Hong Kong Cup prize money
The Hong Kong Cup is worth £3,800,000 for the 2025 running , £2,128,000 of it to the winner . That makes it the 11th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 1st richest in Hong Kong.
The race announces its purse as HK$40,000,000, and every figure here is that money converted. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
What the Hong Kong Cup is
Group 1 · 2,000 metres ( miles or 10 furlongs) · Turf · Sha Tin Racecourse
- Racecourse
- Sha Tin Racecourse
- Country
- Hong Kong
- Grade
- Group 1
- Distance
- 2,000 metres ( miles or 10 furlongs)
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Flat / Thoroughbred
- Open to
- Three-years-old and up
- Direction
- Right-handed
- First run
- 1988
- As published
- HK$40,000,000
The winner takes 56% of the fund. The remaining £1,672,000 is shared between the horses behind, on a scale the racecourse sets race by race rather than a fixed one.
Run in 2:02.29 in 2025, the Hong Kong Cup pays £31,074 for every second of the race, which is 10th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 3rd in Hong Kong.
Every Hong Kong Cup winner
39 runnings, 1988 to 2025, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Romantic Warrior6 · 2:02.29 | James McDonald | Danny Shum Chap-shing | Peter Lau Pak Fai |
| 2024 | Romantic Warrior6 · 2:00.51 | James McDonald | Danny Shum Chap-shing | Peter Lau Pak Fai |
| 2023 | Romantic Warrior5 · 2:02.00 | James McDonald | Danny Shum Chap-shing | Peter Lau Pak Fai |
| 2022 | Romantic Warrior4 · 1:59.70 | James McDonald | Danny Shum Chap-shing | Peter Lau Pak Fai |
| 2021 | Loves Only You5 · 2:00.66 | Yuga Kawada | Yoshito Yahagi | DMM Dream Club Co Ltd |
| 2020 | Normcore5 · 2:00.50 | Zac Purton | Kiyoshi Hagiwara | Seiichi Iketani |
| 2019 | Win Bright5 · 2:00.52 | Masami Matsuoka | Yoshihiro Hatakeyama | Win Co Ltd |
| 2018 | Glorious Forever4 · 2:01.71 | Silvestre de Sousa | Frankie Lor Fu-chuen | Michael Kwan Wing Lok |
| 2017 | Time Warp4 · 2:01.63 | Zac Purton | Tony Cruz | Martin Siu Kim Sun |
| 2016 | Maurice5 · 2:00.95 | Ryan Moore | Noriyuki Hori | Kazumi Yoshida |
| 2015 | A Shin Hikari4 · 2:00.60 | Yutaka Take | Masanori Sakaguchi | Eishindo Co Ltd |
| 2014 | Designs On Rome5 · 2:01.96 | João Moreira | John Moore | Cheng Keung Fai |
| 2013 | Akeed Mofeed4 · 2:01.96 | Douglas Whyte | Richard Gibson | Pan Sutong |
| 2012 | California Memory6 · 2:03.09 | Matthew Chadwick | Tony Cruz | Howard Liang Yum Shing |
| 2011 | California Memory5 · 2:04.57 | Matthew Chadwick | Tony Cruz | Howard Liang Yum Shing |
| 2010 | Snow Fairy3 · 2:02.94 | Ryan Moore | Ed Dunlop | Anamoine Limited |
| 2009 | Vision d'Etat4 · 2:01.86 | Olivier Peslier | Eric Libaud | Detré / Libaud |
| 2008 | Eagle Mountain4 · 2:00.92 | Kevin Shea | Mike de Kock | M. bin K. Al Maktoum |
| 2007 | Ramonti5 · 2:02.80 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin |
| 2006 | Pride6 · 2:01.60 | Christophe Lemaire | Alain de Royer-Dupré | NP Bloodstock Ltd |
| 2005 | Vengeance of Rain4 · 2:04.50 | Anthony Delpech | David Ferraris | R. G. Chow Hon Man |
| 2004 | Alexander Goldrun3 · 2:03.30 | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Miriam O'Callaghan |
| 2003 | Falbrav5 · 2:00.90 | Frankie Dettori | Luca Cumani | Sc. Rencati / Yoshida |
| 2002 | Precision4 · 2:07.10 | Michael Kinane | David Oughton | Wu Sai Wing |
| 2001 | Agnes Digital4 · 2:02.80 | Hirofumi Shii | Toshiaki Shirai | Takao Watanabe |
| 2000 | Fantastic Light4 · 2:02.20 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin |
| 1999 | Jim and Tonic5 · 2:01.40 | Gérald Mossé | François Doumen | John D. Martin |
| 1998 | Midnight Bet4 · 1:46.90 | Hiroshi Kawachi | Hiroyuki Nagahama | Shadai Racehorse Co. Ltd. |
| 1997 | Val's Prince5 · 1:47.20 | Cash Asmussen | James E. Picou | Martin / Weiner |
| 1996 | First Island4 · 1:48.20 | Michael Hills | Geoff Wragg | Mollers Racing |
| 1995 | Fujiyama Kenzan7 · 1:47.00 | Masayoshi Ebina | Hideyuki Mori | Tatsuya Fujimoto |
| 1994 | State Taj5 · 1:48.40 | Damien Oliver | James L. Riley | Neville Begg & Partners |
| 1993 | Motivation5 · 1:49.20 | John Marshall | John Moore | Mr & Mrs Hui Sai Fun |
| 1992 | Romanee Conti4 · 1:48.20 | Greg Childs | Laurie Laxon | Peter & Philip Vela |
| 1991 | River Verdon4 · 1:49.80 | Gérald Mossé | David Hill | Cheung / Arculli |
| 1990 | Kessem5 · 1:48.40 | Kevin Moses | Brian Smith | B. Duncan et al. |
