2010 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races Workout Photos

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The Alain de Royer Dupre-trained horses Americain and Reggane head back to the barn after schooling in the parade ring.

2010 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races
Workout Photos

Date: 12/10/2010

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races will be run this Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. As usual, horses from Europe, North America, and Australia ship in for the four Group 1 races, billed as the Turf World Championships, with the HK$20 million (about US$2.6 million) Hong Kong Cup the highlight of the afternoon, contested at 2000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). Today it was overcast and muggy with the temperature around 70 degrees.

Entries for the 2010 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races - to be run on Sunday
2010 Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship - Ryan Moore was the winner

Here are photos for 29 of the international horses on the track at Sha Tin, mostly on Friday morning along with a few from earlier in the week or in the parade ring. Click the small photo to see a larger version.

Americain represents France in the Vase off his win in the Melbourne Cup. Jockey Gerald Mosse said, "He is in very good form, He just did a canter this morning but I rode him again yesterday morning and he feels fine. He did 1800m, same as last week but maybe a bit faster. He's back in full gear and very fluent. I'm not too worried about the drop in trip from the Melbourne Cup. Maybe the further he goes the better, but I think he should be OK. It's not something he's never done before. He did a proper job at 2400m in Geelong on a tiny track and I believe this bigger track at Sha Tin will help him."

A Shin Forward, the Japanese representative in the Mile, cantered on the all-weather track on Friday under exercise rider Koji Yamamoto. "It took some time for him to get familiarised with the new surroundings here, and soon after his last start in the Mile Championship (G1), he was put in a quarantine alone, and in addition to this, he flew to Hong Kong, which made him lose some weight," said the traveling head lad Mutsuyoshi Hirata. "But his appetite is now completely recovered, and his condition has been improving a lot in these two or three days. I think there are no hitches with his wellbeing." On the right is his turf gallop from Wednesday.

Beethoven represents Ireland in the Hong Kong Mile and was out for a gallop on the all-weather Friday. Jockey Colm O'Donoughue said, "I think Beethoven will be suited by the ground and the way races are run here. He's very adaptable, he can sit behind or he can lead if no one wants to go on." On the right, is his turf gallop on Wednesday.

Board Meeting galloped on the all-weather in preparation for the Vase. Trainer Elie Lellouche said, "I reckon she's got a tall order in the Vase but she worked very well and will seize every opportunity. She had had got a foot abcess and the Jockey Club farrier has done a great job shoeing her. That won't be a problem."

Cirrus des Aigles galloped on the turf Friday under jockey Franck Blondel and goes next in the Cup. Blondel said, “I could not find him in a better shape. He’s happy and playful, which is a good sign. We went to the parade ring after his piece of work and everything went all right. His draw 13 is a real problem but Cirrus can do things on his own. He can get in front and relax by himself. Maybe we can get out of this in good shape.”

Crystal Capella galloped on the turf Friday morning. She is coming off a 4 1/2-length score in the 1 1/2-mile Pride Stakes (G2) at Newmarket on Oct. 16. She will be ridden by Ryan Moore, the winner of the Cathay Pacific International Jockeys Championship, and drew post 10 in Sunday's Vase.

Dream Eater galloped on the turf and goes next in the Mile. Trainer Andrew Balding said, "We are happy with him now. We have had this race in Hong Kong form sometime but I am a bit worried about being drawn in stall one. He could get messed about as there is unlikely to be much room." Jockey Jimmy Fortune added, "For me it is a great draw. He will go straight from there and I will not have to worry about finding a position – he likes some cover. They always fan out once they reach the straight and that is where we need to pick up."

Glass Harmonium breezed on the turf under jockey Craig Williams in preparation for the Cup. Williams said, "This horse felt fantastic. It is great to have the opportunity to ride for Sir Michael Stoute and I'm sure he will run well on Sunday." Mike Moroney, who takes over as trainer after Sunday's race, said, "I was happy to draw gate four. I'm good at draws, the training part is a little harder!"

Indian Days breezed on the all-weather on Friday. Trainer James Given said of his Vase entrant, "Poor fellow. He was clipped to come here in deep, freezing snow, and now is enjoying the warmth of Hong Kong and coming to himself."

Jaguar Mail jogged on the all-weather on Friday under exercise rider Masanori Watanabe. Jockey Craig Williams said, "I watched Jaguar Mail walking at the paddock and he looks in good form. The trainer (Noriyuki Hori) is also happy with his condition. I hope that the pace will be fast because that will suit him but I will talk about tactics with Mr. Hori on Saturday. I have not ridden him since the Grand Prix Takarazuka Kinen in June, but he is a very talented horse and a Group One winner (Tenno Sho Spring), so there is no concern. He's been here twice before and run well both times so I can't see why he won't run well again." On the right is his turf gallop from Wednesday.

Jakkalberry was out for a maintenance gallop on the all-weather in preparation for the Vase. Trainer Endo Botti said of the Italian representative, "He worked on the all weather track Thursday morning. He went from the 1200m marker, and just quickened it up a bit in the straight. He was looking around him a bit, but I'm happy enough. That's it for him now, he's ready."

J J The Jet Plane worked 1/4 mile in 21.2 seconds under jockey Piere Strydom on Friday morning. He goes next in the Sprint on Sunday. Trainer 'Lucky' Houdalakis said: "He's very well, and I'm happy with him. I wouldn't have brought him here if I didn't think he was good enough. He had a hard campaign in Europe, and needed a three-month break after that, but his last two runs at home were good and he's back to his best."

Joshua Tree was sent out for a gallop on the all-weather on Friday in preparation for the Vase. Jockey Colm O'Donoughue said, "I'm loving it out here. This is some place isn't it? The standards are so high, and the way they look after you here is amazing. Both of my horses Joshua Tree and Beethoven (Mile) are in great condition."

