About the race
The Centenary Sprint Cup is a 1200m turf race at Sha Tin, staged by The Hong Kong Jockey Club in January as the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series. It is open to three-year-olds and upwards, including overseas entries, and carries HK$13 million. The race dates back to 1984, when it was first run as the Centenary Cup to mark the centenary of the club, founded in 1884. It became a Hong Kong Group 1 in 2001, an international Group 2 in 2017 and an international Group 1 in 2018.
The 2025 running on 19 January went to Ka Ying Rising, ridden by Zac Purton and trained by David Hayes, three and a quarter lengths clear of Helios Express in 1m 07.20s, which the club reported as a track record. He won the race again on 25 January 2026.
The 2025 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 January 2025 | Ka Ying Rising | Zac Purton | David Hayes | Ka Ying Syndicate |
From the official result.
The 2026 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 January 2026 | Ka Ying Rising | Zac Purton | David Hayes | Ka Ying Syndicate |
From the official result.
Recognition and facts
- Part of
- Hong Kong Speed Series (first leg)
- Race day in 2026
- Gentlemen's Raceday, 25 January 2026
- Prize fund in 2025
- HK$13,000,000
- Free entries close for overseas horses (2027)
- 28 December 2026
- Speed Series bonus (2026/27)
- HK$5,000,000 to the owner of a horse winning all three legs
Questions readers ask
When is the Centenary Sprint Cup run?
In January at Sha Tin. The next running is on Sunday 24 January 2027.
What is the prize fund of the Centenary Sprint Cup?
HK$13,000,000 for the 24 January 2027 running, as published by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the same as in 2025 and 2026.
Who won the Centenary Sprint Cup in 2025?
Ka Ying Rising, ridden by Zac Purton and trained by David Hayes, won on 19 January 2025.
Sources
The rank and rating are from the IFHA's LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025, published 21 January 2026, which ranks races by the ratings of their first four finishers. Other facts are from the pages listed below.
- IFHA: LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025 (published 21 January 2026)
- Introduction & Past Winners: Centenary Sprint Cup, Gentlemen's Raceday 2026 (HKJC)
- International Racing Overview & Entries, 2026/2027 Group 1 races (HKJC)
- Hong Kong Pattern Book 2026/2027 (HKJC)
- Official result: Sha Tin, 19 January 2025, Race 6 (HKJC)
- 2025/2026 Racing Media Guide: Centenary Sprint Cup (HKJC)