Six internationals from four different countries have accepted the daunting challenge of upstaging the superstar widely considered the best sprinter in the world, Ka Ying Rising, in the Group One Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m).

The HK$26 million feature is expected to be a one-act affair, with David Hayes’ Ka Ying Rising destined for Group One glory on the back of seven consecutive victories in Hong Kong.

The four-year-old is fresh from a record-smashing Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) triumph last Sunday, where he broke Sacred Kingdom’s 2007 track record by 0.07 seconds in his effortless three-and-a-quarter-length romp.

Lugal heads Japan’s three-pronged assault on the Hong Kong Sprint after a brilliant win in September’s Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) at Nakayama racecourse.

Sprinters Stakes runner-up Toshin Macau and Satono Reve, a progressive dual Group Three winner who had excuses when a beaten favourite in the Sprinters Stakes, join Lugal in Japan’s bid for a fourth Hong Kong Sprint success.

World-class sprinter Lord Kanaloa won the race in 2012 and 2013, while Danon Smash scored an upset win in 2020.

The United States will be represented at the international meeting for the first time since 2017, with Nobals taking on Ka Ying Rising after winning last weekend’s Group Two Kennedy Road Stakes (1,200m) on Woodbine’s dirt course in Canada.

It was the Larry Rivelli-trained gelding’s first victory since his Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1,000m) win at Santa Anita last year.

Rivelli is no stranger to the Longines Hong Kong International Races, having sent Nicole’s Dream over for the Hong Kong Sprint in 2005.

Starlust, fresh from claiming the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint earlier this month, has been supplemented for the Hong Kong Sprint and will be Britain’s lone representative in the race.

The Ralph Beckett-trained colt survived an objection from runner-up Isivunguvungu in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint to add to his three wins in his home country.

Ciaron Maher, a powerhouse of Australian racing who formerly trained in partnership with Hong Kong-based David Eustace, will have his first runner in Hong Kong when Recommendation tackles the sprint.

Recommendation has won nine races, including a hat-trick at Group Three level earlier this year.

Group One winners California Spangle, Victor The Winner and Invincible Sage, talented galloper Helios Express, last year’s Hong Kong Sprint runner-up Lucky With You, Howdeepisyourlove and Beauty Waves join Ka Ying Rising in the home team in the sprint.