Four glittering international feature races, all Group 1s sponsored by renowned watch makers Longines, highlight Sunday's card at Hong Kong's Sha Tin racecourse. At the conclusion of the afternoon's sport one may safely say that all the international participants will have a holiday and not be seen out again in public till 2015.

All the events are on turf and each major distance is represented.

First off, at 11:30 a.m. IST on December 14^th, is the 12 fur. Longines Hong Kong Vase which has drawn a dozen participants, not least of which is Juddmonte's evergreen Flintshire (by Dansili), who comes off grand seconds in both the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October and the Breeders Cup Turf in Arcadia (California) in November. The Andre Fabre trainee is likely to be the favourite to notch up his first win of the year, having played bridesmaid on a total of four occasions this term. Maxime Guyon remains in charge astride the four-year-old.

Another recent runner-up – a feat he achieved in the Emirates Melbourne Cup last month – is the game and consistent eight-year-old Red Cadeaux (by Cadeaux Genereux), whose burgeoning tally of prize money stands at $7,202,690, not a bad return for one who cost a "mere" 55,000 guineas as a yearling! For the tenth consecutive occasion, Ed Dunlop's galloping goldmine – who flew in from Australia – will be steered by Gerald Mosse.

Another British-trained runner is Juddmonte's Snow Sky (by Nayef), the only sophomore in the field. Theoretically he is that powerful operation's  second string, but with Ryan Moore on board for Sir Michael Stoute, he cannot be underestimated! Moore replaces James Doyle, who mystified some by switching to Godolphin for next season. As few would dispute the former's rating as the current numero uno "knight of the pigskin" on the flat worldwide, this change in riding arrangements can only be regarded as a positive factor for Snow Sky.

It's been a while since Ireland's Parish Hall (by Teofilo) and Japan's Curren Mirotic (by Heart's Cry) displayed anything approaching the level of form necessary to annex this prize, a height that the German-trained Empoli (by Halling) has hitherto never climbed. The last-named's trainer, Peter Schiergen, summed up his ward's chances by saying: "When he can travel nicely in a race, he can be extremely smart". Meanwhile, the best of the locals is probably Bubble Chic (by Chichicastenago).

A couple of old rivals from Ireland clash with 12 others in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (6 fur.), due off at 12:10 p.m. IST. These included the game and courageous Gordon Lord Byron (by Byron), whose gross earnings of $2,379,066 have provided a windfall to his buyer as a foal, Jessica Cahalan, who stumped up €2,000 for him. Racing initially in her father, Morgan Cahalan's silks, the gelding was subsequently leased to Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla and thus sported the famous "Red, white maltese cross" silks on several occasions, including in a Group 1. He is making his third trip to the carnival, having run well over the mile both times.

The other member of this pair is Eddie Lynam's Sole Power (by Kyllachy), who needs the race to be run to suit, which it has not been at his most recent two appearances. Should the luck of the race favour last year's runner-up, he can cut down his rivals in a flash in the concluding stages. Richard Hughes will maintain his association with the seven-year-old gelding, who has yet to win at this trip.

Australia's "iron horse" Buffering (by Mossman), a four-time Group 1 winner, missed a gallop due to a hoof abscess but his trainer, Robert Heathcote, feels he will be fine. Japan sends across the winner of the Gr.1 Sprinters Stakes, Snow Dragon (by Admire Cozzene) with Takuya Ono at the controls.

Locally-trained runners have a fairly good record in this race with the likes of Lucky Nine (by Dubawi), who is back for another crack, Sacred Kingdom (by Encosta Da Lago) and Inspiration (by Flying Spur) having brought joy to railbirds four times in the past seven years. Perhaps the most formidable is the Irish-bred Peniaphobia (by Dandy Man), a three-year-old who has been utterly consistent and is coming off a win in the Gr.2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint three weeks ago under today's rider, Douglas Whyte. His trainer, Tony Cruz, knows what it takes to triumph in this sort of event and offered the view that his ward would be "stronger and fitter and….much more professional” (than on the previous occasion) when he sets off from stall number 6.

Fast forward to 1:20 p.m. IST when eleven specialist milers will vie for honours in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (8 fur.). The trainers of Ambitious Dragon (by Pins), Able Friend (by Shamardal) and Gold-Fun (by Le Vie Dei Colori) – all course-and-distance winners – are aiming to keep the prize at home, a feat which their forebears have achieved for the last eight years in a row. Schooler of the first-named, A.T. Millard, has pulled off something of a coup by securing the services of Ryan Moore, while rider of the second-named, Joao Moreira, has expressed confidence in his mount.

One of the international raiders here is David Simcock's Trade Storm (by Trade Fair), who bids fair to give Jamie Spencer a day to remember. The soon-to-retire jockey has already enjoyed one such recent occasion when bringing home the spoils on the entire for owners Qatar Racing in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile in Canada. Coming off a third-placed effort in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita last month, the six-year-old "has been an absolute model of consistency this year", to quote his trainer.

Captain Cat (by Dylan Thomas) is another to have made the journey from Britain but has yet to score in Group 1 company. Japan's Grand Prix Boss (by Sakura Bakushin O) does have a victory at that elite level but that came three long years ago, in the NHK Mile. Runner-up in the Satsuki Sho-Japanese 2000 Guineas a couple of years ago, World Ace (by Deep Impact) must be considered to have a mild chance based on his score in the Gr.2 Yomiuri Milers Cup earlier this year. Also from the "Land of the Rising Sun" is another son of Deep Impact, Fiero, nosed out in the Gr.1 Mile Championship at Kyoto just 3 weeks ago. Yuichi Fukunaga is sanguine about his mount's chances.

That brings us to the richest of the quartet of international events, the 10 fur. Longines Hong Kong Cup, scheduled for 2 p.m. IST. Thirteen of the best have been declared which include that darling of the crowds, Cirrus Des Aigles (by Even Top), whose grandfather – Topanoora – once stood in India before being repatriated to Ireland. A veteran with 60 starts under his belt, "Cirrus" is drawn 4, a position that his trainer, Corine Barande-Barbe, approved of. "Draw four is perfect for us," she said, adding "We should get away nicely from there and find a good spot. We're very happy with that."  This is the eight-year-old's fifth visit to Hong Kong, and though he has not scored there, he has never been more than a couple of lengths away from prevailing. As expected, Christophe Soumillon will ride.

Farraaj (by Dubai Destination) aims to provide the proverbial cherry on the cake for the 2014 season for England's Roger Varian and Italy's Andrea Azteni, who have had an excellent run this term. Sheikh Ahmed's five-year-old ran well when placed in the Longines Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington in Australia last month over the identical trip.

Another visitor is BMW Australian Derby winner Criterion (by Sebring), whose participation was in doubt at one stage. Thought to have a touch of colic shortly before his intended departure to Hong Kong, he was passed fit by Racing Victoria's vet, but "spun" by the Government vets, who subsequently relented. His recent form is not encouraging. The Japanese-trained pair of Archimedes (by Admire Moon) and Meiner Lacrima (by Chief Bearheart) have made the relatively short journey from their homeland.

A dangerous collection of locally-trained hopes lie in wait for the raiders. All course and distance winners, Military Attack (by Oratorio), Designs On Rome (by Holy Roman Emperor), Blazing Speed (by Dylan Thomas) and California Memory (by Highest Honor) have racked up enormous sums in prize money in China's Special Administrative Region, and are gunning for more. The last-named, whose dam is in India, won this race in his prime but is now somewhat long in the tooth and any of the other three mentioned can oblige.