Hong Kong Gold Cup Race Information
The Hong Kong Gold Cup is a 2000 metre race for three-year-olds and upwards run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club in February. It is held at Sha Tin on the same day as the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
- Race Type: Group 1
- Distance: 2000 metres
- Conditions: 3YO & upwards
- Track: Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
- Prizemoney: HK$12,000,000
- Date: Sunday 23 February 2025

Hong Kong Gold Cup Race History
The race was first held over 1800m in January 1979 and was won by Observatory ridden by legendary jockey Pat Eddery. It was granted domestic Group 1 status in 1991/92 and in 1992/93 the distance was increased to 2000m. It is now the second leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown where the first leg is the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup over 1600m and the third leg is the Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup over 2400m. It became a Group 1 race in the 2014/15 season with prizemoney of HK$10 million
It is held on the same day as the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m.
Useful Facts
Last 3YO to win: no 3YO has won
Multiple winners: Golden Sixty (2021 & 2023); Time Warp (2018 & 2020); Designs On Rome (2015 & 2016); Military Attack (2013 & 2014); Viva Pataca (2008 & 2009); Indigenous (1998 & 1999); Makarpura Star (1995 & 1006); River Verdon (1992, 1993 & 1994).
Fastest time (2000m): Time Warp (2018) 1:59:97
Leading trainer: John Moore with 11 wins.
Interesting trivia: In 2018 Time Warp became the first horse to win in under two minutes He won this race again in 2020, bringing his trainer Tony Cruz a ninth Gold Cup victory (two as a jockey and seven as a trainer).
Past winners of the Hong Kong Gold Cup
Past winners include River Verdon who won this race 3 times (1992, 1993 & 1994) and is the only horse to ever win the Hong Kong Triple Crown, which he did in 1994
Year | Winner | Second | Third |
2024 | Romantic Warrior | Voyage Bubble | Nimble Nimbus |
2023 | Golden Sixty | Romantic Warrior | Money Catcher |
2022 | Russian Emperor | Savvy Nine | Golden Sixty |
2021 | Golden Sixty | Furore | Exultant |
2020 | Time Warp | Exultant | Citron Spirit |
2019 | Exultant | Southern Legend | Dinozzo |
2018 | Time Warp | Werther | Seasons Bloom |
2017 | Werther | Blazing Speed | Secret Weapon |
2016 | Designs On Rome | Helene Happy Star | Military Attack |
2015 | Designs On Rome | Helene Super Star | Blazing Speed |
2014 | Military Attack | Dan Excel | Dominant |
2013 | Military Attack | Pure Champion | Xtension |
2012 | Ambitious Dragon | Xtension | California Memory |
2011 | California Memory | Uramazin | Mighty High |
2010 | Collection | Thumbs Up | Mr Medici |
2009 | Viva Pataca | Packing Winner | Eyshal |
2008 | Viva Pataca | Floral Pegasus | Bullish Luck |
2007 | Vengeance Of Rain | Viva Pataca | Bullish Luck |
2006 | Super Kid | Bullish Luck | Bowman’s Crossing |
2005 | Perfect Partner | Floral Dynamite | Elegant Fashion |
2004 | Bullish Luck | Elegant Fashion | Bowman’s Crossing |
2003 | Olympic Express | Dr More | Elegant Fashion |
2002 | Industrial Pioneer* | Helene Vitality | Cheers Hong Kong |
2001 | Idol | Helene Vitality | Industrial Pioneer* |
2000 | Industrialist | Oriental Express | Housemaster |
1999 | Indigenous | Johan Cruyff | Billion Win |
1998 | Indigenous | Oriental Express | Che Sara Sara |
- 2002 winner Industrial Pioneer was later exported to Europe and renamed Sobriety.