A blockbuster night of international racing is on tap from Sha Tin on Saturday night as the Hong Kong Jockey Club hosts the FWD Champions Day. The 10-race card from the "Pearl of the Orient" features a trio of Group 1 races including the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, the Group 1 Champion Mile, and the Group 1 QEII Cup.

The first featured Champion Day race on the Sha Tin Saturday night card is the Group 1, HK$18 million Chairman's Sprint Prize in Race 5. The six furlong turf sprint has a field of 11 that is headed by Hot King Prawn. (AUS). The 5-year-old son of Denman out of the Unbridled's Song mare De Chorus has posted a record of 10-4-2 from 17 career trips to the gate. Hot King Prawn had a win against Grade 2 company to open the year, and was second by three-quarters-of-a-length last time out.

Taking on Hot King Prawn is a field that includes Aethero (AUS) and Big Party (AUS).

Two races later, a field of nine stayers will go to the gate with Horse of the Year honors hanging in the balance in the Group 1, HK$ 20 million Champions Mile. Beauty Generation (NZ) is the two-time defending Horse of the Year that is trying to make history as the first horse to win it three years in-a-row. The son of Road to Rock (AUS) out of the Bel Espit (AUS) mare Stylish Bel (AUS) is running against the competition--and Father Time as the 7-year-old is taking on younger competitors for the title. More Than This (GB) and Waikuku (AUS) could stand in the way of those dreams for Beauty Generation and jockey Zac Purton.

Race 8 is the richest race of the night, the Group 1, HK$20 million QEII Cup. Despite being the richest prize on the Champions Day card, the mile-and-a-quarter turf race has attracted the smallest field of them all with only seven competitors running for the purse and the trophy. Exultant (IRE) from the barn of AS Cruz has been a game competitor at Sha Tin this season, and it's possible that his best effort here could be enough to claim the win in the QEII Cup. Elusive State (AUS) and Furore (NZ) could also contend here.

First post for Sha Tin on FWD Champions Day is at 12:45 a.m. ET / 9:45 p.m. PT on Saturday night.

#2 Joy Master receives a welcome step back to Class 5. His last run in this grade returned a win and with Zac Purton now taking over, he rates as the one to beat.

#4 Liverbird Star won well three starts ago. He has held his condition nicely and, in this grade, he is competitive, if he can offset the wide gate.

#1 Hurricane Hunter mixes his form but appears to be another one who has returned to his mark. Joao Moreira retains the ride it's just a question of how far back he will settle in the run because he can be his own worst enemy at times.

#8 Supreme Plus has taken his time to acclimatize, but just might be ready to piece it all together now.

#10 California Legend struggled on the dirt last time out but a return to the turf here should spark sharp improvement. He's a two-time winner already this season and from the good draw, with Karis Teetan aboard, he can dictate terms to suit and he might prove hard to reel in.

#7 Full Power won well last start. Zac Purton jumps aboard and he appears to have a number of rating points still in hand.

#2 Defining Moment is consistent. He has to contend with the wide gate though in his favor, is that he is likely to settle near the tail of the field, the concern is whether he gets a race run to suit as a fast tempo will favor him.

#14 Plikclone is next best. He's an ever-improving gelding from the David Hall yard who has ability and has shown that it's only a matter of time before he does breakthrough.

#14 Super Red Dragon is racing well having placed in his last three outings and gets in light here with only 116 lbs on his back. He has shown he's competitive in Class 4 and the soft gate should provide him with every chance.

#6 This One's For You loves the dirt as a course and distance winner already this term. Slight concern is how far back in the run he plans to get but with a race run to suit he can figure.

#1 Jade Fortune returned to form last start at his first attempt in Class 4. He's the class runner of the field and his best can't be underestimated.

#7 Strathclyde is next best, he just needs a fair bit to go his way as he is a tricky horse.

#5 Cantstopthefeeling has taken his time to acclimatize to life in Hong Kong but he has shown glimpses of ability. He scored nicely in a recent trial on the dirt and he just might be worth taking a chance on here, especially if he is a price.

#14 Foodie Princess has gone from strength to strength this term, winning two out of his last three races. He has gate 13 to contend with here but does get in light with only 114 lbs on his back and championship leading jockey Joao Moreira up.

#8 Clear Choice is another who relishes the surface. He rarely runs bad race and is favored by the inside gate here which should allow him to do next to no work in transit.

