A host of Hong Kong racing’s equine greats have carried off this race and the contest became a Group 1 race, worth HK$10 million, in the 2014/15 season. The race’s prize money was further increased to HK$13 million in 2024. Apart from River Verdon, the victory roll features standouts such as Indigenous, Bullish Luck, Vengeance Of Rain, Viva Pataca, Ambitious Dragon, Military Attack, Designs On Rome, Werther, Exultant, Golden Sixty, Russian Emperor, Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble. Time Warp became the first horse to finish the Sha Tin 2000m in under two minutes in the 2018 renewal and he notched a second win in this race in 2020, bringing his trainer Tony Cruz a ninth Gold Cup victory (twice as a jockey and seventh as a trainer). The 2026 renewal will be the 19th running under the Citi Group banner, the race sponsor since 2008. The Ricky Yiu-trained Voyage Bubble, ridden by James McDonald, takes the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin Racecourse.
