A strong contingent of Karaka graduates and New Zealand-breds will take on the world in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin.

The Kiwis have a proud record in the four prestigious races, excelling in the G1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) with wins by the legendary Sunline (Desert Sun) in 2000, Lucky Owners (Danehill) in 2003 and Karaka graduates Beauty Flash (Golan) in 2010, Able One (Cape Cross) in 2011, Ambitious Dragon (Pins) in 2012 and Glorious Days in 2013.

The G1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) was won by champion Karaka graduate Vengeance Of Rain (Zabeel) in 2005 and the G1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) was won in 2014 by Aerovelocity (Pins).

The G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m), the first of the four championship races to be run on Sunday, is the only race that has so far eluded the Kiwis.

Hopes of an NZ breakthrough in the Vase lie with Flame Hero (Savabeel) and Benzini (Tale Of The Cat).

Flame Hero was sold twice at Karaka, first for $28,000 at the 2011 Select Sale and for $240,000 at the Ready to Run Sale later that year when purchased by his trainer Peter Ho.

Flame Hero has won seven of his 38 starts and HK$10 million (NZ$1.8 million) in stakes. Flame Hero has drawn barrier five and will be ridden by Zac Purton.

Benzini (Tale of the Cat), New Zealand-owned, trained and ridden, also runs in the Vase. The seven-year-old, who won the G2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) earlier in the year, is owned and trained by Adrian Bull in partnership with his son Harry.

Rosie Myers has the ride and Benzini will break from gate 11.

The Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) will see Aerovelocity try to repeat his victory of two years ago.

He is a graduate of the 2010 Premier Sale at Karaka where expat Kiwi trainer Paul O’Sullivan purchased him for $120,000.

The winner of 11 races and more than HK$34 million (NZ$6.1 million), Aerovelocity has drawn barrier two and will be ridden by Zac Purton.

The other New Zealand-bred runners in the Sprint field are Amazing Kids (Falkirk), who was a winner in his homeland under the name of Cousin Colin, and Super Jockey (Sandtrap).,

Amazing Kids has won five of his 15 starts in Hong Kong and prize-money of HK$9.7 million (NZ$1.7 million). He is trained by John Size and will be ridden by Joao Moreira from gate seven.

Super Jockey was a winner in New Zealand under the name of Okie Dokie. He has won five races and HK$12 million (NZ$2.2 million), performing with distinction on the world stage with a second placing in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m).

He is trained by Tony Millard and will be ridden by Karis Teetan. He has drawn gate nine.

The third championship race is the Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m), where New Zealand interest lies with Packing Pins (Pins).

Secured by Ricky Yui for $160,000 at the 2012 Premier Sale, Packing Pins has won six races and earned in excess of HK$8.5 million (NZ$1.5 million). He will be ridden by French jockey Maxime Guyon from the inside gate.

The Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) features Gun Pit (Dubawi), who was knocked down to Michael Stedman for $250,000 at the 2012 NZB Ready To Run Sale.

He has won eight of his 27 starts for prize-money in excess of HK$8 million (NZ$1.4 million). He is trained by Caspar Fownes and will be ridden on Sunday by Karis Teetan. He has drawn gate five.