#4 Superich is going to do a lot of work from the wide ally but his beginning to hit a purple patch of form. He's worth respecting, especially with Zac Purton up.

#1 Super Power Man surprised when making all last time out at 23/1. Though surprising, he was ultra-impressive and he appears capable of doing similar again. He has drawn to get the right run for the in-form Chad Schofield who can ensure he finds the front early from gate two.

#6 Excel Delight is looking to snap a streak of two runner-up efforts. He's racing well and as a winner already this term he commands respect, especially with Joao Moreira up again.

#9 General Trump is regularly underestimated. He has won two of his last four including two other minor placings and this race looks well within his grasp.

#12 Adonis is next best as a two-time winner this term. Only concern is that it will be his first run on the dirt this campaign.

#6 Telecom Rocket is racing in easily career-best form. He got off the mark four starts ago and since then has been racing well. He came from well back in the field last start to miss narrowly over this course and distance.

#5 Heza Beauty has shown steady improvement across his three starts in Hong Kong. He can figure again with the right run from gate three under Joao Moreira.

#4 Team Power is a talent on the rise with two placings from his first three starts in Hong Kong. He's well-weighted here and has proven that he is up to this level. He warrants respect.

#13 Eptiwins is a costly conveyance but at his second start for David Hall, he bears close watching.

#2 Handsome Bo Bo has placed in his last two outings, the latest with three-time champion jockey Zac Purton who hops up again. He has found his mark and with further improvement here, he can go on with it.

#4 Fantasy has hit the ground running since commencing his career in Hong Kong as a two-time winner from six attempts, including his latest. He remains in Class 3 which suits and the favorable draw should see him contest the finish.

#9 Glenealy Generals has gone close on a number of occasion this season without winning. His consistent best warrants respect.

#8 Grade One is looking for back-to-back wins. The awkward gate makes life difficult but on his day he should be thereabouts.

#9 Star Luck returns to the dirt where he is a two-time winner. He has been a conundrum this season, mixing his form and the like but if he does manage to put his best foot forward on his preferred surface, then he is capable of taking this out.

#2 Utopia Life scored an overdue win last time out and if he has held his condition out of that run then he's going to be thereabouts once again. He has some ability and the inside gate will allow him to showcase it.

#1 Elite Patch loves the dirt. He steps back to Class 3 where he is a two-time winner and his best warrants respect, especially in this grade.

#4 Just Not Listening was a three-time winner over this course and distance last season but has failed to get over the line this term. Still, he has those runs under his belt and the inside gate is to his favor.

#12 Will Power is a three-time winner on the dirt from four career starts and since his debut has enjoyed an astonishing 29-point rise in the ratings. He faces Class 2 here for the first time which makes things difficult, but he does get a key weight relief with only 118 lbs on his back and his latest trial suggests that he's right on track for this assignment.

#4 Encore Boy loves the course and distance as a two-time winner. This is a suitable contest and although he might be at the ceiling of his ability, he does get a nice draw and maps to get the dream run throughout.

#2 Kings Shield appears somewhat of a dirt specialist. He ran a bold race last time out and if he can further improve off that he's going to be in the thick of things, especially a strong record on the dirt (2: 1-1-0).

#1 Gunnison hasn't won since 2018. Still, he has been racing out of his grade and a return to this course and distance should spark improvement.

#2 Mighty Giant has enjoyed a rapid rise to success having won three out of his last four starts finishing second in the other. He won well at his Class 3 debut last start and three-time champion jockey Zac Purton also has an unblemished record aboard him. He can win again.

#8 Juneau Park is looking for his third consecutive win. He's another on the rise as a lightly raced galloper and he's going to test Mighty Giant here.

#12 Triple Triple mixes his form but has pieced together a number of nice runs. He gets in light and is capable of grabbing some prize money.

#11 Sonic Fighter is next best.

Exciting youngsters Zac Purton and Joao Moreira square off in the Class 3 Dorset Handicap

BY DECLAN SCHUSTER - Jockeys' championship protagonists Zac Purton and Joao Moreira have continued to trade blows in recent weeks and that looks set to continue on Saturday night's 10-race Sha Tin card, with their rivalry highlighted in the clash of rising youngsters Mighty Giant (132 lbs) and Juneau Park (119 lbs).

