Allan's trio work well in Singapore

6 May 2002

Three of Hong Kong's four contenders for the big Singapore Airlines International Cup meeting this Saturday, May 11, spiced up trackwork at Kranji racecourse this morning.

The Ivan Allan-trained trio of Indigenous (International Rating 117), Olympic Express (111) and Firebolt (114) displayed a high level of fitness as they covered two rounds on the main turf track. They warmed up with some slow work before quickening the tempo with pace work, culminating with an easy two furlongs up the straight under the watchful eye of trainer Ivan Allan, who later said: "All three worked well."

Olympic Express, however, has had a minor setback since arriving on May 1. "Olympic Express is a little dehydrated and slightly off his feed but everything will be okay in a day or two," Allan said.

Both Olympic Express and Indigenous will be contesting the S$3 million (HK$12.6 million) Singapore Airlines International Cup (Int'Gr.1-2000m), the third leg of the World Series Racing Championship, while Firebolt is vying for the S$1 million (HK$4.2 million) Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Sprint (Int'Gr.3-1200m).

Elsewhere, Godolphin's SAIC aspirant Grandera (119) continues to impress. He looked fighting fit when doing one round of pace work on the fibresand track.

England's Hawkeye (117) and Australia's Universal Prince (116) did one round of slow work before being given pace work on the fibresand track. Universal Prince looked the better of the two.

Paolini (117), who is one of the likely favourites for the Cup, familiarised himself with two rounds of light exercise. The German contender arrived only yesterday.

Slow work was also the norm among the other foreign candidates who have recently arrived: from France Terre A Terre (118), the Australians Toledo (111) and North Boy (110) and the New Zealander Tit For Taat (108).