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 Chinchon works on Thursday morning at Sha Tin for the Hong Kong Vase |
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). Thursday was much better with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60's, which is supposed to stay the same through race day.
Here are photos for 19 of the international horses who came out to gallop on the track at Sha Tin Thursday morning. Click the small photo to see a larger version.
 Alcopop blew out 400 meters in 25.60 seconds in preparation for the Cup. Trainer Jake Stephens said, "You know, I'm nervous because the horse is going that well. He was good this morning, he might have gone a touch quicker than we wanted but when your horse is carting the rider it's a good sign. Harriet (Leahy) rode him this morning and she had her feet on the dashboard, which you don't often see with him." |
 Carlton House blew out 400 meters in 23 seconds under jockey Ryan Moore. John Warren, racing manager for owner Queen Elizabeth II said of the Cup contender, "Everyone around Carlton House is upbeat including his jockey Ryan Moore. Although he hasn't had much overseas travelling experience he seems to have taken everything in his stride. He's got a good draw, this is his best distance and ticks are in all the boxes really. I spoke to The Queen yesterday and she is really looking forward to the race and to Carlton House's subsequent ventures in Australia." |
 Dancing Rain galloped on the turf under Maureen Haggas, wife of trainer William Haggas. William Haggas said of his Vase entrant, "She travelled OK and doesn't need to do a lot of work. I might be wrong but if she's not ready by now, she never will be. I think she's improved since Ascot which was her first run back and also on very soft ground. The drying conditions are certainly in her favour." |
 Dandino cantered on the turf under regular rider Jim Crowley in preparation for the Vase. Crowley said, "I just cantered him today, but he felt fine, and he'll do a little bit more tomorrow. His last run in Canada was very good (second to Joshua Tree in Pattison Canadian International) and he was a little unlucky that day, so I hope that he can turn it around with the winner on Sunday. Whether that will be good enough we'll see." |
 Don Bosco worked 800 meters on the turf in 53.80 seconds under jockey Olivier Pesleier. Trainer David Smaga said, "He enjoys his travelling and as many matured older horses do he has settled down very well here. I couldn't be happier with him." |
 Dunaden cantered on the turf in preparation for the Vase. owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani said, "Obviously it is different than last year when he came here off the back of his Melbourne Cup win and this time he was disappointing there. He had a bit of a muscle problem then and his work times since have been a couple of seconds slower than last year. However, this course and distance are ideal and we remain hopeful." |
 Feuerblitz galloped on the turf in preparation for the Cup. Trainer Mike Figge said, "He's in good condition both mentally and physically. He was a little tired when he arrived but since day three here he has kept on improving. He did some light work two days ago and will have a blow-out tomorrow." |
 Giofra was out for a gallop on Thursday. She comes to the Cup off a third place finish in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) at Longchamp. Regular rider Christophe Soumillon will be in the irons Sunday for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre and owner Haras de la Perelle. |
 Gordon Lord Byron worked 1200 meters in 1:23.50 under jockey William Buick in preparation for the Mile. Buick said, “I know he won last time in heavy ground at Longchamp, but I don’t think he is ground dependant. Probably his best run of all this year was in the Haydock Sprint (second to Society Rock), and the ground was firm that day. I don’t think a mile round here will be a problem for him, and I’m just hoping for a decent draw. I think he deserves to be in this race.” |
 Jaguar Mail worked 800 meters on turf in 56.70 second in preparation for the Vase. Groom Masanori Watanabe said, "The trainer is here today. This race comes only two weeks after the Japan Cup, so he only went steadily over 400m today. He went nicely and looks like he is getting back to good form. He has settled in and feels at home." |
 Master of Hounds galloped on the turf Thursday. Trainer William Haggas said of the Mile contender, "I am very happy with him. He's well and might be underestimated – remember he was a Group 1 winner when with Mike De Kock. He's very talented and you can pretty well forget his last start – at Ascot - which was over 2000m on soft ground. He wants 1600m on fast ground so everything should be right on Sunday." |
 Meandre worked 1200 meters in 1:23.90 on the turf in preparation for the Vase. Richard Lambert, assistant to trainer Andre Fabre said, "He did not go out on the track on Tuesday because we wanted to give him as much time as we could to recover from the travel. Yesterday (Wednesday), the dirt was sloppy and he simply cantered around slowly. We went to the turf today and he looked good. He's an easy horse to deal with and should like the ground here. People seemed to say he liked soft ground but it is a wrong assumption. He likes fast ground very much. There is something about him. When he's in good form, he becomes tense just before the race. He bucks and keeps his head high. On Arc day, he had switched off. I don't know what happened." |
 Pagera galloped on the turf Thursday morning with Olivier Peslier aboard. She 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 for trainer Henri-Alex Pantall and owner Guy Pariente. |
 Red Cadeaux worked 1200 in 1:26.50, last 400 meters in 25.20 seconds. Trainer Ed Dunlop said of the Vase contender, "The horse is in better shape than he was in Japan. He had a nice easy hit out this morning. I am not too concerned that he's lost any zest for it (racing) after what I saw this morning. He may lack the class of one or two of his rivals but he's a tough, old street-fighter and he'll give his all." |
 Saonois was out Thursday for a gallop on the turf in preparation for the Cup. He won the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) and the Prix Niel, both G1, before checking in 15th beaten 57 lengths in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last out. Regular rider Antoine Hamelin gets the call Sunday for trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin. |
 Sea Moon was sent out for a gallop Thursday 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 worked 1200 meters in 1:25.50 seconds, last 400 in 24.60, in preparation for the Sprint. Trainer John O'Shea said, "I was pleased with her this morning. On Tuesday she was a bit fresh and wanted to rip and tear. Today she was much more relaxed. I only wanted her to stretch her legs, not break any records. She's well." |
 Siyouma worked 1200 meters in 1:17.50 in preparation for the Mile, getting the final 400 m in 22.20 seconds under jockey Gerald Mosse. Trainer Francois Doumen said, "She was first out this morning. There are some privileges which come with my age. I was very happy with her work. Every time she has raced this year she has made a major improvement and hopefully that will continue on Sunday. She handled the flight from Toronto very well. She regained weight immediately after her arrival and she has the ideal temperament for travel. Her coat is very shiny, which is a good sign in a female. She is stoic and was unruffled by the travelling – in fact she's the perfect traveller. I think this track is right for her also, and Sha Tin is a great track where the best horse usually wins. I would also like to say that you have the cleanest racing in the world, here in Hong Kong." |
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