LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
BLOND ME (GB)
Work rider Leanne Masterton partnered the filly as usual, and she looked comfortable
cantering around the all-weather track.
“Still all good,” Masterton said, also confirming that trainer Andrew Balding would be arriving in Hong Kong later today.
DEAUVILLE (IRE)
Followed stable companion Highland Reel in routine work through a lap of the all-weather track under usual partner Gary O’Connor. Clocked 45.0s (15.8, 14.8, 14.4) for 600m.
GARLINGARI (FR)
Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe made it from Hong Kong International Airport in time to catch Garlingari canter a single lap of the Sha Tin all-weather under Zoe Gargoulaud and was pleased with what she saw. In terms of stepping down in trip from 2400m in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase 12 months ago to the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup over 2000m on Sunday, Barande-Barbe believes the shorter race will see Garlingari in a better light.
The trainer said: “In France I think 2000 metres is his best trip but here you need more speed so we trained him at home for that. It’s a nice challenge for him. He is a year older and now he is six is more mature. He has also had an easier year than in 2016, when he ran all through the spring and then maybe tailed off slightly. Now he is on his way to the top and the top will be on Sunday.”
NEOREALISM (JPN)
Neorealism walked and jogged in the quarantine stable trotting ring before he cantered two laps on the all-weather track.
Trainer Noriyuki Hori said: “The main point is to keep him relaxed in these different surroundings. I asked the rider to reacquaint himself to the environment while working him. Regarding the fast work, I will decide whether he gallops on Thursday or Friday. It depends on the horse’s condition, the track condition and the weather tomorrow morning. But Joao Moreira will be on board when he gallops.”
POET’S WORD (GB)
On his toes as he tracked the flighty USA sprinter Stormy Liberal onto the turf this morning. Then stretched his legs over 600m in 46.6s (16.8, 14.6, 15.2).
ROBIN OF NAVAN (GB)
The G1-winning colt continued his preparation with a canter around the all-weather track, supervised by trainer Harry Dunlop. Clocked 31.4s (15.8, 15.6) for 400m of the all-weather track.
Dunlop said: “Firstly I would like to thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club for everything they are doing for us, just fantastic.” He added: “I’ve tried to learn from my brother (trainer Ed Dunlop who has sent out three HKIR winners) and really the plan is just to keep him fresh in the run-up to Sunday. We’ve heard lots of good things about his big-race rider Sam (Clipperton) and he’ll be having a sit on him on Friday.”
SECRET WEAPON (HK)
Exercised on the small inner all-weather track.
SMART LAYER (JPN)
Cantered one and a half laps around the Sha Tin all-weather track and schooled in the paddock.
Assistant trainer Kota Kato said: “Today I rode her for a lap and a half on the all-weather. She feels great and has a nice action right now. Tomorrow we will breeze her on the turf with Yutaka Take riding her.”
STAPHANOS (JPN)
Cantered one and a half laps around the Sha Tin all-weather track and clocked 44.8s (16.2, 13.2, 15.4) for the final 600m.
Assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara said: “He is right where we want him right now. He’ll have his fast work tomorrow with Hugh Bowman aboard.”
TIME WARP (HK)
Had a jump out from the gate on the all-weather track in company with Peniaphobia. Clocked 21.7s for 400m.
Trainer Tony Cruz said: “I’m happy with him. He’s fit and well for Sunday.”
WAR DECREE (IRE)
Repeated the exercise routine of the past two days in the middle of the Ballydoyle quintet with his lad Derek Stamp in the irons.
WERTHER (HK)
Exercised two laps on the small inner all-weather track under Tommy Berry.
Trainer John Moore said: “He’s well, he’s as fit as I can have him. He’ll be peaking at the right time. He’ll gallop tomorrow (Thursday) at 6am along with the rest of my team.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
BEAUTY GENERATION (HK)
Exercised on the all-weather track under Derek Leung.
Trainer John Moore said: “Everything has gone to plan. He’ll be out on the turf with the others tomorrow (Thursday).”
BEAUTY ONLY (HK)
Had a jump out from the gate on the all-weather track and breezed 400m in company with Gold Mount. Clocked 21.6s.
Trainer Tony Cruz said: “I’m happy with all four of mine, they’re all fit and well. Beauty Only seems to have improved since his last run, there’s not much to look at once you get past his distinctive head but he seems well.”
CONTENTMENT (HK)
Contentment worked 800m on the all-weather track in 58.8s (33.9, 24.9).
HELENE PARAGON (HK)
Exercised a lap of the all-weather track under Sam Clipperton.
Trainer John Moore said: “He’s over the little eye issue he had and he’s heading the right way. It took a bit of work but we got there. He will gallop tomorrow (Thursday) morning.”
HORSE OF FORTUNE (HK)
Exercised two laps of the small inner all-weather track.
JOYFUL TRINITY (HK)
Cantered a lap of the all-weather track under Tommy Berry.
