LONGINES Hong Kong International Races Saturday (12/12) track notes

12/12/2015

LONGINES Hong Kong Cup

A SHIN HIKARI (JPN)
Cantered on the all-weather.
Trainer Masanori Sakaguchi said: “He is in a good condition. Hopefully he is not too tense in the paddock ring pre-race in front of the big crowd and then does the preliminary canter smoothly.  He has come all the way to Hong Kong, so I hope he jumps quickly from the gate and takes the lead.”

CRITERION (AUS)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Trainer David Hayes said: “The barrier dampens our enthusiasm a touch but he hasn't left an oat all week and he's really done well so we are still optimistic.”

DESIGNS ON ROME (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “There’s a little cloud over him because he missed one run. If he’d had the two runs coming in I’d be saying he’d be hard to beat in the race because he’s had no issues; his joints have tightened right up, he’s never been lame, he’s not sore, he’s all heart and he always hits the line. The question mark is about his fitness. The thing that will win him the race is his heart and the fact that he always hits the line hard – he always wants to win.”

FREE EAGLE (IRE)
Stayed on the trotting ring in the quarantine stables
Travelling head lad Patrick O’Brien confirmed that all is well with the son of High Chaparral.

O’Brien said: “Pat (Smullen) gave him a canter on the turf yesterday, and was very happy with him. He’s fit and well and had a quiet morning today. We’ll leave the galloping for race day!”

FREE PORT LUX (FR)
Galloped on the AWT track under his regular rider.
Trainer Freddy Head commented: “He is in good shape for tomorrow.”

GAILO CHOP (FR)
Did some light work on the all-weather under his work rider. Later in the morning the horse was found to be lame in his left hind leg and will be examined tomorrow morning, at which point a decision will be made regarding his suitability to race in the HK Cup.

Trainer Antoine de Watrigant said: “His condition and weight are good after Wednesday’s serious work. Asked whether the horse could run a place tomorrow, de Watrigant replied “Maybe better than that!” Regarding tactics tomorrow, the French trainer said: “I am happier with gate seven than something lower. He is an adaptable horse and it gives the jockey plenty of possibilities.”

STAPHANOS (JPN)
Cantered on turf.
Trainer Hideaki Fujiwara said: “The condition of Staphanos is really good.  He grabbed hold of the turf and coped with it well.  I hope he can give his best.”

NUOVO RECORD (JPN)
Cantered on the all-weather.
Trainer Makoto Saito said: “She is very relaxed and is in the right mood for tomorrow.  She moved nicely today and I believe she is in good order.” 

SATONO ALADDIN (JPN)
Cantered on the all-weather.
Yuki Iwasaki, the assistant to trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, said: “He was very flexible and cantered well this morning.  I am very happy with his condition and all things have gone well so far.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Mile

ABLE FRIEND (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “Everything’s normal with him, no issues.”

CONTENTMENT (HK)
Trainer John Size said: “He’s a horse that does the same thing every day so from that perspective everything is normal and I’m happy with him. A couple of the visitors have early speed but I think we’ll see the normal order with Hong Kong horses taking up the pace from the start.”

DANON PLATINA (JPN)
Cantered on all-weather track.
Trainer Sakae Kunieda commented: “When I saw him in the stable this morning, I thought he looked very happy.  He is still three, so my only concern was that he would be tense in the new surroundings, but he is eating up very well and is in good form – he is as fit as fiddle.  He schooled at the starting gate yesterday, and I think he is fit now and ready for tomorrow.  He won the G1 2yo champion race this time last year, so it may be that he likes the winter time.  I expect that he will bring me a very nice Christmas present tomorrow!”

ESOTERIQUE (FR)
Cantered on the AWT under her jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot.

FIERO (JPN)
Cantered on turf.
Trainer Hideaki Fujiwara stated: “We are pleased with the way things are going with him and everything is in order.  I am counting on jockey Mirco Demuro to do a great job.”

MAURICE (JPN)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Masanori Watanabe, the assistant to trainer Noriyuki Hori said: “We checked his movement and condition during his canter today as he galloped yesterday.  He is coming on well, looks well and we are pleased that his form is back to the way he was last race. I think he will be ready for the race.”

TOORMORE (GB)
The six-time winner completed his preparation with a smart canter on the all-weather.

LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint

CHARLES THE GREAT (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “He’s doing fine but he’s just a place-getter and he’ll be running home like he does in these races.”

GREEN MASK (USA)
Had his paddock schooling session and then slow cantered one lap around the Sha Tin turf course.
Was reported lame by Club vet staff with left front foot bruising on Monday. He was examined this morning, and reported suitable to race.
Trainer Wesley Ward said: “It's a good thing we had time on our side. The bruise is gone. As good as he can run, he is going to run tomorrow. I just hope that's good enough.”

LUCKY NINE (HK)
Trainer Caspar Fownes said: “He’s in good form, he has a nice draw and he will get his chance. His condition is spot on, his heart’s there and he’s got his zest back for racing. We’ll see what he can do. It’ll be a good race.”