Kingsgate Native galloped on the all-weather track on Wednesday morning under exercise rider Tony Proctor. He will represent England in the Sprint. Proctor said, "Draw one is fine. Needs a bit of cover and should certainly get it there. Much better there than wide."

Mastery goes in the Vase for Godolphin Racing and jogged on the all-weather Friday morning. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said, "He's very well, and I'm happy with him. But these races take a lot of winning, and the standards seem to get higher and higher every year. These are proper Group 1 races and that's what you have to be to win them."

Ortensia jogged on the all-weather on Friday, two days after working 1/4 mile in 22.5 seconds. Trainer Tony Noonan said of his Sprint contender, "She's as good as gold. As good as you can get a horse when travelling. She was much calmer this morning which is a good sign and we took her down to the paddock just so she'd be a bit more familiar with her surroundings come Sunday. She's always very alert and looking around but she'll be OK. She has raced in front of huge crowds before and coped with all the hullabaloo. She'll be fine but it doesn't hurt to get them used to all their surroundings."

Paco Boy galloped on the all-weather under exercise rider Elvis Singh. Assistant trainer Richard Hannon Jr. said of his Mile entrant, "Although the turf is looking good it is quick enough for Paco Boy so we have kept to the all weather. There is no point risking him on grass at this stage. Sunday is what it is all about but the horse himself is in great shape." Owner John Warren added, "The horse is well and has returned great from the Breeders' Cup (Mile) but I would have been happier not to have been drawn 13."

Planteur, a French entrant in the Cup, galloped on the all-weather on Friday. Trainer Elie Lellouche said, "He's very well, as always on the turf, and I fancy him for the Cup over 2000 metres. This is the perfect trip for him. He's proved us that in the Arc and I was already wary of his lack of stamina to cover 12 furlongs. He's by Danehill Dancer out of a Giant's Causeway mare whose dam is by Lear Fan – a pure miler's pedigree really. He's only 3 but this is the end of the season and Vallee Enchantee, who probably wasn't as good as him, won the Vase at 3 here back in 2003."

Rajsaman galloped on the all-weather in preparation for the Mile. Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said, “I don’t know him much but he has got the right attitude and won well for his debut with us. He should become a good miler and this race is a very good test for us. It is a high quality mile and if he does well over here, we will know where we stand.”

Redwood, a British entrant in the Vase, blew out 1/4 mile in 22.1 seconds on the turf course Friday. Jockey Michael Hills, aboard for the move said, ""That was very good. He is in good form and I am hopeful of a really good run on Sunday. The last time I worked him back at home it was minus 4 degrees (25 F)! He looks really well, and is enjoying the better weather here." Assistant trainer Charlie Hills added, "The horse is in good form and we are very pleased with him. He has no problem with travelling. You can forget his last run in the Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine. They went no pace and when they reached the straight Redwood was bumped about and failed get a run."

Reggane, winner of the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine last out, takes on males in the Hong Kong Cup. Assistant trainer Serge Renee said, "I reckon it is very odd but she's now better here than at home. She's more relaxed. It will be very interesting to see her tackle the colts in the Cup. This could be a decider for the rest of her career. If she was to fare well on Sunday, she could very well remain in training next season. It is quite an important test for Reggane."

Rocket Man, Singapore's representative in the Sprint, worked 1/4 mile in 21.9 seconds on the all-weather Friday under jockey Felix Coetzee. Trainer Patrick Shaw said of post 6, "I've no complaints. Felix (Coetzee) can ride him any way he wants from gate six."

Royal Bench galloped on the all-weather on Friday. Trainer Robert Collet said of the Prix Daniel Wildenstein winner, "He's worked well and I am pleased by his improvements since he arrived here. He likes the ground here. I think he will fare well over the mile on Saturday."

Sahpresa, a French entrant in the Mile, jogged on the all-weather on Friday. Trainer Rodolphe Collet said, "She will gallop a bit tomorrow but she's fit enough and does not need much more work. She does not look big but the impression was even worse last season. I think she will do well on Sunday, as long as there is enough pace. We would not want a slow race and a bad draw on top of that."

Snow Fairy galloped on the all-weather and represents England in Sunday's Hong Kong Cup. Trainer Ed Dunlop said, "She doesn't need to do any more than that. We have learnt not to overdo things here before the race. It is Sunday that counts."

Sri Putra galloped Wednesday (shown returning here) and then worked on the grass Thursday under jockey Philip Robinson, clocking 2f in 22.7 seconds. He bounced off the fast ground and delighted his travelling head lad, Paul Rutter, who said of the Cup contender "It has always been Philip Robinson's idea to point Sri Putra for this race as he felt the track and ground would suit."

Stacelita represents France in the Hong Kong Cup and was out on the all-weather track Friday, a day after she worked a mile on the turf. Jockey Christophe Lemaire said, "She has got the right attitude and gave me the right sensation over the turf this morning. She's quite relaxed – that is the key with her – and worked well. I am told she put on about 12 lbs since her arrival and some might think she is still pretty light. But that is the way she is. She has got those old school looks you find on older racing prints."

Vision d'Etat is back as the defending champion of the Hong Kong Cup. Trainer Eric Libaud said, "He worked on the all weather at Chantilly before he came out here, and his preparation has gone well. This will be his last race before he takes up stud duties, and I hope he can go out on a high. The turf is firm but it's safe, and he bounced off it. That was why he may have gone slightly quicker than I expected, he's in much the same form as he was last year."

Winchester was out on the turf course Friday for a maintenance gallop. The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic winner is the lone American-trained horse participating in the Hong Kong International Races. The Christophe Clement trainee drew post 3 in the Vase and will have new jockey Olivier Peslier in the irons Sunday.