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2025 Year in Review Santa Anita Opening Day Hong Kong Cup Results Hong Kong Jockey Challenge Hong Kong Cup woeks |
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 Wednesday morning at Sha Tin Racecourse with Hong Kong Cup entrant Bellagio Opera on the track. |
The Longines Hong Kong International Races will be run this Sunday afternoon (Saturday night in North America) 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$40 million (US$5.14 million) Hong Kong Cup the highlight of the afternoon, contested at 2000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). Conditions were excellent during training hours Wednesday, with partly cloudy skies and a daytime high of 22 C (72 F).
Here are photos for 16 of the international horses out on on the dirt track and turf course at Sha Tin on Wednesday morning. Click the small photo to see a larger version.
 Bellagio Opera (Cup) galloped on the turf this morning. Trainer Hiroyuki Uemura said: “There are no issues with his condition. With tomorrow’s final workout, we’ll look to sharpen him up and put the finishing touches to him.” |
 Quisiana (Cup) stepped things up a fraction when coasting solo around the rail, clocking 32.9s and 30.6s (1.03.5) for 800m, appearing to float over the dirt in languid fashion. Francis Graffard’s travelling head groom, Anthony David, said: “Quisisana has settled in better now, and overall she has taken the travelling very well. I’m very satisfied with how she is doing.” |
 Rousham Park (Cup) enjoyed an all-weather track canter today, clocking 32.1s and 25.5s (57.6s) for 800m. Assistant trainer Shun Takano said: “From the way he moved, I could really feel how well he’s doing. He has settled even more compared to yesterday as he becomes accustomed to the surroundings, and he’s progressing smoothly both mentally and physically." |
 Galen (Cup) had a light canter on the all-weather track. Mark Power, assistant trainer to Joseph O’Brien, said: “They didn't do anything too strenuous this morning, just a routine canter, and we’ll do something similar again tomorrow. The lads seem happy with him.” |
 Los Angeles (Vase) galloped on the all-weather track. |
 Al Riffa (Vase) had a lap of light exercise on the all-weather track. Mark Power, assistant trainer to Joseph O’Brien, said: “He was good. He didn’t do anything too strenuous this morning, just a routine canter. We’ll do something similar again tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 December). He’s moving well and the lads seem happy with him.” |
 Giavellotto (Vase) had a gentle canter for a circuit of the all-weather track Stable representative Federica Favretto said: “He seems to have settled in very well here. He’s eating and drinking and seems very happy. He came here pretty fit so he doesn’t need to do too much – he might just do a bit of work on Thursday now. Winning last year was an unbelievable experience. I think it might be a stronger race this year, he’s going to have to fight a bit, but we’re happy with how he is and hopeful that he can run a great race again.” |
 Sosie (Vase) took to the Sha Tin turf for the first time this week under work rider Christmy Derhoua, working up through the gears passing the stands for the first time before breezing a lap and closing out the final two 800-metre sections in 26.9s and 24.8s. After the four-year-old Sea The Stars colt had done a few laps of schooling in the paddock, raceday jocky Maxime Guyon reflected the general air of quiet confidence in the Sosie camp, observing: “The horse seems very well and in great form. He has a wonderful temperament and is very relaxed so it’s all systems go.”
Travelling head groom Richard Lambert added: “He left a good impression on me this morning, he was at ease on the track and he remains very relaxed, even though going out on the turf he knew it was going to be a bit more work than yesterday. In terms of his condition we’re very satisfied.”
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 Urban Chic (Vase) warmed up in the trotting ring and did a one-and-a-half-lap easy canter on the all-weather course, clocking 33.3s for the final 400m, then walked around the paddock. Trainer Ryo Takei said: “Thanks to Satono Reve, who remained calm and helped lead the way, Urban Chic also stayed composed and was able to train in a good mindset. Even in a regular canter, he showed just the right amount of forward energy and used his body well, feeling good. He is scheduled to work on the turf course tomorrow.” |
 Eydon (Vase) galloped on the all-weather track. Maddy O’Meara, head lass: “I’m really happy with him.” |
 Soul Rush (Mile) did a light canter over one lap and wrapped up the second lap, clocking 32.5s and 29.6s (1.02.1) for the final 800m. The assistant to trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, Hiroshi Hashiguchi, said: “The horse moved well without any signs of stiffness, and we were satisfied with him. We plan to gallop him on the turf course tomorrow.” |
 The Lion in Winter (Mile) galloped on the all-weather track. |
 Embroidery (Mile) enjoyed an easy canter on the all-weather track. Kazutomo Mori’s assistant trainer, Takafumi Konishi, said: “Compared to the first day, she has relaxed quite a bit and is getting used to the environment. There’s nothing concerning about her physical condition. She’s also adapted well to the quarantine barn – she’s a very smart filly. We cool her down in the shaded paddock area. The surroundings of the barn are concrete, and since she has relatively delicate shoes, the paddock is a much safer and easier place for her to walk after training. We plan to give her a steady workout on Thursday.” |
 Beauvatier (Mile) cantered a lap of the all-weather under Mathieu Delage, clocking 30.4s for the final 400m, and continues to please both his rider and trainer, Yann Barberot’s stable representative. Travelling head groom, Philippine Pannier, reported: “Beauvatier was a little bit more composed this morning, he’s getting used to the surroundings. He’s pretty calm and is a very easy horse to have anything to do with.” |
 Satono Reve (Sprint) comes out on the track on Wednesday morning. |
 Win Carnelian (Sprint) breezed on the turf under jockey Kosei Miura, clocking 33.6s, 27.9s and 23.9s (1.25.4) over 1200m. “We checked the ground and his rhythm. He is adapting to the environment well and enjoying Hong Kong. He moved very well,” Kosei Miura said. |
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