Punters should forget the poor run of Agnes Digital when he finished sixth in the World Cup in Dubai last month, and remember instead his memorable win in the Hong Kong Cup (Gr.1) in December, according to connections.

They point to a series of reasons why the Dubai run should be excused, starting with the fact that Agnes Digital was not seen at its best on the dirt course at Nad Al Sheba.

There also were disruptions to his preparation for the race: the flight from Japan to Dubai was held over en route in Hong Kong for six hours because of mechanical problems, and later a rare rainstorm at Nad Al Sheba caused the main track to be closed forcing Agnes Digital to complete his main fast gallop before the race on an unlit secondary track.

According to trainer Toshiaki Shirai, the horse was tired and stressed and needed another two or three days to recover condition. As a result, Japan's champion older horse (2001) had raced below everyone's expectations in Dubai.

Shirai, currently 19th on the trainer's table in Japan, won the February Stakes (Gr. 1) for his first graded stakes victory this year.

Meanwhile, connections of Japan's other AP QE II Cup entry, Eishin Preston, believe their horse may not have been at his best when he won the Hong Kong Mile (Gr.1) in December in scintillating fashion, beating Electronic Unicorn by more than three lengths with a brilliant turn of foot.

The rationale is that the five-year-old bay by Green Dancer is a sensitive horse and lost too much weight after his trip to Hong Kong, though he was as relaxed as usual on racing day. According to jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, ¡§I thought the turf track at Sha Tin suited Eishin Preston. My horse responded smoothly in the race.¡¨

In his seasonal debut in the Nakayama Kinen (Gr.2), Eishin Preston finished fifth under topweight of 60 kilograms in a field of 14.

Shuji Kitahashi, trainer of Eishin Preston, won the Kyoto Himba Stakes (Gr.2) on January 27 with Behind the Mask, and is seeking his second graded stakes victory this year with Eishin Preston in the AP QE II Cup.