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 Rain soaked observers out for the morning works on Wednesday at Sha Tin |
The Longines Hong Kong International Races will be run this Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. As usual, horses from Europe, Asia, 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). Steady rain fell during training hours with temperatures in the low 60's.
Here are photos for 17 of the international horses who braved the rain to gallop on the track at Sha Tin Wednesday morning. Click the small photo to see a larger version.
 Bayrir worked 1200 meters in 1:22.80, last 400 m in 24.9 seconds in preparation for the Vase. Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said, "Ten furlongs would have been ideal for him but I am confident he can do well over 2,400 metres when he meets his conditions. The track should not be an issue and I liked what I saw this morning as he finished a light mile canter on the Turf." |
 Carlton House cantered on the turf in preparation for the Cup. Sarah Denniff, assistant to trainer Sir Michael Stoute said, “He’s nice and fresh today and we’re really pleased with him. Although he lost 20lb on the journey here he has already put most of that back on. We’ll probably breeze him on Thursday, and the trainer (Sir Michael Stoute) will be here by then.” |
 Chinchon galloped Wednesday morning. The Carlos Laffon-Parias trainee goes into the Vase off a distant 5th place finish in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (G2) after winning the Singapore Airlines International Cup (G1). |
 Curren Chan worked 800 meters in 53.50 seconds (last 400 in 23.30) in preparation for the Sprint. Shogo Yasuda, assistant trainer to Takayuki Yasuda said, "She is not tense and has been very relaxed, even in the different surroundings. She doesn't look like she has lost any weight. She looks nice. Everything has gone well so far." |
 Dancing Rain cantered on the turf in preparation for the Vase. Maureen Haggas, wife of trainer William was aboard for the work, and said that the rain felt like home "but it's not a feeling that I like very much. Everything's fine with her." |
 Feuerblitz cantered on the turf course and goes in Sunday's Cup. Jean-Jacques Poincelet, assistant to trainer Corine Barande-Barbe said, "We opted for a light but long canter on the turf to avoid stepping on the dirt track. Julien Magnier took him over a full lap and it is good for him. He should come back on the turf the day after tomorrow, as he could end up staying in the trotting ring (tomorrow). My main concern was the other horses galloping outside the track. They could surprise him but everything went fine. I think he rather appreciates the clicks of the cameras around him, and that keeps him busy to show off." |
 Giofra worked 1200 meters in 1:22.60 in preparation for the Cup. Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said, "She did well this morning on the turf course. She might be slightly underrated in the Cup but I warn you, she is an exceptional filly. Look at her form! The only blip is her 6th place in the Prix Jean Romanet last summer at Deauville, but the course was not good there and she stumbled going out of the stalls, and then injured herself. Last time, she finished third in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) on a ground she did not like at all. But don't get it wrong, it takes a very good horse to beat the Brits in their backyard like she did in the Falmouth Stakes in July. Giofra has travelled very well to Hong Kong and I am expecting a very good performance from her on Sunday. The horse I fear the most in the Cup is Saonois. I don't think that his age is a problem. When they are that good, age does not matter, and he should like the way races are run here." |
 Grand Prix Boss worked 800 meters in 47.90 seconds (last 400 in 22.10) in company with stablemate Lord Kanaloa. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said of his Mile entrant, "Since he arrived here, his condition has been improving. He worked very perfectly. It was I think excellent!" Assistant Takahide Ando added, "He did a steady canter before he left for Hong Kong, so we gave him a half gallop only in the closing stage, and it went well as planned. He was very flexible and moved nicely." |
 Jaguar Mail galloped on the turf on Wednesday morning. The Noriyuki Hori trainee is winless since the 2010 Tenno Sho Spring (G1) and comes to the Vase off a 10th place finish in the Japan Cup (G1) after finishing 7th in the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1). |
 Lord Kanaloa worked 800 meters in 53.50 seconds (last 400 in 23.30) under jockey Yasunari Iwata in preparation for the Sprint. Iwata said, "The horse was very relaxed and is in good order. I think his condition is better than when he won the Sprinters Stakes." Shogo Yasuda, assistant trainer to Takayuki Yasuda added "He does not like the heat, so this cold weather must suit him very well. He is with Curren Chan which is a good thing for him and makes him settle." |
 Pagera comes to the Vase off a runner-up finish in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) at Woodbine, after winning the Baden Racing Stuten-Preis (G3) at Baden-Baden. Olivier Peslier will be in the irons Sunday for trainer Henri-Alex Pantall and owner Guy Pariente. |
 Red Cadeaux galloped on the turf in preparation for the Vase. Robin Trevor-Jones, assistant to trainer Ed Dunlop said, “He’s had a nice canter today with Sunday’s jockey Gerald (Mosse) looking on. That will have done him the world of good. He’s in great order and as fit as a fiddle.” |
 Sadamu Patek galloped Wednesday in preparation for the Mile. Yuichiro Shiomitso, assistant to trainer masato Nishizono said, "He was a little tense with the new surroundings on the first two days since he arrived but he has got used to them now as he has been eating up very well. He is very fresh every day. Jockey Yutaka Take will ride him on turf tomorrow." |
 Sea Moon was sent out for a gallop by trainer Sir Michael Stoute in preparation for the Vase. The Juddmonte homebred won the Hardwicke (G2) at Royal Ascot followed by a 5th place effort in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) and then 8th in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. |
 Sea Siren galloped on the all-weather track in preparation for the Sprint. Trainer John O'Shea said, "I didn't ask her to do too much this morning. She's in great shape and I'm very happy with the way she's progressed over here. I don't underestimate the enormity of the task she faces on Sunday. It's tough to come play against the good Hong Kong sprinters on their home turf but this race has always been a target for her and everything's gone pretty much to plan so far." |
 Siyouma cantered on the all-weather track on Wednesday. Trainer Francois Doumen said of his Mile entrant, "We decided not to go to the Mile Championship three weeks ago in Kyoto, because I think that it is too difficult to run two hares at the same time. The filly looks great and she's traveling well in her canter, even though the track is sloppy. " |
 Super Easy worked 800 meters in 57.80 seconds (last 400 in 24.90) in preparation for the Sprint. Trainer Mike Freedman said, "It was testing conditions out there with the constant rain but horse and rider coped very well. He's a fit horse and he strode out strongly over the last 200 metres. It was a nice piece of work to blow the cobwebs out and I'm happy with his progress. Joao (Moreira) knows him well and he was thrilled with the way he went. He said the horse feels as good as he has any time leading into his wins at home. Having the extra horses around him in quarantine has really perked him up and physically he's as good as I can have him. Now it's down to the barrier draw which is so important, you just don't want to draw out wide here." |
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