Horse Racing
Season
LONGINES HKIR Track Notes – Monday, 8 December, 2025
LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
Bellagio Opera
Bellagio Opera had an easy canter under trainer Hiroyuki Uemura for three laps on the all-weather track, clocking 32.5s for the final 400m.
Uemura said: “Although the weather was slightly warm here, the stable environment has remained cool and comfortable. We’re pleased that the travel was completed without any issues. I will ride him for the fast work scheduled on Wednesday (10 December).”
Galen
The flashy chestnut followed his stablemate Al Riffa out onto the all-weather track for light exercise.
Mark Power, assistant trainer to Joseph O’Brien, said: “They arrived yesterday (Sunday, 7 December) lunchtime. They’ve both travelled well, they’ve done plenty of travelling, so they’re used to it now. They just did a light hack over a mile or so to stretch their legs. All seems good and sound.”
Quisisana
One of only two fillies to travel among the international contingent for this year’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, Quisisana enjoyed the lightest of leg-stretches around the all-weather track.
“This is a first long journey for Quisisana and so she has taken a little bit longer to settle in (than stablemate Goliath), which is why we went very gently with her this morning,” said Anthony David, travelling head groom for trainer Francis Graffard.
Rousham Park
Rousham Park hacked on the all-weather track under the assistant to trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, Shun Takano.
Takano said: “The transportation went smoothly, and the horse arrived in good condition without showing significant signs of fatigue.
“He is in good form and is not too tired from his trip to Hong Kong. We will canter tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 9 December).”
LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
Docklands
Cantered for a circuit of the all-weather track.
Work rider for trainer Harry Eustace, Michael Vokins, said: “He’s loving it out here. He’s been out a couple of times already and has had a look at the grass. He’s come out of his last race in great form.”
Beauvatier
Beauvatier will make his final career start on Sunday before retiring to take up stallion duties at Haras d’Etreham.
Speaking after the four-year-old had completed an easy canter over one lap of the all-weather track, trainer Yann Barberot’s travelling head groom, Philippine Pannier, said: “Beauvatier took the travelling very well, as he has done previously on shorter trips by road. He’s recovered very quickly, he’s eating well and he’s very happy with life. The horse arrived here ready to run and now it’s a case of maintaining his condition.”
The Lion In Winter
Cantered for a circuit of the all-weather track under work rider Rachel Richardson, leading stable companion Los Angeles.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s travelling head lad, Pat Keating, said: “They got here on Saturday and have settled in good, seem to have shipped great. It was just a gentle canter today and we’ll be building it up through the week.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
Khaadem
The nine-year-old gelding was the only horse to exercise on the turf course, walking and trotting in front of the stands for the first time before breaking into a steady canter.
He initially appeared unfamiliar with his surroundings but settled into exercise well.
LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
Al Riffa
The three-time Group 1 winner led his stablemate Galen out onto the all-weather track and enjoyed a light exercise.
Mark Power, assistant trainer to Joseph O’Brien, said: “They arrived yesterday (Sunday, 7 December) lunchtime. They’ve both travelled well, they’ve done plenty of travelling, so they’re used to it now. They just did a light hack over a mile or so to stretch their legs. All seems good and sound.”
Eydon
Came out onto the all-weather track with Docklands and Giavellotto before cantering for a mile under Andrew Balding’s assistant trainer Maddy O’Meara, clocking 31.7s, 31.3s and 32.0s (1m 35.0s) for 1200m.
Maddy O’Meara, head lass: “He feels brilliant this morning. He’s happy to be out on the track. He just did a normal canter for a mile.”
Goliath
Back in familiar surroundings after contesting the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin in April. Hugging the inside rail on the all-weather track, the five-year-old finished off his one-lap canter in good style, striding out well down the home straight, clocking 31.9s and 26.9s (58.8s) for 800m.
“Goliath really understands what these long trips are about now and he takes the travelling a lot better than before,” said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard’s travelling head groom Anthony David. “I’m very happy with him and he has acclimatised very quickly. He is fit from running recently, he is very supple and moved well this morning.”
Los Angeles
Cantered for a circuit of the all-weather track under work rider Alan Crowe, following stable companion The Lion In Winter.
Travelling head lad for trainer Aidan O’Brien, Pat Keating, said: “They got here on Saturday (6 December) and have settled in good, seem to have shipped great. It was just a gentle canter today and we’ll be building it up through the week.”
Sosie
Most recently seen finishing third in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), the three-time G1 winner enjoyed getting out for a solo lap on the all-weather track for the first time on Monday, clocking 27.8s, 26.2s and 25.8s (1m 19.8s) for 1200m and pleased Andre Fabre’s experienced travelling head groom Richard Lambert.
“For a first major trip on a plane, he has taken the travelling extremely well,” said Lambert. “He has quite a relaxed temperament. He was a little fresh the first day out on the track, but generally he’s adapted well, while his coat is in wonderful condition for a horse coming here. He had a racecourse gallop in very testing ground before he left home and that has been very beneficial.”
Urban Chic
Urban Chic was exercised with a hacking canter for one lap around the all-weather course.
Ryo Takei’s assistant trainer, Keigo Tsujimoto, said: “The horse was somewhat agitated upon arrival, likely due to being in an unfamiliar environment. However, it has since settled down and maintained a healthy appetite. This marks his first international travel experience, making it a significant challenge. Nevertheless, it completed smoothly. Today’s work was conducted alongside Satono Reve, who has previous experience in Hong Kong, with the aim of familiarising the horse with the local track.”
