LONGINES Hong Kong International Races Tuesday (8/12) track notes

08/12/2015

LONGINES Hong Kong Cup

A SHIN HIKARI (JPN)
The four-year-old Deep Impact colt with eight wins in 10 starts, cantered on the turf course.
Yoshiyuki Nakamura, travelling head lad to trainer Masanori Sakaguchi, said: “He has settled in better than expected, as I thought he would be tense with the new surroundings, and he has a good appetite.  We took him to the turf course to get him familiarised with it before his gallop, which will be on the turf under jockey Yutaka Take.”

CRITERION (AUS)
Galloped over 1200m on the turf track under big race jockey Craig Williams in 1.22.3s (29.3, 29.5, 23.5). Paddock schooled.
Williams said: “Very happy with him, especially as he was so relaxed compared to the last time he was here in April. He quickened up nicely over the last 200m and he recovered in 30 seconds. Couldn't be happier with him.”

DAN EXCEL (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “He just hasn’t really come back to himself since Singapore (won the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup in May), he hasn’t been the same horse. He ran a really big race down there, new course record, and the jury is out to see if he can get back to his best.”

DESIGNS ON ROME (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “I’m slightly concerned this is only his second up run. His run three weeks ago was full of merit and he closed very well, faster than Able Friend did in the mile. We’ve had no soundness issues with him. We really would have liked to get two races into him. All in all, I’m very happy with him. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a live chance.”

FREE EAGLE (IRE)
Dermot Weld-trained Free Eagle undertook gentle exercise on the all-weather track under regular rider Carlos Vieira.
Travelling head lad Patrick O’Brien said: “Not a bother, everything is good with him.”

FREE PORT LUX (FR)
Cantered 800m on the all-weather track in 1:03.4s (32.8, 30.6).
The four-year-old colt looked relaxed as he breezed around the AWT under Sebastien Lagrange.

GAILO CHOP (FR)
Cantered 800m on the all-weather in 1:03.5s (32.1, 31.4).
The four-year-old G1 Mackinnon Stakes winner continued his preparation with some light work.

LUCIA VALENTINA (AUS)
Galloped over 1200m on the turf track in 1:21s (29.0, 28.6, 23.4). Paddock schooled.
Trainer Kris Lees said: “I was very pleased with her work this morning. She has eaten up well since she arrived and she's in good order. We understand she has a tough assignment on Sunday but this race has been in the back of my mind for some time and she was back in form last start. This is obviously a rise in class on that (Flemington) win but she was wide that day, carried a big weight and returned the best closing sectionals of any horse in races at a mile (1600m) or further on the day. A shower or two of rain would be a bonus for her.”

NUOVO RECORD (JPN)
Last year’s Japanese Oaks winner Nuovo Record had easy work on the all-weather track.
Travelling head lad Yoshihiko Komatsu commented: “She looks well and has eaten up.  She had no issue with travelling as she has been racing since her two-year-old career. Hopefully she keeps her good form.”

STAPHANOS (JPN)
Cantered on the all-weather track in 30.2s
The consistent runner who has been out of top five only once in his 14 career starts warmed up with an easy canter on the all-weather track.
Kazuo Fujiwara, assistant to trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, commented: “The big difference from spring time when we were here for the G1 QEII Cup is that there are lots of foreign horses working together, so he has been a bit tense, but I am not worried and he will settle in.”

SATONO ALADDIN (JPN)
Routine canter on the all-weather track under his regular exercise rider.
Work rider Mitsuharu Morisawa said: “He looks happy and is maintaining his good form.  He will have a gallop on turf on Thursday.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Mile

ABLE FRIEND (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “He’s come back after that last race jumping out of his skin. Joao Moreira rode him yesterday and came back and said he almost threw him off three times. Well that’s a good sign that the horse has freshened up nicely. We’re looking forward to the Able Friend that we know. Looking at the opposition, the Japanese horse Maurice looks a good horse, I’ll be interested to see this week what he look like in the flesh, how he is in his coat and how he goes on the turf because on paper he looks to be the main danger.”

DANON PLATINA (JPN)
The best two-year-old colt to race under the Japan Racing Association last year cantered easily on the all-weather track.
Travelling head lad Keisuke Miyata said: “He had a nice easy morning. He has not raced since October and we have focused on this race since then. The turf seems faster than I thought and it will suit him. He will gallop on turf on Thursday.”

ESOTERIQUE (FR)
Cantered 800m on the all-weather track in 1:01.9s (32.7, 29.2)
Routine exercise on the AWT was again the order of the day for the Andre Fabre -trained Esoterique as she jogged around the AWT under her exercise rider Aurore Rivault. Esoterique will seek a fourth Group 1 success in the Longines HK Mile on Sunday

FIERO (JPN)
The runner-up in the G1 Mile Championship for two years in a row, Fiero put in an easy canter on the all-weather track.
Assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara commented: “He is looking well and is in a good mood.  He will gallop on turf tomorrow.”

