The achievements of Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising headlined Hong Kong’s presence in the 2024 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings as the city’s overall representation continues to fall.

While Romantic Warrior was the leading light for Hong Kong as the equal fifth highest-rated racehorse on the planet, only 12 horses from the jurisdiction reached the rating of 115 required to feature in the list, which was announced by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities on Tuesday.

The number of Hong Kong horses to make the rankings dropped from 14 last year, which was the lowest tally since 2008, and continued a general downward trend since 26 local gallopers featured in 2016.

Alongside Romantic Warrior in the top 25 was the city’s new kid on the block, Ka Ying Rising, who finished the year as the joint-highest-rated sprinter with American speedster Cogburn and Australia’s I Wish I Win on a mark of 121.

Despite Hong Kong slipping down the world rankings, Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges was quick to praise the achievements of the city’s flagbearers.

“Hong Kong racing has once again performed incredibly with the accomplishments of our elite horses, particularly when it is considered we have about 1,200 horses in training – or about 0.7 per cent of the world’s active thoroughbred population,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

“The achievements of Romantic Warrior, in particular, fill Hong Kong with pride and his efforts to win Group Ones in three separate racing jurisdictions, including his Yasuda Kinen triumph against the very best Japanese milers, is simply outstanding.

“He is a tremendous credit to [owner] Peter [Lau Pak-fai], [trainer] Danny [Shum Chap-shing] and [jockey] James [McDonald].”

“The emergence of Ka Ying Rising under David Hayes and Zac Purton for the Ka Ying Syndicate has been a wonderful success.

“Starting out as an unraced import, Ka Ying Rising has surged through Hong Kong’s competitive sprint ranks to stand as our premier sprinter with his incredible performances, including the setting of a new Sha Tin course record for 1,200m, to now be acknowledged as one of the world’s premier sprinters.”

Eight of Hong Kong’s 12 Group Ones featured in the 2024’s top 100 elite-level contests, falling from 12 last year.

While four of Sha Tin’s contests ranked inside the top 20 for 2023, Romantic Warrior’s historic third Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) victory in December – which earned him a rating of 125 – ranked the city’s best race in 2024 at equal 26th on a mark of 119.5.

Romantic Warrior again reigned supreme in the Hong Kong Gold Cup, which ranked equal 29th overall, while Voyage Bubble’s victories in the Stewards’ Cup and Hong Kong Mile were the catalyst for those races earning a ranking inside the top 50 for the year.

California Spangle, Straight Arron, Beauty Eternal, Lucky Sweynesse, Beauty Joy, Galaxy Patch, Victor The Winner, Helios Express and Invincible Sage completed Hong Kong’s representation among the world’s best.

City Of Troy and Laurel River shared the spoils as the world’s best horses for their wins in the Juddmonte International Stakes (2,000m) and Dubai World Cup (2,000m), respectively, which earned them a rating of 128.

The Juddmonte International Stakes was ranked the year’s best on a mark of 124.25, with each accredited Group One ranked based on the average rating of the first four finishers.