QIPCO British Champions Series heroine all set for Hong Kong

Sky Lantern (left) bags Richard Hughes his first British Classic when landing the QIPCO 1000 Guineas in May. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Sky Lantern is set to fly the flag for Britain in Hong Kong on Sunday 8 December when tackling the Hong Kong Mile which is worth around £1.6m in prizemoney.

The Richard Hannon-trained filly was the brilliant winner of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May – giving champion jockey Richard Hughes his first taste of British Classic glory – and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, helping her trainer to another trainer’s championship in the process.

She was also beaten just a neck in the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes when hampered by the erratic run of Elusive Kate and she was fifth in the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes when even more badly hampered.

But for those two most unlucky runs, she could have become the only horse other than Frankel to win three or more Series races in one season.

She missed QIPCO British Champions Day because of the soft ground, but should get the fast ground that she loves in Hong Kong next month.

She could have gone for the mile and a quarter Hong Kong Vase – the same distance as the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes – but her big wins have all been over a mile so that is the distance that she will run over.

Hannon explained:"Hughesie was keen to consider the mile and a quarter as he feels there could be too much traffic congestion in the shorter race, but Sky Lantern has proved herself a champion over the mile so, having weighed up all the pros and cons, we are virtually certain to leave the mile and a quarter races until next season.

"We know that Sky Lantern stays the longer distance as granted the rub of the green she would have won the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, so next year we will have that extra option.

"She remains in great form at home, and we are all looking forward to Hong Kong, as is the filly’s owner, Ben Keswick, who lives out there.

"Obviously, we will be hoping for a decent draw as Sha Tin is such a tight track, but we will have to take what we get and pray that the filly enjoys a clear run."