MIKKI ISLE (JPN)
Cantered on the all-weather.
Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi stated: “We gave him an easy canter to stretch out his legs this morning.  I think there is not a big difference between the Japanese turf and Hong Kong turf, but we cannot tell the right answer until the horse runs in the race. I am pleased with his good form. I will let the jockey Suguru Hamanaka ride him as he sees fit but he is going to set the pace anyway.”

MONGOLIAN SATURDAY (USA)
Stood and watched other horses train for ten minutes and then cantered one lap around the Sha Tin all-weather track. Acted up briefly on his way back to the barn area and stood by the outside fence for a moment before continuing on.

NOT LISTENIN’TOME (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “He’s drawn the gun gate. He’s going to be close. He’s going to be back with Gold-Fun. Hugh Bowman’s got very soft hands and I think that will suit the horse down to the ground.”

SAKURA GOSPEL (JPN)
Cantered on the all-weather.
Trainer Tomohito Ozeki stated: “He has good conformation and looks very well.  I hope to maintain his good form until tomorrow and do my best to send him to the race without any concern.”

SOLE POWER (IRE)
Leisurely cantered one lap around the Sha Tin turf course.
Owner David Power said: “We took the edge off yesterday (turf work). Today he was nice and relaxed.”

Jockey Chris Hayes, who will be riding at Sha Tin for the first time, said: “He (Sole Power) has experience here, I haven't, so hopefully he'll be able to help me around. The trip (1200m), he hasn't won over it, but he's run well at it. He was second here two years ago, if we can do one better that would be great. We haven't talked strategy yet, I'm just short off of landing. I'm sure Eddie (Lynam - trainer) will have a plan and I hope I'll be able to execute it. The draw, we have to be happy, it's in the middle so we can keep our options open. We can go in or out, forward or back. The one bit of advice is that they race quite tight around here, so I'm going to have to make my mind up quite early. There's no point in second guessing it. The horse I'm on, he's a willing partner, he'll definitely be able to get me where I want to go.”

STRAIGHT GIRL (JPN)
Trainer Hideaki Fujiwara said: “I think the track surface is slower than last year, which means we need more power to grab the surface, but she has so much talent to cope with that and I believe she is able to handle it.  She is in a great mood and her appetite is very good.  Everything except for the wide gate is in good order.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Vase

CANNOCK CHASE (GB)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Charlie Gordon Watson, representing owner Saeed Suhail, said: “This was the natural progression after Canada (winning the G1 Canadian International). Everything didn’t go right for him earlier this season but his last few starts have shown what a good horse he is, helped also by moving up to this distance. There is absolutely no one better than his trainer (Sir Michael Stoute) for getting improvement out of horses like this and, if Cannock Chase is still progressing, I think we can expect something pretty good tomorrow.”

CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR)
Completed his Vase preparation with a canter on the all-weather track.
Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe said: “His jockey Olivier Peslier arrives tonight, and is excited to be back on Cirrus. I won’t be giving any instructions because Peslier knows that the horse is best when he can express himself. If he pulls hard, he’ll just let him go forward. When Peslier won on him at Meydan a few years ago, people said he was mad when he let the horse accelerate round the bend. But it was Cirrus doing his thing, and it worked.”

DOMINANT (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “He can’t be any fitter than he is. He’s pulling up much better, much cleaner in the wind for a horse that is a high blower.”

ENSURING (HK)
Trainer John Size said of the race’s lowest-rated (105) contender: “I’m hoping the step up in distance makes a difference. It’s frustrating at 1800 metres in the way those races are run in Hong Kong. The front horses in those races tend to have an advantage and that doesn’t suit a horse like him, so hopefully he’ll appreciate the 2400m.”

FLINTSHIRE (FR)
Cantered on the all-weather track with his jockey Vincent Cheminaud on board.
Andre Fabre was at trackside to supervise Flintshire’s final preparations for the defence of his HK Vase crown.
Fabre said: “I just wanted his jockey to have a sit on him and get the feel of the horse again.”

HELENE HAPPY STAR (HK)
Trainer John Moore said: “He has to take the next step. He has to prove to us that he he’s able to go up to this world class level and compete with them.”

HIGHLAND REEL (IRE)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Pat Keating, who is in charge of Highland Reel this week in the absence of trainer Aidan O’Brien, who will not be coming to Hong Kong, is not someone given to talking up his horses’ chances, but it was possible to detect an air of optimism at Sha Tin on Friday morning after Highland Reel completed his morning work routine.
Keating said: “He’s never been better.”

KHAYA (HK)
Trainer John Size said: “He’s only had two runs going in but a couple of the others have only had two runs also. He’s healthy and he had a strong trial last Friday. For him it’s all about jumping away smartly and racing in his rhythm. If he misses the kick and doesn’t sit handy that doesn’t suit his style of running.”

MING DYNASTY (FR)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Trainer Mikel Delzangles: “As long as he stays relaxed and doesn't go crazy in the parade ring tomorrow, then I think he can run well. Everyone says a three-year-old colt has not won this race but how many good ones have tried?”

PREFERMENT (AUS)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Trainer Chris Waller said: “It's good to get closer to the race with a horse who is sound, eating well and looking well and he's all of those things. When those boxes are ticked they can normally come out and run their race.”