On Friday morning at Sha Tin the panel of International Handicappers were unanimous in nominating Electric Unicorn as the best hope of the home team to repel the international challenge in Sunday's Hong Kong International Races, when five of the eleven strong panel picked the local horse for glory in the Hong Kong Mile.

The panel also favoured last year's Hong Kong Sprint winner Falvelon to defend his title successfully, while siding with the Japanese challenger Stay Gold in the Vase, and giving a vote of confidence to another Japanese runner Agnes Digital in the Hong Kong Cup.

The panel of eleven wise men was made up as follows: Dean Nowell(New Zealand), Mike Wanklin (Singapore), Isamu Kosa (Japan), Gerald Sauques (France), Jim Bowler (Australia),Ciaran Kennelly (Hong Kong), Nigel Gray (England), Frank Gabriel (USA), Gary O'Gorman (Ireland), Melvin Day (UAE), and Roger Smith (South Africa).

The panel reviewed the prospects of all Sunday's participants, with the aid of video footage of the runners' past performances. The key observations were as follows:

HONG KONG SPRINT

Jim Bowler made a strong case for Falvelon defending his title. " He's been aimed for this all year, and I think he's better now than he was last year" was his appraisal of the horse's chance. Frank Gabriel believed that Morluc, runner up last year, could turn the tables on Falvelon this time around, while Ciaran Kennelly believed that the improving All Thrills Too could be the surprise local package, if there was to be one.

HONG KONG VASE

Isamu Kosa said that Stay Gold could bow out on a winning note in the Hong Kong Vase.
Stay Gold, who defeated Emirates World Series Racing champion Fantastic Light in Dubai, was fourth on his last start in the Japan Cup, and a repeat of that sort of form, would make him hard to beat here. Kennelly believed the local horses would need jet propulsion to make them competitive, while Frank Gabriel advised everyone to ignore White Heart's moderate performance in Japan, and to look for a better run on Sunday.
"Neil Drysdale is a shrewd trainer, and he doesn't make these trips for fun."

HONG KONG MILE

Ciaran Kennelly was enthusiastic about the chances of Electric Unicorn. " Fairy King Prawn will be sadly missed, but Electric Unicorn has done all that has been asked of him, and will go very well." The German challenger Proudwings was cited as a major threat, while bold efforts were also anticipated from Forbidden Apple, Shogun Lodge and Zenno El Cid. The track record time of 1.31.5 for Zenno El Cid in the Mile Championship in Japan commands respect for that horse's chance.

HONG KONG CUP

Gerald Sauques was a strong supporter of the French-trained Jim And Tonic in the Cup, while Frank Gabriel reminded everyone that the Arlington Million winner Silvano had beaten Jim And Tonic in Hong Kong in April, and he fancied him to do so again. Mike Wanklin suggested that the Singaporean challengers, although tough and consistent, had a mountain to climb, and preferred the chances of Tobougg. The record of the Japanese challenger Agnes Digital at a mile was impressive, and the step up to 2000 metres and defeat of 2000 Japan Cup winner T M Opera O made Agnes Digital the majority pick of the panel.