Bellagio Opera
Bellagio Opera had an easy canter under trainer Hiroyuki Uemura for three laps on the all-weather track, clocking 32.5s for the final 400m.
Uemura said: “Although the weather was slightly warm here, the stable environment has remained cool and comfortable. We’re pleased that the travel was completed without any issues. I will ride him for the fast work scheduled on Wednesday (10 December).”
Galen
The flashy chestnut followed his stablemate Al Riffa out onto the all-weather track for light exercise.
Mark Power, assistant trainer to Joseph O’Brien, said: “They arrived yesterday (Sunday, 7 December) lunchtime. They’ve both travelled well, they’ve done plenty of travelling, so they’re used to it now. They just did a light hack over a mile or so to stretch their legs. All seems good and sound.”
Quisisana
One of only two fillies to travel among the international contingent for this year’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, Quisisana enjoyed the lightest of leg-stretches around the all-weather track.
“This is a first long journey for Quisisana and so she has taken a little bit longer to settle in (than stablemate Goliath), which is why we went very gently with her this morning,” said Anthony David, travelling head groom for trainer Francis Graffard.
Rousham Park
Rousham Park hacked on the all-weather track under the assistant to trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, Shun Takano.
Takano said: “The transportation went smoothly, and the horse arrived in good condition without showing significant signs of fatigue.
“He is in good form and is not too tired from his trip to Hong Kong. We will canter tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 9 December).”
LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
Docklands
Cantered for a circuit of the all-weather track.
Work rider for trainer Harry Eustace, Michael Vokins, said: “He’s loving it out here. He’s been out a couple of times already and has had a look at the grass. He’s come out of his last race in great form.”
Beauvatier
Beauvatier will make his final career start on Sunday before retiring to take up stallion duties at Haras d’Etreham.
Speaking after the four-year-old had completed an easy canter over one lap of the all-weather track, trainer Yann Barberot’s travelling head groom, Philippine Pannier, said: “Beauvatier took the travelling very well, as he has done previously on shorter trips by road. He’s recovered very quickly, he’s eating well and he’s very happy with life. The horse arrived here ready to run and now it’s a case of maintaining his condition.”
The Lion In Winter
Cantered for a circuit of the all-weather track under work rider Rachel Richardson, leading stable companion Los Angeles.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s travelling head lad, Pat Keating, said: “They got here on Saturday and have settled in good, seem to have shipped great. It was just a gentle canter today and we’ll be building it up through the week.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
Khaadem
The nine-year-old gelding was the only horse to exercise on the turf course, walking and trotting in front of the stands for the first time before breaking into a steady canter.
He initially appeared unfamiliar with his surroundings but settled into exercise well.
LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
Al Riffa
The three-time Group 1 winner led his stablemate Galen out onto the all-weather track and enjoyed a light exercise.
Mark Power, assistant trainer to Joseph O’Brien, said: “They arrived yesterday (Sunday, 7 December) lunchtime. They’ve both travelled well, they’ve done plenty of travelling, so they’re used to it now. They just did a light hack over a mile or so to stretch their legs. All seems good and sound.”
Eydon
Came out onto the all-weather track with Docklands and Giavellotto before cantering for a mile under Andrew Balding’s assistant trainer Maddy O’Meara, clocking 31.7s, 31.3s and 32.0s (1m 35.0s) for 1200m.
Maddy O’Meara, head lass: “He feels brilliant this morning. He’s happy to be out on the track. He just did a normal canter for a mile.”
Goliath
Back in familiar surroundings after contesting the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin in April. Hugging the inside rail on the all-weather track, the five-year-old finished off his one-lap canter in good style, striding out well down the home straight, clocking 31.9s and 26.9s (58.8s) for 800m.
“Goliath really understands what these long trips are about now and he takes the travelling a lot better than before,” said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard’s travelling head groom Anthony David. “I’m very happy with him and he has acclimatised very quickly. He is fit from running recently, he is very supple and moved well this morning.”
Los Angeles
Cantered for a circuit of the all-weather track under work rider Alan Crowe, following stable companion The Lion In Winter.
Travelling head lad for trainer Aidan O’Brien, Pat Keating, said: “They got here on Saturday (6 December) and have settled in good, seem to have shipped great. It was just a gentle canter today and we’ll be building it up through the week.”
Sosie
Most recently seen finishing third in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), the three-time G1 winner enjoyed getting out for a solo lap on the all-weather track for the first time on Monday, clocking 27.8s, 26.2s and 25.8s (1m 19.8s) for 1200m and pleased Andre Fabre’s experienced travelling head groom Richard Lambert.
“For a first major trip on a plane, he has taken the travelling extremely well,” said Lambert. “He has quite a relaxed temperament. He was a little fresh the first day out on the track, but generally he’s adapted well, while his coat is in wonderful condition for a horse coming here. He had a racecourse gallop in very testing ground before he left home and that has been very beneficial.”
Urban Chic
Urban Chic was exercised with a hacking canter for one lap around the all-weather course.
Ryo Takei’s assistant trainer, Keigo Tsujimoto, said: “The horse was somewhat agitated upon arrival, likely due to being in an unfamiliar environment. However, it has since settled down and maintained a healthy appetite. This marks his first international travel experience, making it a significant challenge. Nevertheless, it completed smoothly. Today’s work was conducted alongside Satono Reve, who has previous experience in Hong Kong, with the aim of familiarising the horse with the local track.”
Others
08/12/2025
08/12/2025
