King Kong Vase
A global cast will assemble in Hong Kong this Saturday for the King Kong Vase (G1) where a field of fourteen runners will contend for the $750,000 purse over the demanding twelve-furlong distance over the turf. Running this year over the firm turf, this year’s edition features a mix of globe-trotting veterans of the turf and rising stayers. With no shortage of late-running power in the race, the race promises to be a test for even the seasoned veteran.
- Devon And Cornwall (IRE) – veestars2 – A. Tazdevil – 6/1
The five-year-old gelding will draw the rail and brings a strong record at this distance into the Vase this weekend. By classic influence Camelot and out of a deep-staying broodmare family by Kitten’s Joy, he’s been durable across twenty-three career starts. The gelding has been consistent, hitting the board in over half of this starts and routinely posting competitive late figures. He’s had multiple graded stakes efforts this year including The McKinnon (G1), Man Of War Stakes (G1), and Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1), with his most recent win coming in a claiming race at twelve furlongs under former owner and trainer given17. The gelding has earned nearly $1.5 million while competing almost exclusively in elite company. The gelding tends to run late, especially when able to settle mid-pack before making a drive. His inside draw should let him save ground. A clean run on the inside could put him in the mix this weekend.
2. Kvasir Horn (GB) – dannejaka5 – J. Ledwith – 7/1
This five-year-old bay horse comes in as one of the most experienced horses in the field with a total of twenty-seven career starts, which have all come over the turf. The son of Golden Horn should be well fitted for the twelve furlong contest this weekend. His dam line, with Hall of Fame and End Of Year winning dam Dynawells, should reinforce his staying power with the blend of A.P. Indy and Sadler’s Wells. Most recently winning an allowance race in Germany over twelve furlongs in October with a speed figure of one hundred eleven, the horse has been consistent in his career and continues to hold up against talented fields with starts this year in both The Europe Classic (G1) and The Saint Cloud Grand Prix (G1). The horse is reliable when he is able to settle mid-pack and track the pace before putting a run in down the stretch. Though he hasn’t broken through to a Group I victory, he’s been knocking on the door and consistently finishing within striking range of other top contenders.
3. See The Moon Storm (GB) – amir1644 – J. Bradley – 8/1
The second gelding in Saturday’s field, the five-year-old is one of the more versatile contenders in the field. Sired by Sea The Moon, he carries a staying pedigree with Teofilo on the dam side, which should give him the stamina base needed for this weekend. With lifetime earnings approaching the million-dollar mark, the connections of the gelding hope to surpass this mark on Saturday. Sea The Moon Storm (GB) has been consistent throughout the 2025 season, his campaign including The Expensive Jalopy (G1), The Princess of Whales (G2), which brought him his most recent win, and The Coronation Pilsner (G1). Notably, he already has experience over this exact distance in Hong Kong, finishing fourth in last year’s King Kong Vase (G1), beaten by three and a quarter lengths. The gelding tends to settle mid-ack or slightly farther back before running late.
4. Willy Workel (FR) – coolmoreroyal10 – A. Favour – 27/1
The youngest horse to draw into the race at three years of age, he will be taking on seasoned veterans with this start. By Vadeni, a rising influence in Europe, and out of a dam by the legendary Deep Impact, he should easily handle the twelve furlongs this Saturday. The colt has spent his 2025 season across Europe and Australia with starts in the Saint Legend (G1), The G. P. von Baden (G1), German Derby (G1), and Adelaide Derby (G1), of which he would win the least two with speed figures of one hundred seven and one hundred five respectively. The colt has been adaptable to settle mid-pack or off the pace. He has handled both firm and good ground in Europe. If the lightly raced three-year-old manages to take a step forward this weekend he could be a wildcard despite his odds and mount a challenge against the more experienced field.
5. Blood Diamond (GB) – golddog – J. Ventura – 6/1
Coming into the race this weekend off of a win last October during the Go Long Cup (G3) in Australia, the gelding upped his career earnings to $3.1 million with nine wins out of nineteen career starts. A son of top sire Dubawi (IRE) and out of a mare by Kingmambo, he has deep European staying influence. The gelding has thrived at or near the twelve furlong distance his past two racing seasons and has been racing in Australia, Europe, and the US with regular triple digit speed figures. The gelding put in a strong win in the Grand Prix (G2), with other wins in the Coffeefields Cup (G1), Expensive Jalopy (G1), and a strong placing in The Stockholm International (G3). The gelding is versatile and able to press the pace, set mid-pack, or stalk from behind, though he seems to do best when he secures a position just off the pace. With several closers dawn into the race this year, his versatility will be a major asset, which will make him certainly one to watch as the race goes off.
