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The Longines Hong Kong International Races will be run this Sunday afternoon (Saturday night in North America) at Sha Tin Racecourse. As usual, horses from Europe, Asia, and Australia ship in for the four Group 1 races, billed as the Turf World Championships, with the HK$40 million (US$5.14 million) Hong Kong Cup the highlight of the afternoon, contested at 2000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). Conditions were excellent during training hours Wednesday, with sunny skies and a daytime high of 24.6 C (76.3 F).
Here are photos for 18 of the international horses out on on the dirt track and turf course at Sha Tin on Wednesday morning. Click the small photo to see a larger version.
Liberty Island (Cup) worked 6f in 1:22.8 (splits of 31.6, 28.7, and 22.5). Trainer Yuga Kawada said, “Making sure she reacts and moves well at the last furlong. I am a little bit relieved that she is in good form after travelling to Hong Kong. Everything is going well so far. I hope she will have a nice few days towards the race on Sunday.”
Calif (Cup) galloped on the turf. Joint-trainer Yann Lerner said, “I am very happy with the horse, who I haven’t seen since he ran in Bahrain. The boys have done a great job with him and he looks well physically and seems to have come out of his race well, something I’m delighted to see. He hasn’t run too many times this season and he seems to have retained some freshness as we get to the end of the season, something I feel is very important. We’ll see on Sunday but he looks great in his coat and above all, he takes the travel so well.
Spirit Dancer (Cup) galloped once around the dirt track. Rider Oisin Orr said, “He felt good.”
Tastiera (Cup) galloped on the dirt track. Stable representative Tomohiro Takahashi said, “He is relaxed after his workout but is still adjusting to the new environment. His condition is good.”
The Foxes (Cup) had a strong canter of 6f in 1:33.1 (splits 30.4, 31.0, and 31.7). Stable representative Dwayne Pettitt said, “I was very happy with that. It’s just a case of keeping him ticking over. He’ll have a blowout on the turf tomorrow. He takes everything in his stride and he’s very relaxed. That’s the best he’s been moving for about three months. He just needed to get his head in front on the track.”
Dubai Honour (Vase) galloped once around on the turf.
Giavellotto (Vase) galloped on the dirt track in company with The Foxes.
Predaria (Vase) breezed 6f on turf in 1:20.0 (splits of 30.3, 26.8, and 22.9). Trainer Manabu Izekoe said, “He is in good form. It was his first time on the turf track at Sha Tin and he was looking around. He reacted well when he was asked and it was a nice gallop.”
Stellenbosch (Vase) worked 6f under jockey Joao Moreira in 1:20.7 (splits of 30.1, 27.1, and 23.5). Trainer Sakae Kunieda said, “Joao was very pleased with her condition. Joao told me she was in great shape and responded well to accelerate remarkably in the stretch. He also mentioned she was moving nicely and after gallop she was breathing very well. At the moment, I have nothing to complain about her condition. She is very settled in at the quarantine barn and is getting sharpened up for the big race. I think everything has gone ideal.”
Marquisat (Vase) galloped once around the turf a day after working 2f in 30.7 seconds on dirt on Tuesday.
Antino (Mile) worked 6f on turf in 1:26.0 (splits of 32.6, 29.1, and 24.3). Trainer Tony Gollan said, “I’m glad Ciaron’s (Maher) horse (Recommendation) got to follow him around. He is lazy and likes a mate. He is very fresh and quite playful as your saw. The volume of his slow work is a little bit less here with the dirt. We just wanted to stretch his legs out and we think he is in great shape.”
Jantar Mantar (Mile) worked 6f on turf in 1:18.1 (splits of 29.5, 26.6, and 22.0). Trainer Yuga Kawada said, “This is his first international trip, but I have been told he is adapting very well. In fact, He is in good form. I asked him on the home stretch as this is his first race since May, and it was a good gallop. He will be ready on Sunday.”
Soul Rush (Mile) galloped on the dirt track. Exercise rider Yuki Iwasaki said: “He was fresh, very flexible and felt really good.”
Ramadan (Mile) galloped 1 mile on the dirt. Exercise rider Ben Morris said, “We haven’t had him very long but it has been a pleasure to have him. He’s an absolute gentleman nearly all the time and he travelled over here very well, he’s enjoying the sunshine. It was his first time on the track and he just had a nice steady canter.”
Recommendation (Sprint) worked 6f on turf in 1:26.4 (splits of 32.5, 29.1, and 24.8) in company with Antino (Mile) after unseating exercise rider Anna Weatherlake. Trainer Ciaron Maher said, “He shied because Antino shied and she just popped off the side.”
Satono Reve (Sprint) galloped on the turf. Stable representative Ryusuke Saito said, “Mentally, there are no issues. His condition is better than yesterday and is returning to normal.”
Starlust (Sprint) cantered once around the dirt track and schooled in the the paddock with exercise rider Emma Wilkinson. Racing manager Alex Cole said, “A Breeders’ Cup (Turf Sprint) winner running anywhere is very exciting. He’s a horse that is three years old, he’s run in Dubai, France, England, America and this will be his 11th run this year. He shouldn’t be enjoying it as much as he is but he does, he loves it. He enjoys his job and while he enjoys his job, we’re going to enjoy it with him. We’ve had to supplement him, if you finish top-three you’re over the moon but he’s a Breeders’ Cup winner over five furlongs, round a bend. They’ll go hard but we’ll worry about ourselves. He very rarely lets us down. I think a flat track will be to his liking as well.”
Toshin Macau (Sprint) cantered on the dirt and galloped on the turf. Stable representative Takashi Komine said, “As scheduled, he worked on the all-weather this morning. In the trotting ring, he seemed to be relaxed unlike yesterday, but he was very nervous when working on the main track for the first time. However, once he started cantering, he launched the bid and ran well.”
This article was originally published by Horse-races.net. Read the original article here.