The nominations have been released for the 2026 Longines Hong Kong International Races set for Dec. 13, and among 142 nominations are 36 individual Grade/Group 1 winners from Royal Ascot, the Breeders' Cup, and other feature meetings, including the likes of Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) and Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel).Carrying HK$130 million in prize money, the flagship meeting at Sha Tin has drawn entries from all corners of the globe for four Group 1 races–the HK$40 million Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$36 million Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$28 million Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$26 million Hong Kong Vase (2400m).Rated 135 to top the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising looms large in his quest to become the first three-time winner of the Hong Kong Sprint following back-to-back successes in 2024 and 2025. Those wins were part of his sensational 21-race winstreak during which he lowered six course records at Sha Tin and won nine Group 1 contests.The field for the Sprint comprises of 21 nominations–11 international entries and 10 Hong Kong locals with four Group 1 winners, namely the aforementioned Ka Ying Rising; Puro Magic (Asia Express); Star Anise (Drefong); and Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain). To view the entire list, please click here.Six-time Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) heads the possibles for the Hong Kong Cup after previously winning the HK Mile in 2024 and 2025. The runner-up in the G1 The Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, Numbers (Tivaci) has dual nominations for the HK Vase and the HK Cup. Three Grade I winners from the U.S. are also included, namely Far Bridge (English Channel), Gold Phoenix (Belardo), and Test Score (Lookin At Lucky).Chief contenders for Europe include Breeders' Cup Turf hero Benvenuto Cellini, Minnie Hauk (Frankel), and Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica). Aidan O'Brien and Joseph O'Brien tally nine pre-entries–four for the former and five for the latter. Godolphin's Military Order (Frankel) is pre-entered with a prior appearance in the G1 Bahrain International Trophy penciled in for Nov. 13 along with Glacius (Too Darn Hot) and Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko).The contest has 73 pre-entries with 53 internationals (the largest contingents being Europe [23] and Japan [23])) and 20 locals, and among those are 21 individual Group 1 winners.To see the full list, please go here.Benvenuto Cellini winning the Breeders' Cup Turf | Mathea KelleyHong Kong's newest Group 1 winner My Wish (Flying Artie) looks to secure redemption in 2027 after previously finishing sixth in last year's edition of the HK Mile. Elite-placed Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) will try to finally break through to the elusive Group 1 win that has thus eluded him. He was unplaced in two previous attempts at the Mile. The domestic runners look to secure a seventh consecutive win in the race.Andrew Balding's Group 1 winner Never So Brave (No Nay Never) has been pre-entered for the Mile along with Harry Eustace's Royal Ascot Group 1 winner Docklands (Massaat), who is also entered for the Hong Kong Cup. Francis-Henri Graffard has Erdenali (Caravaggio) while Japan's Sixpence (Kizuna) looms as a prominent contender.The pre-entry count tallies at 53 runners with a fairly even splits between international entries (28) and Hong Kong locals (25). There are 10 Group 1 winners.To see the full list, please go here.The Vase attracted 59 entries, and like most contests, has a number of crossover entries with 19 Group/Grade I winners. Group/Grade I winners Almaqam (Lope de Vega) and Survie (Churchill) are among those in that situation, but 2025 Breeders' Cup Turf shocker Ethical Diamond (Awtaad) is also among the entries. Japan, prominent as ever in all four contests, bring a 17-strong list of possibles here led by Group 1 winners Durezza (Duramente), Going to Sky (Contrail), Masquerade Ball (Duramente), and Urban Chic (Suave Richard). American runners Far Bridge and Gold Phoenix are also crossover nominations.To see the full list, please go here.The post Ka Ying Rising, Benvenuto Cellini Among 142 Nominations to Longines Hong Kong International Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.