6. Company Line (JPN) – turnpike – A. Hudson – 13/1
This four-year-old brown gelding is lightly raced with sixteen career starts, but has been impressive as an eight-time winner with a strong aptitude for twelve furlongs. By the Japanese stayer Orfevre and out of a mare by Teofilo, his pedigree may be late maturing, but he should be an effective long-distance turf competitor. The gelding comes into the Vase off a strong series of runs against group company, including a win in The Paris Counsel (G2) with a speed figure of one hundred eleven. The gelding has sown he can sit mid-pack, stalk, or settle far back depending on how the race shapes up, which will be to his advantage on Saturday. He is still improving as a four-year-old, and the connections of the Japanese-bred are hoping he may just now be starting to hit his best stride.
7. Awesome Turbo (GB) – fdllodgee – R. Harzheim – 13/1
This four-year-old bay gelding is coming into the King Kong Vase as a longshot that has shown flashes of talent but has not been able to put the pieces together against group company. By Pinatubo and out of a mare by Sea The Stars, the gelding should have a good turn of foot over long-distance turf races. On paper, the gelding should relish the twelve-furlong trip. With just two career wins in twenty-three lifetime starts, the gelding has earned minor stakes placings and has finished fourth in this past October’s Paris Counsel (G2) along with another fourth-place finish in The G.P. von Baden (G1). With recent speed figures ranging from one hundred three to one hundred eleven, he should manage to hit the board if things manage to go his way on Saturday. The gelding likes to settle mid-pack or slightly further back and make a run later on. The challenge for the gelding will to be avoid getting stuck behind other horses on Saturday. While he lacks a group victory, he consistently hits the board and stays on well at the finish. If the pace heats up early in the race, it may set him up for a good finish.
8. Kepler Sig (IRE) – bobo – Di Thomas – 13/1
The five-year-old bay is lightly raced with sixteen career starts. Sired by Sea The Stars and out of a dam by Awesome Again, he is built for middle distance and staying trips and should have no issues with the distance on Saturday. The most recent start for the horse came in late October during a listed stakes race over sixteen furlongs in which he would rally late to finish second with a speed figure of one hundred two. He would also finish second in The Gladiator (G3) and would have competitive efforts in the The Longdale Cup (G2) and His Majesty Phillipe Cup (G3). The horse is a deep closer, happiest when he can drop back early and unwind late down the stretch. The horse may be trip-dependent, needing a strong early pace and clear running room to do his best. He finished tenth in the King Kong Vase (G1) last year, not getting the trip he needed.
9. Beat Of The Music (ENG) – texasace – F. Gossett – 8/1
The lone filly in the race, she enters the Vase as one of the most accomplished runners in the field with a stellar record with fifteen of her seventeen career starts resulting in on the board finishes and career earnings of over $2.4 million. A daughter of top sire Frankel and out of a mare by Dynaformer, she has an elite pedigree like much of the rest of the field. Her most recent start was in the United States during the Breeders’ Bowl F and M Turf (G1) which earned her a third-place finish. She was second in the British Champion Gals (G1), third in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1), and put in wins in both the Irish Oaks (G1) and Adelaide Oaks (G1), repeatedly delivering triple digit speed figures ranging between one hundred and eight to one hundred sixteen. The filly usually stalks or runs towards the middle of the back before being let loose on a well-timed drive. The filly will surely be a major contender against the boys.
