Jockey Club Hosts Hong Kong Premiere of Horse Power Documentary Film

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) yesterday evening (17 April) hosted the Hong Kong premiere of Horse Power, a groundbreaking giant-screen documentary film and powerful cinematic tribute to the symbolic traits of the horse in the Chinese zodiac. The film was one of a series of activities included in the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign. Alumni, mentors and mentees of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Government of the HKSAR)’s Strive and Rise Programme, together with strategic partners from the Partners’ Board of the programme, were invited to join the screening of the film in 3D.

Chan Kwok-ki, the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the HKSAR (4th right, first row); Hua You, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR (2nd right, first row); Edward To , Director of Social Welfare (5th right, first row); Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (3rd right, first row); and Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (1st right, first row), pose a photo with attendees of the Hong Kong premiere of Horse Power, including alumni, mentors and mentees of the Strive and Rise Programme, as well as strategic partners from the Partners’ Board of the programme. Photo source: HKJC

Chan Kwok-ki, the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the HKSAR (2nd right); Hua You, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR (1st right); Edward To , Director of Social Welfare (1st left); and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd left) pose a photo at the Hong Kong premiere of Horse Power. Photo source: HKJC

Guests attending the premiere included Chan Kwok-ki, the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the HKSAR; Hua You, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR (OCMFA); Huang Jingrui, Spokesperson and Director-General, Department of Media and Public Relations of the OCMFA; Edward To, Director of Social Welfare; Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Club Chief Executive Officer; and Raymond Tam, Club Executive Director, Corporate Affairs.

Chan Kwok-ki, the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the HKSAR, said the Club’s support for Horse Power film has not only built an artistic bridge connecting Chinese and foreign cultures to tell China’s stories well, but also highlighted Hong Kong’s unique role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Photo source: HKJC

Speaking at the ceremony ahead of the premiere, Chan Kwok-ki, the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the HKSAR, said the film is of profound significance, representing a meticulously crafted collaboration between Chinese and international production teams. He expressed his gratitude to the Club for providing alumni, mentors and mentees of the Strive and Rise Programme with the opportunity to attend an exclusive preview. He noted that the Club’s commitment and support have not only built an artistic bridge connecting Chinese and foreign cultures to tell China’s stories well, but also highlighted Hong Kong’s unique role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Promoting cultural heritage and science education requires the concerted efforts of all sectors of society, and the Club has provided an exemplary demonstration of such collaboration.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the Club is celebrating Hong Kong’s enduring love of the horse by solely sponsoring the Horse Power film. Photo source: HKJC

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Club Chief Executive Officer, stated that the horse symbolises passion, dynamism and rapid progress - qualities embodied by the young alumni of the Strive and Rise Programme, who have worked diligently to build a brighter future. As a world-class equine sports and charitable organisation, the Club celebrates Hong Kong’s love of the horse through its sole sponsorship of Horse Power. With the Club serving as its Exclusive Philanthropic Supporter in the Chinese Mainland, Horse Power will be screened nationwide over the next three years, offering millions of children the opportunity to discover the beauty and magnificence of the horse.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club joins alumni, mentors and mentees of the Strive and Rise Programme, as well as strategic partners from the Partners’ Board of the programme, to watch the Hong Kong premiere of Horse Power in 3D alongside other guests. Photo source: HKJC

With the Club’s support, Horse Power has already held premieres in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and London. Following today’s Hong Kong premiere, the Club will arrange special screenings for various partners and community groups, reflecting its commitment to youth development and community engagement. Looking ahead, the film is set to be released in over 100 countries and regions globally.

The alumni, mentors and mentees of the Strive and Rise Programme, as well as strategic partners from the Partners’ Board of the programme, watch the Hong Kong premiere of Horse Power in 3D alongside other guests. Photo source: HKJC

The Club’s Year of the Horse campaign is a year-long celebration of the close bond between horses and humans and the contribution racing makes to Hong Kong. It also promotes tourism as well as equine sports and sports development. Racing is not only the city’s favourite pastime, but also a symbol of its “can-do” spirit and stability under “One Country, Two Systems”. Through the success of Hong Kong horses on the international stage, the sport also brings pride to the community and global recognition to our city. None of this would be possible without the horse. For more information please visit https://hkjc.com/YOTH.

