lauded Ellis Wong Chi-wang for his perfect ride when the apprentice booted home Solid Shalaa in Sunday's Class Four Cheung Shan Handicap (1,200m).
Wong settled Solid Shalaa just behind midfield on the inside rail from gate six and came off the inside approaching the turn to make his run.
While Zac Purton shot Fun N Fun Together clear at the 250m to establish a handy lead, Solid Shalaa sprouted wings to edge past that galloper late for a neck victory.
'You can't complain when they go on the inside on the dirt, peel out in the straight and win – really good ride,' Hayes said after Wong notched his seventh win of the term.
'I think he tries hard, he's got a seven-pound allowance and he's getting stronger as the months go on. So he'll keep riding winners.'
Solid Shalaa went one better than his first-up run when a close second to California Star.
The son of Shalaa didn't race for almost a year after injuring both fore suspensory ligaments last July and his left fore humeral bone last November.
'The Conghua boys did a really good job because he had one year off and now the leg, touch wood, is really good,' Hayes said.
'We'll keep him on the dirt and he'll keep winning.'
Ferraris on fire
Young jockey Luke Ferraris sailed past his career-best haul of wins for a season after lifting Bright Inheritance to victory in the Class Four Kowloon Tsai Handicap (1,600m).
Ferraris hugged the inside rail on Bright Inheritance before coming off the fence to launch a powerful run in the straight, with the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained gelding beating Happy Universe by a length.
Ferraris, 23, eclipsed his previous best of 35 wins in 2022-23 with 24 meetings left this term.
'It's ticking along OK,' he said. 'It's good to get on the board for Dennis. It's taken me a while to ride him a winner, but never late than never. He had the horse in great condition.'
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