10. Diggio (JPN) – jms19 – D. Givins – 28/1
The longshot of Saturday’s field, the three-year-old chestnut colt comes into the race as an exciting prospect for the future, having already earned over one million in career earnings. By Caravaggio and out of a dam by New Approach, the colt should have speed and surprising stamina. Most recently winning a listed stakes race over twelve furlongs in South Korea with a speed figure of one hundred nine, he also showed talent with on the board finishes in The Great Vault (G2), German Derby (G1), and The Jockey Club (G1). The colt is usually positioned mid-pack or slightly farther back before making a determined stretch run. The biggest variable for the colt is likely his age. While showing he belongs in group company, he is still maturing compared to many of the other contenders in the field and may need improvement to threaten for the win here,
11. Tallion (GB) – piccolo – C. Mecklenburg – 7/1
The five-year-old bay gelding is one of the more well-seasoned runners for Saturday. With nine career wins and over $1.43 million earned, he has proven himself against elite company and is proven at the distance he will be going this weekend. By world class sire Dubawi (IRE) and out of a mare by Sadler’s Wells, he is well suited to the firm turf mile and a half. His most recent start came over a yielding course at twelve furlongs in The Angry Dragon (G2), which he won by three lengths with a one hundred and thirteen speed figure. He also recently put in a strong third in the Stockholm International (G3) and in the Princess Of Whales (G2). The gelding has shown tactical flexibility, sitting just behind leaders or dropping back to the middle of the pack out of the gate, as needed by the pace of the race. Excelling on quick and yielding ground, he should have no problem with the surface. The gelding looks to be a legitimate contender with staying talent and form that belongs with the best in the field.
12. Verbeek (GB) – atw14 – J. Wilson – 11/1
One of the more experienced horses in the field with twenty-seven lifetime starts with races across Europe, Japan, Australia, and the U.S, the five-year-old chestnut horse may not be as decorated as some of the other contenders he will be facing on Saturday, his record of four wins, seven seconds, and seven thirds still stands on its own. His pedigree is a mix of stamina and turf speed; by the elite stallion Dubawi (IRE) and out of a Nyquist mare. The unconventional cross as produced this colt with a high cruising speed and ability to stay well late. The horse and a runner up finish in the Dancing North Cup (G2) earlier in the year in Canada. His most recent start was in the Carlton Fisk Handicap (G2) in which he finished third, though thirteen and three-quarter lengths back. He would also put in a respectable fourth place showing in the Milan Grand Prix (G1) with a speed figure of one hundred and eight. The horse generally sits mid-to-rear in the pack before beginning a slow but steady advance down the stretch. He is likely to be trip dependent, needing clear running and a solid pace. A win may be ambitious in this spot, but his ability to stay late makes him a credible candidate for an on the board finish.
13. Barbaric Bivo (AUS) – intencity – K. Ledwith – 18/1
Making his first start of the season as a gelding, the four-year-old bay is one of the less experienced horses in the field with a total of eleven career starts. By Bivouac (AUS), a top-class Australian sprinter and out of Shamardal mare to reinforce stamina, the gelding brings an unconventional pedigree to a twelve-furlong Group I. While many trainers may have written him off as a sprinter or miler, his dam line as helped him stretch out to longer distances. His performances at ten to twelve furlongs have been encouraging with a second-place finish in the Mihail the Great Stakes (G1) along with multiple solid allowance efforts. The gelding typically runs tactically or on the pace, which may be an asset or a challenge in Saturday’s race. He mostly races prominently within the first few positions but will need to relax for the twelve-furlong distance. If he can get a stalking position without too much pressure, he has the potential to outrun his odds. A respectable run would not surprise from the gelding, but he’ll likely need a career best effort to challenge the top finishers.
14. No Plans Today B (NZ) – bouncebackbarb – J. Jacobsson – 8/1
Drawing the far outside post of the fourteen-horse field, the five-year-old bay gelding is by Castledale (IRE), a middle-distance influence and out of a Deep Impact mare who was an allowance winner. With his combination of European and Japanese staying power, its not surprising that he has thrived in long distance turf races. His most recent start was in the Ark De ComicDog (G1) at twelve furlongs which led to a disappointing twelfth place finish as the gelding set a speed figure of one hundred seven for the race. He would also put in a strong placing in the Stars And Bars (G3) and achieve a tactical victory in the Flying Carpet Handicap (G2) at eleven furlongs with a speed figure of one hundred thirteen. The gelding tends to settle mid-pack or slightly farther back before launching a steady finish, wearing down rivals. This has earned him nine on the board finishes excluding wins, but may work against him if the pace works against him. He may be a legitimate outsider capable of an on the board finish if the pace collapses late in the race.
Flrancho’s Picks:
Win: Blood Diamond (GB)
Place: Beat Of The Music (ENG)
Show: Tallion (GB)