The exciting gallopers take each other on in the Class 3 Dorset Handicap (1400m) and watchers will be hoping for a contest like the Happy Valley finale on Wednesday night.

That race saw the two outstanding riders locked in a thrilling duel, with Purton gaining a narrow win to seal a treble and so reduce Moreira's championship lead to one.

Purton rides Mighty Giant, the Ricky Yiu trainee who is looking to secure a third consecutive win.

"He's a lovely horse, he's got a big long action and he loves to gallop along - there's a lot to like about him," Purton said.

The New Zealand-bred gelding has enjoyed a rapid rise as a three-time winner from only six career starts, incurring a 26-point rating hike since his debut.

"He's done nothing wrong--he's continued to improve as he's gone along," Purton said.

"He's been winning nicely and he's a good honest horse who gives everything and I'm sure he'll do that again."

Championship leading trainer Ricky Yiu has been delighted with Mighty Giant's progress.

"He's only a 4-year-old, he keeps maturing and improving - he's a horse who always likes to please you," Yiu said.

The Power gelding arrived in Hong Kong as an unraced PPG (Privately Purchased Griffin).

"I wouldn't be surprised to see him get out to a mile but at this stage we'll keep him at 1400 (meters), however, moving forward we'll see," Yiu said.

Mighty Giant will break from gate four in search of a third consecutive win but Purton sees a big challenge coming from Moreira's mount Juneau Park who will start from stall six.

"At the weights, Juneau Park is going to get his chance - my bloke likes to roll along so he's going to have his chance to sit on my back to try and run me down," Purton said. "I think Juneau Park looks one-paced so it's going to suit him as well."

Juneau Park will carry 13 lbs less than Mighty Giant as he seeks to complete a hat-trick at his first start above Class 4. The Ocean Park gelding has two wins from five starts with two other top two since his debut in January.

"He's up to Class 3 now but with the lighter weight he's probably going to appreciate that and we're going to find out if he really is going as well as we think he is," Moreira said.

"He's a horse that has a lot of potential, he's still improving and in my opinion he's far from where he's going to get to in the ratings - we might see the best of him when he starts stepping out over further."

Both gelding's hulk around at over 1200lb; Juneau Park tips the scales at 1278 lbs last start, 234 lbs heavier than the smallest horse in the race.

"He has natural gate speed even if he is quite heavy, because he can react quite quickly from the gates, which doesn't tend to happen with big horses as they feel the weight when they jump forward," Moreira said.

Trainer John Size said: "He always showed some promise, he's a big boy, he's pretty heavy for a Thoroughbred but he seems to be coping with that. He's honest, he tries hard, he's very happy to fight out a finish - he doesn't shirk the task and he's going to win another race."

Whyte's Power

The Douglas Whyte-trained Will Power (118 lbs), another son of the Irish Classic-winning Power, will attempt to continue the fine start he has made to his career one race prior in the Class 2 Cornwall Handicap (1200m, dirt).

"He's surprised me, he's improved mentally every time I've stepped him out and his work in the morning is showing me that he's really thriving," Whyte said.

The 4-year-old New Zealand-bred first tasted defeat at his third start but bounced back last time to earn a shot at Class 2 level off a rating of 81, having climbed 29 points since his debut.

"He'll have to improve to fulfill his spot in Class 2 now but he's at a nice light galloping weight and he gets his chance," Whyte said.

Karis Teetan has been ever-present and the pairing crossed the line second in a recent trial on the dirt over 1200m.

"Karis was happy with his trial last week - it was just to top him off and I've been on him since and he seems in good enough order," Whyte said.

The 4-year-old will break from gate five in the field of 12 which includes the Ricky Yiu-trained Encore Boy (127 lbs), a two-time winner on the surface this term, who gets the services of new-boy Antoine Hamelin.

"He's a horse with much better form on the dirt than the grass and the new jockey hops up, I think he's a pretty good rider - it'll be something new for him, especially from the good draw as he's a lovely, consistent horse," Yiu said.

Kings Shield (128 lbs) was a runaway winner over 1650m on the dirt before suffering a bout of colic and takes his chance under Derek Leung after running second last start.

"After his colic he came along a little bit slowly but now everything is perfect--he's fit, he's better than last start it's just the distance might be a little bit short," Lor said.

Saturday night's action kicks off at 12:45 a.m. ET / 9:45 p.m. PT with the Class 5 Waterloo Handicap (1400m).