French trainer Mikel Delzangles is looking forward to Ming Dynasty contesting the HK$16.5 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on 13 December.
The three-year-old colt returned to form last time out with a decisive length and a quarter victory over Migwar in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris (2400m) at Chantilly on 18 October. Both Ange Gabriel (2002) and Vallee Enchantee (2003) took the same race en route to success in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.
Ming Dynasty notched up a hat-trick earlier this year, culminating in the Listed Grand Prix de Clairefontaine (2400m) at Clairefontaine in August, after which the Wildenstein Family sold a stake in the horse to Qatar Racing Limited.
The son of King’s Best met with his first defeat next time out in the G2 Prix Niel (2400m) at Longchamp on 13 September, coming home a well-beaten sixth behind New Bay.
Delzangles, who sent out Dunaden to win the Hong Kong Vase in 2011, said: “Ming Dynasty has been very good since Chantilly. He has been training well and seems to be improving.
“I was very disappointed with his run at Longchamp in the Prix Niel. He was in a bad state that day and was very nervous and upset before the race.
“That was not the case at Chantilly and I thought it was a very good performance to win the Group Two. Since then, he has been much calmer and more mature at home.
“I don’t think faster ground conditions in Hong Kong will pose a problem for him. He has been running on soft ground because that was the ground at the time. We have not been looking for it.”
The LONGINES Hong Kong Vase is one of four G1 contests at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 13 December. The afternoon also features the HK$25 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), the HK$23 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and the HK$18.5 million LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).
