About the race
The FWD QEII Cup is a 2000m turf race at Sha Tin, staged by The Hong Kong Jockey Club on FWD Champions Day, the last Sunday in April. It is open to three-year-olds and upwards, including overseas entries, and carries HK$30 million, which the club says makes it Hong Kong’s third-richest race. The first running, at Happy Valley on 5 May 1975, marked a state visit by Queen Elizabeth II. The race was opened to international runners in 1995 and became an international Group 1 in 2001. FWD has been title sponsor since 2019.
The Japanese runner Tastiera won the 2025 running on 27 April, worth HK$28 million, for jockey Damian Lane and trainer Noriyuki Hori, with Prognosis second and Calif third. It was Hori’s second win in the race after Neorealism in 2017. Romantic Warrior won on 26 April 2026.
The 2025 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 April 2025 | Tastiera | Damian Lane | Noriyuki Hori | Carrot Farm Co Ltd |
From the official result.
The 2026 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 April 2026 | Romantic Warrior | James McDonald | Danny Shum | Peter Lau Pak Fai |
From the official result.
Recognition and facts
- Race day
- FWD Champions Day, the last Sunday in April
- Prize fund in 2025
- HK$28,000,000
- Prize fund in 2026
- HK$30,000,000
- Winner's share (2027)
- HK$16,800,000
- Field size
- Limited to 14 starters
Questions readers ask
When is the Queen Elizabeth II Cup run?
On FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin, the last Sunday in April. The next running is on Sunday 25 April 2027.
What is the prize fund of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup?
HK$30,000,000 for the 25 April 2027 running, as published by The Hong Kong Jockey Club. It was HK$30,000,000 in 2026 and HK$28,000,000 in 2025.
Who won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2025?
Tastiera, ridden by Damian Lane and trained by Noriyuki Hori, won on 27 April 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: FWD QEII Cup, FWD Champions Day 2026 (HKJC)
- International Racing Overview & Entries, 2026/2027 Group 1 races (HKJC)
- Hong Kong Pattern Book 2026/2027 (HKJC)
- Official result: Sha Tin, 27 April 2025, Race 8 (HKJC)
- 2026 FWD Champions Day Media Guide (HKJC)