| 1989 | Colonial Chief4 · 1:49.30 | Tony Cruz | Ivan W. Allan | Promise Stable |
| 1989 | Grey Invader4 · 1:48.00 | Gary Stewart | Alvin Clark | E. J. Johnson et al. |
| 1988 | Flying Dancer5 · 1:48.60 | Bartie Leisher | Brian Kan Ping-chee | Lim Por-yen |
39 of the 39 runnings name the rider, 39 name the trainer and 39 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the Hong Kong Cup more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a jockey
| Horse | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Romantic Warrior | 4 | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| California Memory | 2 | 2011, 2012 |
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Hong Kong Cup in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 996 | Takeyoriwake ShoKochi Racecourse | Japan | £12,600 | ¥2,500,000 |
| 997 | Whirl StakesEmpire City Race Track, Yonkers, New York, | United States | £3,008 | $4,000 |
| 1 | The EverestRandwick Racecourse, | Australia | £10,582,011£10.6m | AU$20,000,000 |
| 2 | Dubai World CupMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | £9,022,556£9.0m | $12,000,000 |
| 3 | Japan CupTokyo Racecourse | Japan | £5,493,600£5.5m | ¥1,090,000,000 |
| 5 | Melbourne CupFlemington Racecourse | Australia | £5,291,005£5.3m | AU$10,000,000 |
| 6 | Breeders' Cup ClassicNorth America | United States | £5,263,158£5.3m | $7,000,000 |
| 7 | Dubai Sheema ClassicMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | £4,511,278£4.5m | $6,000,000 |
| 8 | Dubai TurfMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | £4,511,278£4.5m | $6,000,000 |
| 9 | Prix de l'Arc de TriompheLongchamp Racecourse | France | £4,273,504£4.3m | €5,000,000 |
| 12 | Breeders' Cup TurfNorth America | United States | £3,759,399£3.8m | $5,000,000 |
| 13 | Kentucky DerbyChurchill Downs | United States | £3,759,399£3.8m | $5,000,000 |
| 15 | Hong Kong MileSha Tin Racecourse | Hong Kong | £3,040,000£3.0m | HK$32,000,000 |
| 16 | Queen Elizabeth II CupSha Tin Racecourse | Hong Kong | £2,850,000£2.9m | HK$30,000,000 |
| 17 | Caulfield CupCaulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia | Australia | £2,645,503£2.6m | AU$5,000,000 |
| 18 | Golden Slipper StakesRosehill Gardens Racecourse | Australia | £2,645,503£2.6m | AU$5,000,000 |
| 20 | Nashville DerbyKentucky Downs | United States | £2,631,579£2.6m | $3,500,000 |
| 21 | Hong Kong SprintSha Tin Racecourse | Hong Kong | £2,470,000£2.5m | HK$26,000,000 |
| 22 | Hong Kong DerbySha Tin Racecourse | Hong Kong | £2,280,000£2.3m | HK$24,000,000 |
| 23 | Hong Kong VaseSha Tin Racecourse | Hong Kong | £2,280,000£2.3m | HK$24,000,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Hong Kong Cup in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in Hong Kong
15 races, 1st of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup | Sha Tin Racecourse | Group 1 | £1,140,000£1.1m |
| Sha Tin Trophy | Sha Tin Racecourse | Group 2 | £403,750 |
| Celebration Cup | Sha Tin Racecourse | Group 3 | £308,750 |
| Lion Rock Trophy | Sha Tin Racecourse | Group 3 | £308,750 |
| Hong Kong Mile | Sha Tin Racecourse | Group 1 | £3,040,000£3.0m |
| Queen Elizabeth II Cup | Sha Tin Racecourse | Group 1 | £2,850,000£2.9m |
| Hong Kong Sprint | Sha Tin Racecourse | Group 1 | £2,470,000£2.5m |
| Hong Kong Derby | Sha Tin Racecourse | Group One (domestic) | £2,280,000£2.3m |
Every race in Hong Kong we hold a purse for is on the Hong Kong prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Hong Kong Cup winner get?
£2,128,000. That is 56% of the £3,800,000 the Hong Kong Cup is worth, and the rest is shared down the field.
What is the total Hong Kong Cup prize money?
£3,800,000, for the 2025 running. The race announces it as HK$40,000,000.
Where does the Hong Kong Cup rank among the richest races in the world?
11th of 997. 10 races pay more, the nearest of them Takeyoriwake Sho. In Hong Kong it is 1st of 15.
Which horse has won the Hong Kong Cup most often?
Romantic Warrior, 4 times, in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
Which jockey has won the Hong Kong Cup most often?
James McDonald, with 4 wins between 2022 and 2025.
When was the Hong Kong Cup first run?
1988. This page holds 39 runnings, from 1988 to 2025.
How far is the Hong Kong Cup?
2,000 metres ( miles or 10 furlongs), on turf, at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money