LONGINES Hong Kong Cup

EDISA – FR
Almost certainly the most leisurely of all the international runners to venture onto the all-weather, the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational winner hacked for just over a circuit under her work-rider.
Travelling head lad Antoine Croton said: “Edisa is very straightforward and proved in America that she takes the travelling well. She has an easy nature which is a big help. She won’t be doing anything very strenuous this week and there is no plan for her to breeze on the turf.”

MAGIC WAND – IRE
Completed a gentle lap of the all-weather track with two stable companions.
Pat Keating, travelling head lad for trainer Aidan O’Brien, said: “They’re doing well, we’re very happy with them all. They arrived on Saturday night and just went out for a canter. I’d think it will be much the same for the rest of the week.”

RISE HIGH – HK
Trainer Caspar Fownes said: “He’s very well at this stage. We’ve been talking him up for a while so it’s his chance to prove himself this weekend. He’ll do some fast work either Thursday or Friday and we’ll see how he is; he had a nice trial last Friday and he pulled up good. He’s ready now.” 

WIN BRIGHT – JPN
Worked in the trotting ring at the quarantine stable for an hour.
Assistant trainer Manabu Kibasako said: “He was in Hong Kong back in April, so he has acquainted himself to his surroundings faster than last time. He is fitter than his last run as well. He is now settled in and is relaxed at the moment.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Mile

ADMIRE MARS – JPN
Warmed up in the quarantine trotting ring before jogging one lap around the all-weather track.
Exercise rider Yusuke Oe said: “We worked him yesterday, but he has bounced back in good form. He isn’t sore or tired. He is fresh and has kept his condition after travelling well.”

CITRON SPIRIT – HK
Cantered on the small track at Conghua.
Trainer Ricky Yiu said: “He’s race fit so I don’t need to do much with him. He’s a horse with a bit of age so he knows what he’s doing. I sent him to Conghua in China in order to keep him fresh and happy, and he’s coming back this week. He hasn’t been over there before so it will be a bit of a change for him. He’s not run a bad race this season, he’s always finishing well and close up. I would expect him to be in the first four. In the race we’ll just let him enjoy himself, he’ll sit and travel in the midfield somewhere.”

INDY CHAMP – JPN
Warmed up in the quarantine trotting ring before jogging one lap around the all-weather track this morning.
Exercise rider Kenichi Shono said: “We gave him a bit of work yesterday, doing two furlongs in 15 seconds each. He moved well again this morning during his jog, he is relaxed and eating well.”

NORMCORE – JPN
Cantered an easy lap around the all-weather track.
Work rider Masaaki Minamida said: “She is in good condition and is just like we’d want her to be before a race back home. All is going well at the moment.”

PERSIAN KNIGHT – JPN
Worked in the trotting ring at the quarantine stable for an hour.
Assistant trainer Isao Saito said: “He had a piece of fast work yesterday, but he moved nicely and comfortably this morning. Everything has gone well so far.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint

DANON SMASH – JPN
Warmed up in the quarantine trotting ring before cantering one lap around the all-weather track.
Exercise rider Keiichiro Yasuda said: “Today we worked on getting him to relax in his new environment. We will have to see if he likes Hong Kong as much as his father, Lord Kanaloa, did but he is getting more relaxed day by day and seems to be doing well.”

REGENCY LEGEND – HK
Trainer Danny Shum said: “His last run was a bit disappointing but he’s a happy horse, he’s healthy so hopefully he can run well this Sunday. We’ve just kept him going, kept him moving – we haven’t changed anything between runs.”

SEASONS BLOOM – HK
Trotted on the small track at Conghua. 
Trainer Danny Shum said: “He’s good – he trialled at Conghua with Grant (van Niekerk) and he was happy with the horse. He needs a fast pace so hopefully we get that to run home strongly.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Vase

ANTHONY VAN DYCK & MOUNT EVEREST – IRE
Completed a gentle lap of the all-weather track.
Pat Keating, travelling head lad for trainer Aidan O’Brien, said: “They’re doing well, we’re very happy with them all. They arrived on Saturday night and just went out for a canter. I’d think it will be much the same for the rest of the week.”

ASPETAR – GB
Quite keen as he came onto the track and again as he left it – did a circuit of the all-weather track.
Speaking from England, trainer Roger Charlton said: “Aspetar has had a nice break so he could be a fresher horse than some. He doesn’t need a lot of work so we’ll just keep him ticking over this week. The track and the ground shouldn’t be a problem.”

DEIRDRE – JPN
Had a piece of easy work on the all-weather track.
Work rider Yuta Komiyama said: “Since she flew in, she has been fresh and is in good form. Hopefully things will go well and smooth for us.”

GLORY VASE – JPN
Walked and jogged for 40 minutes in the trotting ring at the quarantine stable.
Assistant trainer Yoichi Yahara said: “He moved well and feels great.”

LUCKY LILAC – JPN
Warmed up in the quarantine trotting ring before cantering one lap around the all-weather track.
Exercise rider Eishu Maruuchi said: “Once she got used to the all-weather course, she relaxed into what she was doing. She has settled into her environment quite well.”

PRINCE OF ARRAN – GB
Galloped 1200m in 1m 19.0s (27.8, 28.2, 23.0) under work rider Natasha Eaton, who has accompanied the gelding on his frequent overseas ventures.
Eaton said: “This is his third year of travelling and he loves it. He barely lost any weight on the journey from Melbourne (having finished second in the Melbourne Cup) and seems to be getting stronger all the time. He’ll work again later in the week and I’m convinced that he will finish closer than last year when he finished eighth but nothing went right for him then.”

SOUTHERN LEGEND – HK
Trainer Caspar Fownes said: “I’m very happy with him, he’s had a couple of nice bits of work, he’s got another nice blow-out and his fitness is there. He looks really good. Stretching him to the 2400 (metres) is always a bit of a query but I’m confident he’ll run the trip out. Obviously they’re very strong opponents but hopefully he’ll pick up a cheque for us.”

TRUE SELF – IRE
Had a leg-stretch for two laps of the all-weather track. 
David Casey, exercise rider and assistant to trainer Willie Mullins said: “We just had a steady hack for a circuit, then cantered a circuit, just speeding up for a couple of furlongs. I’ve been with her since she was in Australia and we’ve been over here a week now. She went very well down there – she ran a very good second in the Geelong Cup and then won the Queen Elizabeth. I’d say this will be another step up on Sunday but she seems well and doesn’t seem to mind the travelling too much. She might do a quicker bit on Tuesday, but we’ll just see how she is.”