TOP British trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, fears that his Daliapour will find it far tougher to win a second successive Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin this Sunday.

The five-year-old, who was bought by Hong Kong owner, Robert Ng, a few days before last year's Vase, gave his new owner a dream start by collecting HK5.7 million when comfortably beating Ela Athena and Caitano for the 2400-metre contest.

Stoute, who has been champion trainer in Britain six times, said: "Daliapour is ready to do himself justice but he is a year older and the race looks far stronger this time. He had a satisfactory run in the Canadian International at Woodbine last time, which was his first race for a long time. We will be trying to do the same as we did last year though we are hoping for a place."

Last year Daliapour finished a fair third in the Canadian International before going on to success in Hong Kong. Although he passed the post in fourth in Canada this season, he was demoted to seventh after being found guilty of cutting across his rivals on the first bend.

This year's Group One Hong Kong Vase is headed by the Japanese star, Stay Gold, who beat the mighty Fantastic Light in the Dubai Sheema Classic at the Dubai World Cup meeting last March.

Stoute will also saddle Tough Speed in the Hong Kong Mile. The improving four-year-old started this year as a top handicapper but he accounted for fellow Mile challenger, China Visit, by half a length in the Group Three White Rose Stakes over 1600 metres at Doncaster in September before getting stuck in the mud at Newmarket last time.

"You can forget about his last run in the Challenge Stakes as he couldn't handle the going," said Stoute. "He loves fast ground and has a chance in Hong Kong. I offered the ride to Kieren Fallon but he has a contract to ride in Japan, so John Murtagh will ride both horses."