LONGINES Hong Kong International Races Monday (7/12) track notes

07/12/2015

LONGINES Hong Kong Vase

CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR)
Cantered on the all-weather track
Warmed up with a gentle canter on the all-weather track under regular work rider Zoe Gargouland.

DARIYAN (FR)
Cantered on the all-weather track
The Alain de Royer Dupre-trained Dariyan looked on his toes as he saw Sha Tin for the second day. On Sunday he will bid to follow in the footsteps of his mother Daryakana, who won the Hong Kong Vase in 2009.

DOMINANT (HK)
Cantered on the small all-weather track
“The trip to Australia earlier in the year has done him a world of good,” said trainer John Moore. “He ran very well first up and I thought the run was full of merit. He was getting to the line well and visually, I think he is coming to a peak. Zac Purton is back on and hopefully he can help do what he did two years ago. I expect he will be ridden similarly to how he was then too.”

FLINTSHIRE (FR)
Cantered on the all-weather track
Defending LONGINES Hong Kong Vase champion looked well as he reacquainted himself with his Sha Tin surroundings. On Sunday he will attempt to emulate another French horse Doctor Dino (2007 and 2008) in winning back to back Hong Kong Vases.

HIGHLAND REEL (IRE)
Cantered 400m (31.9s) on the all-weather track
Work rider David Hannigan took Highland Reel on a circuit of the Sha Tin dirt. Travelling head lad Pat Keating was happy enough with the Aidan O’Brien trained 3- year-old son of Galileo. “He’s done plenty of travelling and he took the trip over here in his stride. He’s looking well,” he said as Highland Reel cantered down the Sha Tin straight.

MING DYNASTY (FR)
Galloped 2000m over the all-weather track and schooled in the saddling enclosure
Assistant trainer Aymeric Candas said: “He went well this morning. This horse has gotten really good in a short time. We are very happy with him right now.” The son of King’s Best lapped the walking ring twice before returning to quarantine stables.

PREFERMENT (AUS)
Worked over 800m on the turf in 56.2s (30.5, 25.7)
Joanne Taylor, assistant to trainer Chris Waller, said: “We're very happy with him. He's settled in well. That (the gallop) was what we wanted to see from him this morning; a nice three quarter pace hit-out, quickening up a bit at the finish. A good stretch of the legs. You’d call it maintenance work and routine for the stable. He’ll possibly have another gallop on the grass on Wednesday or Thursday but that will be quieter again. He doesn’t need much.”

Jockey Nash Rawiller who rode the horse in his workout: "He felt good. He's very fit and you wouldn't think he'd need any more work. That'll have cleaned him up nicely."

LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint

GREEN MASK (USA)
Worked 800m on the turf in 47.3s (25.3, 22.0)
The American trainee worked for the second time on the Sha Tin turf since arriving. Jockey Joao Moreira, who worked the horse for trainer Wesley Ward, said: “He feels more confident in what to do. Last week I had to give him some whacks to get him going, which I didn’t have to do today. He definitely worked better. It seems they have him ready to go for the big race.”

MIKKI ISLE (JPN)
Worked easily on the all-weather track
The work rider Yusuke Hirai commented: “Our flight was delayed for one day, but it was not a big issue for him.  Everything has gone well and he is in good form.”

MONGOLIAN SATURDAY (USA)
Worked 800m on the turf in 53.8s (31.2, 22.6)
Trainer Ganbat Enebish said: “He behaved himself this morning and everything is good.”

NOT LISTENIN’TOME (HK)
Cantered on the small all-weather track
Trainer John Moore commented after his local runners put in some basic work. “We are really hoping for one of the first four barriers at the draw. He had to be used mid-race to clear Smart Volatility and that took his edge off. I see him as a live chance.”

STRAIGHT GIRL (JPN)
Cantered for two laps on the all-weather track
Assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara commented: “She has settled in well.  This is her second visit to Hong Kong, and she has travelled well.”

STRATHMORE (HK)
Worked 400m (25.6s) on the all-weather track
Trainer Tony Millard addressed the chances of his progressive local sprinter. “He is in top form at the moment, we just need to pull a draw now. He got taken out at the start in his prep and then Chad (Schofield) could only ride him over the last 150m. It is a step up for him, but some others have had it tougher in their preps, so we are hopeful.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Mile

ABLE FRIEND (HK)
Cantered on the all-weather track
Of the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year, trainer John Moore indicated the local climate change has been an aid to his star, only third in the local prep for this year’s Mile. “The cooler weather in the last week has helped him. It’s cooled down and he’s perked up even more.” The son of Shamardal is due for a final work on Thursday.

ESOTERIQUE (FR)
Cantered on the all-weather track
Trainer Andre Fabre’s travelling head lad Richard Lambert reported all to be well with his two charges, Esoterique and Flintshire (Vase).“They both shipped well, and everything is good with them right now,” he said. Esoterique will bid to become the first of her sex to win the Hong Kong Mile since Sunline was successful back in the year 2000.

SECRET SHAM (HK)
Cantered on the small all-weather track
Trainer John Moore discussed the chances of his HKG3 winner. “He will have a final gallop on Thursday and is an each way sort of chance. On his very best, he could land a placing.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Cup

A SHIN HIKARI (JPN)
Cantered easily on the all-weather track
The work rider Tomoyasu Sakaguchi commented: “He has travelled well and has settled nicely in his new surroundings.  So far there is no concern about his condition.”

CRITERION (AUS)
Cantered on the all-weather track
Trainer David Hayes said: “He had a nice easy morning. He’s around his optimum race weight and he’s settled in well again. He’s the seasoned traveller now and I’d say his constitution has improved as the year has gone on. We’ve had him for a year now and what a year it’s been, he’s earned an average of A$460,000 per run. He’ll do a little bit of work tomorrow.”

FREE EAGLE (IRE)
Jogged two laps on the all-weather track
Free Eagle looked a picture of health as he took to the track at Sha Tin for the first time. Travelling head lad Patrick O’Brien reported all to be well with the Dermot Weld trained 4-year-old son of High Chaparral. “He’s travelled really well, and everything went very smoothly on the way over. He only lost 5kg on the trip, which is nothing. The work’s all done, and he’ll have a quiet time of it between now and Sunday,” O’Brien said. “Pat (Smullen) will probably have a sit on him on Friday.”

FREE PORT LUX (FR)
Galloped gently on the all-weather track under work rider Sebastian Legrange.

GAILO CHOP (FR)
Worked 800m on the all-weather track in 56.9s (28.4, 28.5)
The Mackinnon Stakes winner turned in a slow timed work for trainer Antoine de Watrigant.

LUCIA VALENTINA (AUS)
Jogged on the all-weather track
Mal Ollerton, assistant to trainer Kris Lees, and the mare's regular rider was on her back this morning: "She feels good. Seems happy. She'll have a gallop tomorrow when Kris (Lees) comes in."

SATONO ALADDIN (JPN)
Cantered easily for one and a half laps on the all-weather track

The work rider Mitsuharu Morisawa commented: “He eats up well and is in a good mood like at his home.  He is full of beans.”