California Spangle beat Golden Sixty so the 2023 Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday could be special?

2023 LONGINES HONG KONG MILE - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Longines Hong Kong Mile is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for the milers at Sha Tin conducted by Hong Kong Jockey Club.

It is run as part of the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) meeting run in December each year.

The Longines Hong Kong Mile is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1991 and was won by Additional Risk.

The first runnings were as the International Bowl and run over the 1400m.

It was a Group 3 in 1994 then Group 2 before it became a Group 1 from 1999 when stepped up to the mile.

Most wins by a Trainer (4): John Moore, Tony Cruz.

Most wins by a Jockey (4): Zac Purton.

Good Ba Ba won three straight Longines Hong Kong Miles while Monopolize from Australia scored twice.

Australian horses won three in a row from 1995/1996/1997. After Monopolize, Catalan Opening swept home for legends Darren Beadman and Bart Cummings.

One of the great editions was in 2000. Dual Cox Plate winner Sunline took on the local champ Fairy King Prawn and they cleared out for a soul stirring battle as the "horse of Hong Kong came after the mare of the world".

Beauty Generation won multiple G1s following his 2017 victory and backed it up in 2018. He was one of Hong Kong's four home trained winners on International Day 2018. Becoming one of the best rated horses in the world, he would win a string of local G1 races.

Admire Mars from Japan won as a 3yo in 2019 – the first of that generation in 16 years. He was one of Japan's three HKIR winners on the day.

Golden Sixty confirmed his superb local record making it back to back wins in 2021 and taking his 19th victory in Hong Kong setting the local record with 16 of them on the trot. He tried again in 2022 but couldn't run down California Spangle.

The Longines Hong Kong Mile was worth HK$32m in 2023.

Notable winners of the Longines Hong Kong Mile include California Spangle (2022), Golden Sixty (2020/2021), Admire Mars (2019), Beauty Generation (2017/2018), Maurice (2015), Able Friend (2014), Ambitious Dragon (2012), Able One (2011), Good Ba Ba (2007/2008/2009), Lucky Owners (2003), Sunline (2000), Jim And Tonic (1998), Catalan Opening (1997) and Monopolize (1995/1996).

The 2022 Longines Hong Kong Mile was won by California Spangle from Golden Sixty and Laws Of Indices.