Introduction to Horse Power

Horse Power is the first Chinese-zodiac themed film commissioned by China Central Television (CCTV) and has been recognised as one of the “2026 Blockbuster Films from CCTV Documentary Series”. Centred on the heartwarming story of Julaa, an eight-year-old Inner Mongolian girl, and her racehorse Tulai as they take on the challenge of a 18km endurance race, the film weaves together the life stories of some of the world’s most iconic horses. It celebrates their unique qualities – speed, endurance, loyalty, bravery, intelligence and free spirit – as well as their enduring relationship with humankind, while conveying the Eastern wisdom embodied by the Chinese zodiac “Horse” to the world.

A masterpiece over three years in the making, Horse Power was filmed on the prairie of Xilin Gol League of Inner Mongolia, as well as across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Employing world-leading giant-screen technology, custom-designed horseback cameras and 8K ultra-high-definition filming equipment, it brings viewers an immersive cinematic experience that captures the powerful vitality of horses.

Created in collaboration with a leading Chinese creative team, the film was directed by Emmy Award-winning natural-history filmmaker Mark Brownlow, the driving force behind Blue Planet II and Frozen Planet II of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). English narration is delivered by Oscar-nominated American actor Josh Brolin, while the Chinese narration is voiced by renowned Chinese Mainland actor and equestrian athlete Yu Shi, with both contributing cultural and emotional depth through their unique perspectives.

Crowning a phenomenal week for trainer Mark Newnham, Invincible Ibis (126lb) vindicated Hugh Bowman’s faith with a record-breaking triumph in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 March).

Invincible Ibis sets a new BMW Hong Kong Derby record with victory under Hugh Bowman. Photo source: HKJC

Clocking 1m 59.43s, the Hellbent gelding eclipsed Massive Sovereign’s mark of 1m 59.85s, set in 2024, in defeating Numbers – who tried to lead all the way – by one-and-a-quarter lengths with Stormy Grove a luckless third, a further short head away.

Owned by the Ibis Syndicate, Invincible Ibis was given a perfect, ground-saving ride by Bowman to justify the Australian’s confidence in the bay, who had finished sixth to Little Paradise in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and second to Stormy Grove in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).

Celebrating his third BMW Hong Kong Derby victory after triumphs with Werther in 2016 and Furore in 2019, Bowman was elated to have teamed with Newnham, who saddled five winners at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (18 March).

“The dream was always there but you have to stick with the process and after the Mile, I was very doubtful whether he (Invincible Ibis) was going to be able to bring it together, but I took a lot of confidence out of the 1800m. I thought he was one of five realistic winning chances,” Bowman said.

Hugh Bowman celebrates a third BMW Hong Kong Derby triumph. Photo source: HKJC

Settling midfield behind Numbers and Seraph Gabriel after jumping smoothly from barrier three, Invincible Ibis was given the run of the race by a patient Bowman, who bided his time until the field straightened before emerging to challenge Numbers.

“As we started to come round the home turn, I thought ‘I’m in business here, I really am’,” Bowman said. “The run was economical, so when I brought him to the outside and let him down, it was no surprise that he went the way that he did and I’m very proud of him. It means a lot to win the race for a third time and being based here now, and it makes it a bit more special for some reason or other.

“Thank you to Mark and the team for preparing this horse in such magnificent order. He really did peak this afternoon, and the distance was a query, no doubt about it, but he came through with flying colours.

“He just gave me the sweetest ride throughout the entire trip. We were aided by a good draw, of course, but the horse won with authority and I’m so proud to have won my third BMW Hong Kong Derby.”

Mark Newnham jubilates in his most important training success. Photo source: HKJC

Denied a short head by Cap Ferrat with My Wish in last season’s BMW Hong Kong Derby, Newnham was ecstatic after experiencing a wildly contrasting experience to 2025.

