Ten-time British champion trainer Sir Michael Stoute was at Sha Tin this morning to supervise the final stages of Snow Sky’s training schedule en route to Sunday’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
The Nayef colt breezed 800m on the turf under big race partner Ryan Moore, who this evening will be feted with the accolade of winning the inaugural LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award.
Snow Sky was paddock schooled later in the morning, after which Stoute commented: “The colt seems relaxed, having travelled smoothly to Hong Kong. We’re happy.”
Some trackwork observers considered that Snow Sky, the youngest horse in this year’s Vase field, had appeared slightly edgy in the new environment earlier in the week, but his trainer’s arrival seems to coincide with a three-year-old colt now more at home and relaxed in his Sha Tin surroundings.
Trainer Stoute is no stranger to success in the Vase, having won it back in 2000 with Daliapour. And Snow Sky, a three-time winner in Britain, is owned by Khalid Abdullah who must have a terrific chance of gaining a first victory in the race, as the high-profile owner is also represented by the Andre Fabre-trained French invader Flintshire, the highest-rated contender and likely favourite.
Snow Sky was being talked of, back in May, as a possible winner of the Derby at Epsom after a fluent victory in the Derby Trial at Lingfield. A minor injury kept him out of Britain’s most prestigious race, but he has posted some terrific performances since – including a fighting victory in the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood in July.
“He is a nice relaxed horse with a lovely temperament who stays well and has a finishing kick,” said Stoute.
Hold up tactics are expected and Moore, who teams up with Snow Sky for the first time this year, is likely to angle for a late surge in the colt’s biggest career challenge, at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon.
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Photo 1:
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute watches LONGINES Hong Kong Vase runner Snow Sky during a paddock schooling session at Sha Tin this morning.
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