The 2010 Hong Kong Cup, the richest 2000m turf race in the world, is set to light up the Sha Tin Racecourse this Sunday December 12 with reigning champion Vision D’Etat back to defend their title.

A field of 13 champion stayers make up the final field for the HK$20 million Hong Kong Cup (2000m) with last year’s winner, the French-trained Vision D’Etat the clear favourite with the punters to make it back to back wins.

The five-year-old recently ran a gallant second in the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2010m) and with multiple Group 1 victories to their name as well as the ability to handle any ground, Vision D’Etat is also the sentimental favourite with connections looking for a big win to finish their glittering career.

However Vision D’Etat faces a tough test against an ultra competitive field.

The favourites only have a 26% success rate in the Hong Kong Cup and history is also against them as no horse has won multiple editions of the race.

Snow Fairy is the other early favourite in the field, the dual Oaks winning filly coming off a massive four length victory in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto in Japan.

This year only six of the Hong Kong Cup runners are locals, with France and Great Britain boasting a large number of entries.

The other Hong Kong horses lining up in the Cup on Sunday are stablemates Collection and Irian, Hong Kong Derby winner Super Satin and runner-up Super Pistachio, and Packing Winner.

The John Moore-trained Collection is the most highly fancied of the Hong Kong contenders this year.

Winner of last year’s Hong Kong Derby and runner up in Hong Kong Cup to Vision D’Etat, Collection will thrive if the ground is good or better on Sunday.

Moore also has Irian lining up in the Hong Kong Cup on Sunday, the four-year-old gelding coming off a win in the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup.

As well as Vision D’Etat France will be represented by the super consistent Cirrus Des Aigles who ran an eye-catching fifth in the 2009 Hong Kong Vase, Planteur, four time Group 1 winning filly Stacelita and Reggane, while Snow Fairy is one of three British gallopers along with Australian-bound Glass Harmonium and Sri Putra in the Hong Kong Cup field.

The 2010 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup is scheduled as Race 8 at Sha Tin on Sunday and is due to jump at 4:30pm (local time).

The latest Hong Kong Cup odds will open at our preferred online bookmaker Luxbet shortly, so sign up now and get ready for the action and bookmark us here at Races.com.au for our exclusive Hong Kong Cup betting preview later in the week.

2010 Hong Kong Cup Field