April 27 (UPI) -- While the Kentucky Derby candidates go through final preparations at Churchill Downs and their connections' tension mounts, much of the major weekend horse racing action was on the international front -- with the world's top two horses winning in Hong Kong and Arc winner Daryz opening the year with a victory in France.
Around the world, around the clock
Hong Kong
The two best horses in the world, Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior, defended local honor with ease in Sunday's Champions Day at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. My Wish contributed his part to a sweep of the three Group 1 races. A powerful Japanese squad was humbled.
Ka Ying Rising, No. 1 in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, took off down the stretch to win the Chairman's Sprint Prize by 4 1/4 lengths over top Japanese sprinter Satono Reve.
