HKIR News : Tracknotes (4) - Hong Kong Mile (Gr 1 - 1600m) HK$14 million (13/12/2001)

13 December 2001

SHOGUN LODGE (AUS) and SHOW A HEART (AUS)

Australia's two Hong Kong Mile contenders Shogun Lodge and Show A Heart continue to please their respective trainers - Bob Thomsen and Barry Miller - in the lead up to Sunday's 1600 metres feature.

Both horses had only light work on the all weather track this morning having held their condition since arriving in Hong Kong.

"We sent him over two laps of the all weather," said Show A Heart's trainer Barry Miller, "and I'm happy with the way he worked. He had a bit of sweat which was good and I think he appreciated the cooler conditions this morning." Miller said that the horse had clearly settled in well, adding that is was easy to assess his condition as "he seldom varies. He looks pretty much the way he always does and I'm happy with that. He's a horse who does well and freshens up quite easily so it's just a matter of making sure he's done enough work and I'm confident he has."

Bob Thomsen again reported enthusiastically on his charge Shogun Lodge. There is little doubt that the Sydney based trainer's body language is far more positive then last year when the horse was unplaced in the Cup. "The horse is really bright, really well. I really expect that he will be right at his very best on Sunday,"Thomsen said.
Shogun Lodge had an interrupted spring campaign in Melbourne this year following a 'false alarm' with a reported injury. "It's probably been a blessing in disguise. He had every conceivable test and there were no problems with him. As it has turned out, it has really given me the opportunity to target and prepare the horse for Hong Kong," Thomsen said.

FORBIDDEN APPLE (USA)

For the second consecutive morning, Forbidden Apple cantered around Sha Tin's all-weather surface. Trainer Christophe Clement will not arrive in Hong Kong until Friday, so the six-year-old horse, who hjourneyed to Hong Kong to December 2, has prepared here for the Hong Kong Mile under the guidance of stablehands. Forbidden Apple has not had an aggressive workout since finishing second in the October 27 Breeders' Cup Mile at New York's Belmont Park.

RED SUN (HK)

"He's in great shape and has been now for some time. He's going to run well." - Tony Cruz, trainer.

ZENNO EL CID (JPN)

Jockey, Olivier Peslier: "He's good between 1000m and 1600m but he's best over the mile. This is a very strong Japanese team in Hong Kong but this horse is the best of them. He's in good form now and I'm very hopeful of a very good run."

EISHIN PRESTON (JPN)

"He lost a little bit of weight since travelling over from Japan and we want to give him enough time to get over it. Because of this we have restricted his work just to a few small bits of jogging. But I'm confident that he will be okay for the race." - Shuji Kitahashi, trainer.