KARAR (FR)
Karar reprised his role of shadowing Vase contender and compatriot Talismanic around the all-weather track before taking in some paddock schooling. Freshly-arrived from Paris overnight, trainer Francis Graffard has been happier with the son of Invincible Spirit’s preparation and overall condition than ahead of his seventh-placed run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Trainer Francis Graffard said: “He had a very long journey to get here and that was bound to take a little bit out of him but he seems to me to be very well, better in fact than I expected. I think he looks better than he did in the United States, where his coat was a bit dull. He is nice and supple and his work before leaving France was better than it was ahead of the Breeders’ Cup. The only thing is that he had a really long trip to get here because at the last moment he had to switch and travel over with the British horses.”
LANCASTER BOMBER (IRE)
With Seamie Heffernan on board as he has been all week, he cantered of a lap of the all-weather track with his Ballydoyle stable companions. Lancaster Bomber, who has been runner up in five Group 1 races in his 14-race career to date, most recently in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, was his usual relaxed self as he went through his routine.
Seamie Heffernan said as he headed off the track: “Everything’s good with him, he seems very well, and I’m happy with the way he is.”
LIGHTNING SPEAR (GB)
The six-time winner made his first appearance at Sha Tin today, doing some easy work around the all-weather track, partnered by the trainer’s wife Jenny Simcock.
Jenny Simcock said: “He was a little bit fresh and on his toes though that was probably because it was his first day on the track. Hopefully he’ll settle in over the next couple of days.”
ROLY POLY (USA)
With regular rider Richella Carroll on board, the filly brought up the rear in the Ballydoyle quintet as she put in another routine canter, mirroring her exercise of the past two days.The three-year-old filly, like Lancaster Bomber the produce of War Front, is small of stature but big of heart, and already a three-time Group 1 winner this year. It has been easy for track work observers to overlook her as she has gone quietly about her business all week.
SATONO ALADDIN (JPN)
Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee supervised Satono Aladdin’s work on the all-weather track as he came home through the final 600m in 44.6s (14.8, 15.0, 14.8).
Ikee said: “He seems well and looks good in condition. It is his third time in Hong Kong. Everything has gone well, as planned. In the Tenno Sho Autumn, it was a really rain-soaked track and in the following Mile Championship, the track was not as bad as the Tenno Sho, but it was still a bit soft. The three factors that the horse needs are fast track, high pace and outer draw. He is a hold-up runner and comes from behind with a burst of speed. This is his last start before he goes to stud, so hopefully he can run his race.”
SEASONS BLOOM (HK)
Exercised on the small inner all-weather track.
SICHUAN DAR (HK)
Exercised two laps on the inner small all-weather track.
WESTERN EXPRESS (HK)
Worked 800m on the all-weather track in 59.2s (33.8, 25.4).
LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
AMAZING KIDS (HK)
Galloped over 400m on the all-weather track in 25.7s.
BLIZZARD (HK)
Exercised on the small inner all-weather track.
Trainer Ricky Yiu said: “He’s going nicely. He’ll gallop on the turf tomorrow (Thursday), unfortunately Gerald (Mosse) will not be here but we’ve got the next best thing – his daughter’s partner! Umberto (Rispoli) knows the horse well so we’re keeping it in the family. Blizzard’s not in the same company as my other Sprint winners (Fairy King Prawn and Sacred Kingdom) but he is honest.”
D B PIN (HK)
Given a sharp gallop over 400m on the all-weather track, clocking 25.1s.
LET’S GO DONKI (JPN)
Cantered one and a half laps around the Sha Tin all-weather track, completing her final 200m in 12.0s, and schooled in the paddock.
Groom Yoshiaki Terada said: “She was a little off her feed this morning but she was full of energy today on the track and schooled in the paddock with her friend Smart Layer. She’ll have her final work on the turf course tomorrow.”
LUCKY BUBBLES (HK)
Exercised on the small inner all-weather track.
Trainer Francis Lui said: “He’s fine. We galloped him on Monday and we’re happy with his condition. He’ll gallop on the dirt tomorrow.”
MR STUNNING (HK)
Took to the all-weather track for a 800m gallop, stopping the clock in 58.9s (32.9, 26.0).
NOT LISTENIN’TOME (HK)
Exercised on the all-weather track.
ONCE IN A MOON (JPN)
Completed a strong canter over the Sha Tin turf track under Zac Purton, before schooling in the parade ring.
Purton said: “She seems healthy and bright. She is only small which you already know, but she was just having a bit of a look at the track today. She had a bit of a look around as well. Something frightened her a little bit, but once she got going, she felt nice – her action was good, attitude was good. She pulled up nice. We will do a bit more with her tomorrow and hopefully she will be alright on Sunday.”
PENIAPHOBIA (HK)
Given a 400m breeze out of the gates on the all-weather track under race rider Matthew Chadwick, alongside Time Warp, clocking 21.7s.
Trainer Tony Cruz said: “I was just worried that he got too heavy – as they get older they get heavier, it’s harder to get them fit – and he’s lost a bit of speed, too. But in terms of health, like all of mine, he’s a very healthy horse.”
SIGNS OF BLESSING (FR)
Signs Of Blessing made his first venture out of quarantine when cantering around the all-weather under Wilfred Conart, showing no outward ill-effects from either the journey or the change of scenery. He picked up the pace slightly entering the home straight, covering the last 400m in 30.6s (15.2, 14.8).
