For the first time in Hong Kong Racing history, two horses have been crowned the Hong Kong Horse of the Year.

And they are none other than the world’s top-rated sprinter Ka Ying Rising and the Triple Crown winner Romantic Warrior, claiming the title of the co-Hong Kong Champions for the 2025/2026 season.

Both these legendary horses are now two-time HK Horse of the Year winners, with Ka Ying Rising claiming the 2024/2025 title and Romantic Warrior in the 2023/2024 season.

Reacting to the announcement of this history-making feat on SENTrack’s Saturday Trackside, former jockey David Taggart agreed that you couldn’t split them.

“Mate, how could you pick one over the other?” Taggart exclaimed.

“It's so hard, how could you split them? They're two different horses; it’s like Black Caviar and Winx.

“I think that's deserved to split it.”

Form analyst Mick Comerford couldn’t agree with Taggart though.

Comerford explained that he is happy both horses won but believes the 2025 Everest winner should have taken out the prestigious award.

Comerford: “I thought Ka Ying Rising was a complete standout.”

“I think it's good that they gave it to both of them, but I thought Ka Ying Rising would get it.”

Taggart: “Well Romantic Warrior was undefeated as well and won the Triple Crown.”

“Whoever got it, the other one was going to be let down and go, ‘What more can we do?’

“Like there's nothing more that Romantic Warrior could have done that Ka Ying couldn’t do.”

Ka Ying Rising was also named the Champion Sprinter of the 25/26 season, while Romantic Warrior was awarded the Champion Miler, Champion Middle-Distance, and Champion Stayer title.

Australian hoop Zac Purton won the Champion Jockey award, claiming his ninth HK Champion Jockey title.

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