LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
EDISA – FR
Worked on the all-weather under work rider Louise Grouselle and clocked 57.2s (29.5, 27.7) for 800m.
Grouselle said: “She did a normal canter this morning, no more than that. She is in good form, is very relaxed and mentally calm. She is moving well and is very well balanced. I’ve ridden her since she first came to us as a baby and it’s great the way she has developed. She has really got a lot stronger in the last few months.”
MAGIC WAND – IRE
Woreked on the all-weather track to the approval of travelling head lad Pat Keating and clocked 1m 27.6s (31.1, 29.3, 27.2) for the final 1200m.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien said by telephone: “I think they’ll do a canter on the grass on Thursday morning but they don’t need much because obviously we think they’re in good shape. Pat travelled out with them, as well as Michael (De Aguiar), Dean (Gallagher), Yvonne (Zurcher) along with Sarah (O’Brien) and Ana (O’Brien), they’re all very happy with them.”
TIME WARP – HK
Cantered on the inner all-weather track.
Trainer Tony Cruz said: “Everything has been good, his work’s been good, he spent a bit of time in Conghua which has done him a lot of good, especially character-wise. I think his prime time is over but he’s healthy, happy and that’s why we’ve kept him going.”
WIN BRIGHT – JPN
Warmed up in the trotting ring and had a fast breeze on turf under his regular jockey Masami Matsuoka, clocking 1m 14.4s (26.9, 25.5, 22.0) for the final 1200m.
Matsuoka said: “He had a nice breeze this morning. He is fit, physically: he is in good shape and has been the same as how he usually is at home.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
ADMIRE MARS – JPN
Warmed up on the quarantine trotting track and breezed over the turf in 1m 19.0s (29.4, 27.5, 22.1) for the final 1200m.
Exercise rider Yusuke Oe said “He moved very well at the end of the work, really stretching out. He is really switched on and in race mode. He got used to being here almost immediately, which I think showed today in his fast work. He didn’t need to be pushed at all and went just as we wanted him to go all on his own. He is in great shape.”
Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said “I’ve been in contact with Oe since the horse arrived in Hong Kong and he is doing well. Today was the first time I’ve seen the horse in a week, and he has really come along nicely. I thought he might be a little too calm, so I wanted to push him a bit in his last fast work to get him mentally ready to race. He moved well and I was really satisfied with the final part of his work this morning.”
INDY CHAMP – JPN
Warmed up in the quarantine trotting ring before breezing six furlongs over the turf this morning, during which he shifted his running-line a couple of times and seemed to be looking around. He clocked 1m 24.5s (34.0, 27.9, 22.6).
Assistant trainer Kenichi Shono said: “He was a bit distracted by the grandstand this morning but once we got him focused, he moved well. He is in good condition.”
NORMCORE – JPN
Warmed up in the trotting ring and breezed over the turf course, clocking 51.3s (30.0, 21.3) for the final 800m, before paddock schooling.
Trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara said: “Everything has gone smoothly so far. She was able to grab the turf surface well with her feet and we have no concern about the track condition. Tomorrow’s training plan will be decided after we see her condition.”
Work rider Masaaki Minamida said: “She moved beautifully and was enthusiastic in a good way. She felt really great. It was a nice workout this morning. I am glad that she has been doing well so far.”
PERSIAN KNIGHT – JPN
Warmed up in the trotting ring and cantered for one and a half laps over the all-weather track – closed off in 30.6s for 400m.
Assistant trainer Isao Saito said: “He felt really good this morning and I think he had a good preparation work for tomorrow’s gallop on turf.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
DANON SMASH – JPN
Warmed up in the quarantine trotting track before breezing over the turf, clocking 1m 22.2s (31.9, 27.9, 22.4) for the final 1200m.
Exercise rider Keiichiro Yasuda said “He has relaxed a lot. He wasn’t as tense as before, so he was able to do a good breeze today. He is in good condition.”
IN HER TIME – AUS
Cameron Swan, foreman to trainer Kris Lees, rode In Her Time in an easy workout on the all-weather track this morning.
Swan said: “She is in really good order and feels great. She looks trim. She’s back to her peak racing weight and has taken the travel in her stride.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
ANTHONY VAN DYCK & MOUNT EVEREST – IRE
Cantered a lap of the all-weather track to the approval of travelling head lad Pat Keating.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien said by telephone: “I think they’ll do a canter on the grass on Thursday morning but they don’t need much because obviously we think they’re in good shape. Pat travelled out with them, as well as Michael (De Aguiar), Dean (Gallagher), Yvonne (Zurcher) along with Sarah (O’Brien) and Ana (O’Brien), they’re all very happy with them.”
DEIRDRE – JPN
Warmed up in the trotting ring and galloped on turf under jockey Oisin Murphy, clocking 1m 24.9s (33.7, 28.7, 22.5) for the final 1200m.
Murphy said: “She is really fit and ready for the race. She understands what she has to do over the week. She is in very good form and I hope she will keep the good condition to the end of the week.”
GLORY VASE – JPN
Worked in the trotting ring at the quarantine area and came out on the turf track to canter for one lap before paddock schooling.
The work rider Yoichi Yahara said: “He was a little bit edgy as he came out on the all-weather track yesterday for the first time, but he has settled down this morning. Joao Moreira will work him on turf tomorrow.”
LUCKY LILAC – JPN
Warmed up in the trotting track before working on the turf, clocking 1m 18.5s (31.5, 25.5, 21.5) for the final 1200m.
Assistant trainer Eishu Maruuchi said: “We’ve been making slight adjustments to her training both here and in Japan to make sure we can get the best out of her here. She seems to be responding very well. The track has a nice bounce to it and it seems really easy to run on.”
PRINCE OF ARRAN – GB
Looked relaxed and at home as he did a circuit of the all-weather track under regular rider Natasha Eaton – clocked 1m 24.8s (29.2, 28.7, 26.9) for the final 1200m.
Head groom Cheryl Armstrong said: “He’s been eating his feed and is very fresh which is nice to see. He hasn’t got a problem in the world! He’ll have a blow out on the turf tomorrow.”
TRUE SELF – IRE
Had light exercise on the all-weather track.
David Casey, work rider and assistant to trainer Willie Mullins said: “We just went for a couple of canters, I’m very happy with her. We might just go on the turf track tomorrow, perhaps do a half-speed.”
YOUNG RASCAL – GB
Cantered a lap on the all-weather track.
William Haggas’s stable representative Christopher Durham said: “His condition is getting better and better and he’s come out of his Kempton race really well. We’ve always thought he’d want a trip, he’s a big horse, he’s matured a lot better over the years. He’s definitely stronger now. He’s only lost a few kilos and put that straight back on. Everything’s gone good so far. He was a bit of a rascal and maybe he was a little bit weak going into the Derby. This is my first time in Hong Kong, I’ve been to the Breeders’ Cup and Dubai. Hong Kong is a lovely place and you get treated well, it’s fantastic.”