STORMY LIBERAL (USA)
Keen to get moving this morning as he came onto the track with his lead pony. Worked on the turf over 600m in 39.8s (14.4, 13.0, 12.4)
Trainer Peter Miller, who watched the work via video from his California home, said: “He looked well to my eye and travelled well within himself. It was a good leg stretcher and he handled the ground. The team has been telling me the horse is doing really well and his energy levels are high. We’re hoping for a good draw and if he gets that, I think he’ll perform well.”
THE RIGHT MAN (FR)
Another to complete a brisk canter around the Sha Tin all-weather, he completed his final 200m in 13s. He also schooled in the parade ring.
Cyrille Estampes, travelling head lad to trainer Didier Guillemin, said: “He cantered normally this morning and no more. His trainer will be here tomorrow. He has acclimatised well and to my eyes he is at least as well as he was before his last run at Maisons-Laffitte.”
THEWIZARDOFOZ (HK)
Breezed over 800m on the all-weather track, clocking 59.1s (32.5, 26.6).
LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
CHEMICAL CHARGE (GB)
Breezed around the all-weather track, looking on good terms with himself.
DANEHILL KODIAC (GB)
Cantered behind fellow British challenger Robin Of Navan (Cup) under big race rider Sean Levey, who partnered him to a gate to wire victory in the G3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot in October.
Travelling head lad Tony Gorman commented: “All’s good on the training front and we’re looking for a good gate.” And he added jokingly as he looked towards co-owner Andy Smith: “That’s your responsibility tomorrow!”
Smith said: “This horse owes us nothing especially as we bought him with hurdling in mind, yet he’s only gone and won a G3 at Ascot – beating a horse who was placed in the French Derby! Our horse is really tough and loves to eyeball other horses. We also think that the surface will suit him better than the slow ground that he’s been racing on most of this year.”
EAGLE WAY (HK)
Exercised two laps on the small inner all-weather track under Tommy Berry.
Trainer John Moore said: “He appears to be over the lung issue. Obviously the lack of match fitness isn’t ideal, especially against a field as strong as this – I think this is one of the better Vase fields we’ve seen. He will gallop tomorrow (Thursday).”
GOLD MOUNT (HK)
Jumped out of the stalls from the 400m on the all-weather track alongside Beauty Only (Vase), clocking 22.2s.
Trainer Tony Cruz said: “He’s fit and well and I hope he can run a place.”
HELENE CHARISMA (HK)
Cantered on the main all-weather track under raceday rider Sam Clipperton.
Trainer John Moore said: “I wish we could work out what was going on in his mind, but at least he is well. He will also gallop tomorrow (Thursday).”
HIGHLAND REEL (IRE)
Led the Ballydoyle quintet in a regular canter on the all-weather track as he has done the past two days with regular rider Davy Bergin aboard. He completed his last 600m in 46.2s (16.6, 15.4, 14.2).
Aidan O’Brien’s travelling head lad Pat Keating said: “He’s in good form, as they all are. It’s possible that they’ll go on the turf on Thursday, I’ll wait to hear what the boss (O’Brien) decides.”
KISEKI (JPN)
Worked in the trotting ring before cantering for one and half laps around the Sha Tin all-weather.
The assistant trainer Norihiko Kishimoto said: “He is so relaxed and feels good. Mirco Demuro will gallop him on the turf tomorrow.”
MAX DYNAMITE (IRE)
Had an easy canter on the all-weather track after his sharp work-out on the turf yesterday.
David Casey, rider and assistant to trainer Willie Mullins, said: “He’s in good order. He’s so relaxed, he’s almost on the horizontal.”
SMART CALL (GB)
Worked at three-quarter pace on the turf this morning, running 600m in 40.4s (14.0, 13.2, 13.2).
TALISMANIC (FR)
While still being kept in low gear, he was asked for a fraction more urgency by work-rider Vincent Champion, clocking a final 200m of 14.4s at the end of a 46.8s stretch over 600m. He then schooled in the parade ring. He will be ridden by 2014 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase-winning jockey Maxime Guyon on Sunday.
Godolphin’s representative in France, Lisa-Jane Graffard, said: “He seems in good form and is really just his normal self. He is a good traveller with a good temperament and both Richard (Lambert, travelling head lad) and Vincent are really happy with him. He is following the same sort of programme as he did in America.”
TIBERIAN (FR)
Returned to the all-weather on Wednesday following his Tuesday turf breeze.
Trainer Alain Couetil said: “He remains in good form and I have no reason to change his programme. Tactically he is very flexible, because he has won when making the running and also being held up.”
Tiberian arrives in Hong Kong off the back of a seventh-placed effort in the Melbourne Cup, a challenge which was compromised by being handed a very wide draw at Flemington. “With 11 or 12 runners there won’t be any issue with the draw here and at least he can’t get stall 23 this time!” said Couetil.
TOSEN BASIL (JPN)
Cantered one and a half laps around the Sha Tin all-weather track.
Assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara said: “He is in great condition. He’ll breeze tomorrow with Joao Moreira aboard.”