MAURICE (JPN)
Easy canter on the all-weather track.
Work rider Masanori Watanabe commented: “We had a smooth journey to Hong Kong. We just walked him around the stable area on Sunday and yesterday he was jogging in the exercise ring near our stable. He is not relaxed enough yet but he is settling in and his appetite is increasing. He will gallop on turf on Friday.”

MONDIALISTE (GB)
Cantered one lap around the Sha Tin all-weather track
Assistant trainer Fearghal Davis said: “We are delighted with Mondialiste. He travelled over super and is very fresh and well. He just did a circuit on the dirt this morning, trotting and hacking. He's a fit horse now and it's all about just keeping him ticking over until Sunday.”

TOORMORE (GB)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Having landed in Hong Kong on Monday, Toormore arrived on the AWT supervised by Tony Gorman, travelling head lad to trainer Richard Hannon. Partnered by David Thomas the Godolphin-owned four-year-old was given a leisurely canter.

RED DUBAWI (GER)
Cantered on the all-weather track under big race jockey Andreas Suborics.
Andreas Suborics said: “Just very steady this morning. I’m happy, he feels good. We'll work him tomorrow.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint

CHARLES THE GREAT (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “I really hope he gets a good draw because he’s another who has done very well for us despite running the proverbial beer garden in his last few. He’s just been trapped wide and Gerald Mosse has been incredibly pleased with efforts despite those trips. He’s a real genuine bugger and we are very happy to take our chances with him.”

GOLD-FUN (HK)
Trainer Richard Gibson said: “We just need a good ride and fingers crossed.”

MIKKI ISLE (JPN)
Jogged and worked on the turf course over 400m in 33.7s
Exercise rider Yusuke Hirai said: “He looks well.  We worked him to acquaint him with the surface before the gallop on Thursday.  He is eating up well and is very settled.  We are happy with his good condition and hopefully everything will go well until the big day.

MONGOLIAN SATURDAY (USA)
Cantered 2000m over the Sha Tin all-weather track
After standing to the side of the gap for 10 minutes to watch other horses train, he eventually went about his business. Trainer Ganbat Enebish said: “He's a tough horse and you have to let him be and not upset him. He has a mind of his own.”

SAKURA GOSPEL(JPN)
Put in an easy canter on the all-weather track
Work rider Mamoru Kojima said: “He came out on the all-weather track for the first time this morning and he has settled in well and is looking well.  He will gallop on turf on Thursday.”

SOLE POWER (IRE)
Cantered one lap around the Sha Tin all-weather track
Fresh out of quarantine, the veteran sprinter got his first opportunity to stretch his legs locally. This will be his fourth appearance in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (9th in 2014, 2nd at odds of 76-1 in 2013 and 9th in 2011).

STRAIGHT GIRL (JPN)
Breezed 800m on the turf in 56.4s (31.0, 25.4)
Kazuo Fujiwara, assistant to trainer Hideaki Fujiwara said: “The last time she worked on the turf at Sha Tin was a year ago, so she was likely to be a little nervous, but it was no problem and we have no concern about her condition.  Jockey Keita Tosaki will give her a gallop on Thursday.”

STRATHMORE (HK)
Trainer Tony Millard said: “He’s young, he’s a four-year-old and he’s improving. He’s come up through the ranks and he’s still improving. He’s one of those up-and-comers that might win the race.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Vase

CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Work rider Zoe Gargouland said: “He feels in good shape.”

DARIYAN (FR)
Cantered 800m on the all-weather track in 59.3s (29.9, 29.4)
The Alain de Royer Dupre-trained Dariyan, a son of the 2009 HK Vase winner Daryakana, cantered a circuit of the AWT, much as he had done the previous morning.

FLINTSHIRE (FR)
Light canter for 800m on the all-weather track under regular track rider Annelie Ackerman in 58.0 (29.8, 28.2)
Flintshire repeated Monday’s light exercise and Richard Lambert, travelling head lad to trainer Andre Fabre, said: “Nothing different, everything is good with the horse,”

HELENE HAPPY STAR (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “Everything has gone just right with him this term. He still has to step up in this company, and with the ‘Magic Man’ (Joao Moreira) aboard, if we get a good gate, he can be in the mix. This is absolutely his trip, he wants farther than his 2,000m trip last time.”

HIGHLAND REEL (IRE)
Cantered on the AWT, 800m in 1:00.1s
The Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes winner was out again on the AWT on Tuesday morning and looked on good terms with himself. Highland Reel will be bidding to give his trainer a first HKIR success in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase on Sunday.
Pat Keating, Aidan O’Brien’s travelling head lad, said: “He’s won at ten furlongs and at twelve, and I think the Vase trip around here will suit him well.”

MING DYNASTY (FR)
Galloped 2000m over the Sha Tin all-weather track and schooled in the saddling enclosure.
With just five starts on his record, he is the least experienced of the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase runners.

PREFERMENT (AUS)
Jogged two laps of the all-weather track.
Track rider and trainer Chris Waller's assistant Joanne Taylor said: "All good, a nice easy morning for him after yesterday's gallop. Very happy."