APQEII Cup News : Tracknotes (15-04-2002)

15 April 2002

Five of the six international challengers for the HK$ 14 million Audemars Piguet QE II Cup, the second leg of the World Series Racing Championship, were out on the track for light exercise on Monday morning. The sixth overseas contestant - Eishin Preston from Japan - is scheduled to arrive at Sha Tin on Tuesday.

The 2001 JRA Champion Older Horse Agnes Digital appeared on the track at 8:45 this morning and had an easy canter on the all-weather surface under his regular work-rider Mr. Shirasaka. According to Shirasaka the 5-y-o horse had no problems at all during his long trip from Dubai. " Since Agnes Digital has arrived here his condition has improved a lot, he has been eating well. And his performance in today's track-work was satisfactory," said Shirasaka. Agnes Digital will have a fast breeze on Thursday for his trainer Toshiaki Shirai, who arrives in Hong Kong on Wednesday 17th.

The Criquette Head-Maarek-trained Okawango and Robert Collet's Lethals Lady, the French representatives, had a light canter together on the all-weather surface under their regular work riders Bruno Poirier and Edouard Bizeau respectively.

Travelling head lad Jean-Pierre Mallet said of Okawango: "He seems in good form and the trip over here went well. He needed his run in the Prix Edmond Blanc at Saint-Cloud and I hope that he will come on from there. His trainer arrives on Wednesday and he will probably do a final piece of work later in the week."

Minutes later Godolphin's Grandera, the big race mount of Frankie Dettori, was out on the track accompanied by a lead horse for a gentle canter under his workrider John Phelan. Grandera was equipped with blinkers for his morning exercise with Godolphin's travelling head lad Ross Campbell commenting: "That is not unusual. He wears them every day in Dubai. We have not had this horse long and he has just had the one start for us at Nad Al Sheba, where he finished an unlucky second in a race that was run at a muddling pace. He appears well so we will see what happens."

Australian challenger Universal Prince, who has been in Sha Tin for a week, completed two circuits of the all-weather tracks moving very fluently.

David Hayes, trainer of local hope, Helene Vitality who put up an outstanding performance to finish second to Nayef in the Dubai Shema Classic. " He is in good form and has come out of his quarantine very well. Coming back in trip from 2400 metres is not ideal but I think he will still finish in the money."