“The complete opposite to last year, that’s for sure. It was just a really smooth race to watch. If I could have picked a position prior to the race, it would have been midfield one off in a consistent speed and Hugh got into that position early,” Newnham said.

“At the corner it was just going to be ‘Is he good enough?’ And probably a furlong (200m) into the straight, I was pretty confident he was going to be strong late.”

Newnham will now consider a FWD Champions Day start for Invincible Ibis in either the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) or the HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) on 26 April.

“We’ll be looking at that (FWD Champions Day) as long as his recovery’s good from today,” Newnham said. “But I’m probably more inclined to run him in the Mile. I just don’t think taking on Romantic Warrior and a few of the internationals at 2000m, I don’t think he’s seasoned enough for that yet, despite his win today and the time he’s run.

“He’s beating horses of his own age group, so I don’t think we need to throw him to the wolves just yet – horses can have a long career here, so there’s no need to be testing him too much beyond his limits.”

Frankie Lor, trainer of minor place-getters Numbers and Stormy Grove, said: “You can see the time was quick, so maybe if he (Numbers) had a better draw (than 13) he could have had an easier time earlier on and set his own pace.

“He’s still run a very good race, and he kept rolling the whole way. (Stormy Grove) did a very quick time to finish the race, 22.71s, so he was only a little bit too far back. On another day, it could have been different.”

Little Paradise, who started 3.8 favourite, over-raced and finished ninth.

The undercard was dominated by exciting rising talent with four three-year-old geldings winning four of the first six races, with Too Darn Hot’s Hot Delight, Deep Field’s Mega Mastermind, Biouvac’s Absolute Heart and Ardrossan gelding Gold Patch prevailing.

Hot Delight (128lb) maintained a perfect record with a third successive win to give Francis Lui his 500th victory on Sha Tin turf with success in the Class 3 Werther Handicap (1200m) under Vincent Ho in 1m 08.19s – only marginally outside of Victor The Winner’s Class record mark of 1m 08.11s.

“He’s (Hot Delight) a nice horse, we know that. But he’s only three, so we want to excel as much as possible, but we also want to keep him for his four-year-old season, so it was a nice run,” Ho said.

Lui said: “Good horse, he’s a very good horse and honest. Even in trackwork he’s showed he’s improved.”

Hot Delight remains undefeated after three starts. Photo source: HKJC

Lui also struck with Gold Patch (133lb) under Zac Purton in the Class 4 Sky Darci Handicap (1200m).

Jamie Richards and Brenton Avdulla combined with Mega Mastermind (125lb) to win the Class 4 Luger Handicap (1600m) before Absolute Heart (127lb) landed the Class 4 Ping Hai Star Handicap (1200m) for Cody Mo and Derek Leung.

Circuit Champion (120lb), purchased at the 2024 Hong Kong International Sale for HK$5.4 million, showcased his talent with a last-to-first success in the Class 3 Furore Handicap (1200m) for Danny Shum to improve his record to two wins and a second from three starts.

Slowly away, the Starspangledbanner gelding finished powerfully under Keith Yeung, clocking 21.81s for the final 400m to justify the patience of his connections with the five-year-old, who has overcome cannon bone, humeral bone and pelvis issues as well as a fever before making a belated debut.

Pierre Ng’s Aeroinvincible (135lb) continued Andrea Atzeni’s stunning March surge with victory in the Class 4 Fay Fay Handicap (1400m). Atzeni took his tally for the month to 12, a haul which includes two quartets.

Ng and Purton teamed with Aerovolanic (122lb) in the Class 3 Rapper Dragon Handicap (1400m) after David Hayes-trained Shamus Storm (116lb) clinched the Class 3 Designs On Rome Handicap (1800m) for Harry Bentley.

Tony Cruz’s Winning Ovation (113lb) clinched a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million by winning the Class 2 Golden Sixty Handicap (1400m) for Angus Chung.