Noriyuki Hori is no stranger to success at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) and this Sunday (12 December) at Sha Tin the master handler from Japan will be two-pronged at the end-of-year HK$100 million showcase.
From nine runners since 2008 – including his trailblazing Jaguar Mail – Hori has enjoyed absurd success at the LONGINES HKIR with three wins in all at a strike-rate of 33%.
In 2016, Hori made history by becoming the only international trainer to win two LONGINES HKIR races at the same meeting when Satono Crown claimed the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) before Maurice demolished an all-star cast in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
Both Maurice and Neorealism elevated Hori’s G1 haul to five at Sha Tin with their Champions Mile and QEII Cup heroics, but this year, he returns to Hong Kong in December for the first time since 2017, preparing to saddle Salios and Hishi Iguazu.
Salios – a son of Heart’s Cry – is in Hong Kong for his first foray abroad and brings exceptional form from the Land of the Rising Sun over, including two runner-up efforts to Contrail.
“Salios last ran three weeks ago, so considering his condition, I have not given him too much work, we’re just conditioning him,” Hori said ahead of Salios’ G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) tilt.
The eye-catching chestnut finished sixth last start in the G1 Mile Championship (1600m) at Hanshin behind Gran Alegria.