Yasuda Kinen news (6) - All systems go for HK's Yasuda Kinen trio

4 June 2005

The final touches were applied to Hong Kong's trio of Yasuda Kinen hopefuls at Fuchu Racecourse, Tokyo, on Saturday morning and no problems were reported after Bullish Luck, Silent Witness and Bowman's Crossing jogged round the dirt track in their own time.

However, connections were less than thrilled with the state of the turf track as the US$2 million showpiece approaches.

"It's not the best," said Anthony Delpech, rider of Bowman's Crossing.

"It's pretty rough in places. You can see where there is a fresh strip of ground on the inside but if you move out about three or four horses then it is quite patchy. But it will suit my horse much more than the likes of Silent Witness."

Felix Coetzee, who partners Silent Witness for the 19th time tomorrow, agreed with the views of his South African compatriot.

"It's going to be tough for Silent Witness. It would be hard enough with the contours of the track making it a pretty stiff mile but now he will have to face ground that will be roughened up further after racing today and tomorrow," said Coetzee.

The going was generally described as "good" or "good to firm" by the Hong Kong contingent.

After partnering Bullish Luck for a light canter, French ace Gerald Mosse sounded pretty hopeful about annexing the second leg of the Asian Mile Challenge having triumphed by a short head from Silent Witness at Sha Tin three weeks ago in the Champions Mile. A US$1 million bonus awaits should he succeed.

"At the mile, I would prefer my horse over Silent Witness. We have beaten him already and if we had got a run earlier in the Champions Mile we would have beaten him more easily," Mosse said.

"The long straight here will play to my advantage. I just hope that it is not a wet track," he added.

Tokyo experienced sunny weather on Saturday but thundery showers are forecast for race day.

David Oughton was on hand to survey Bowman's Crossing's final preparation and is expecting another creditable effort to mirror his finish in fourth in the Champions Mile on May 15.

"If we can get within two or three lengths of Silent Witness and Bullish Luck again then I think he will have done a good job because they won't be far away. Bowman's Crossing is a better horse going left-handed and hopefully there is a strong pace on," Oughton said.

Jockey Delpech thinks he can get even closer to the Tony Cruz-trained pair. He said: "I got a bit far out of my ground in the Champions Mile. I got held up behind the Australian horse [Delzao] and instead of being beaten over three lengths we could have been a length behind. I think he will run well. He felt good this morning."