Audemars Piguet QEII Cup Trackwork - Thursday 21 April

21/04/2016

BLAZING SPEED (HK)
Worked 800m on the all-weather track and clocked 56.7s (30.2, 26.5).

DESIGNS ON ROME (HK)
Worked 1200m on the all-weather track under work rider Henry Wong and clocked 1m 22.2s (32.2, 27.3, 22.7).
Trainer John Moore said: “His rider, Henry, was delighted with the work and he’s going into the race as fit as we can get him.”

ERTIJAAL (UAE)
Routine canter on the all-weather.
Assistant trainer Trevor Brown said: “He had a nice easy move around the dirt today and continues to please us. He is really enjoying himself here, and when you travel horses that is half the battle. Everything has gone right so far.”

HELENE HAPPY STAR (HK)
Galloped 1200m on turf under Sunday’s rider Blake Shinn in company with Basic Trilogy and clocked 1m 21.7s (31.0, 28.2, 22.5).
Jockey Blake Shinn said: “It was nice work; he felt terrific and pulled up good. He seems to be in good order for Sunday and I’m sure he’ll run well.”

HELENE SUPER STAR (HK)
Worked 800m on the all-weather track in 57.5s (31.1, 26.4).

HORSE OF FORTUNE (HK)
Trainer Tony Millard said: “He’s going to do some speed work tomorrow on the all-weather. His work has been good coming into this and I was pleased with his grass gallop last week (14 April – 1200m in 1m 17.2s, final 400m in 22.0). He’s an improving horse, anything can happen in racing. Sometimes you can get them well and run above their ability.”

LOVELY DAY (JPN)
Galloped 800m on the turf course under exercise rider Joji Yamamoto and clocked 49.6s (26.4, 23.2).
Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said: “It is his second race up after a four-month layoff.  After he ran the (G2) Sankei Osaka Hai, his condition has progressed and he seems to be back to almost the same level as his top form last year.  The track surface at Sha Tin is softer than in Japan, but he grabbed the track and handled it well. The going could be yielding on Sunday because of the rain forecast, but he will handle it.”

NUOVO RECORD (JPN)
Galloped 800m on turf under jockey Yutaka Take in 52.6s (29.5, 23.1).
Yutaka Take said: “She is a very good horse, as I had expected.  She is in good condition and I felt that she is likely to have no issue with the surroundings here.  She is very easy to ride, not complicated at all. She listened to me all the time.  It is my first time riding her but so far I do not have any concern, she is a Group 1 winner, after all. She was well-balanced today and her action was good, so if it is raining on Sunday and the track is softer, I am sure she will handle the surface.  I am hoping for a good performance on Sunday”

Trainer Makoto Saito, who flew into Hong Kong last night and was on hand this morning, said: “I wanted the jockey to get the feel of the horse and the track condition.  I asked him to gallop her to make use of her flexibility but keep her energy until the race, and Take did exactly what I had asked.  He had a good feel of her, so now we will do our best to maintain her good condition until the race.”

RISING ROMANCE (AUS)
Worked on the turf this morning, under regular rider Alexandra Slattery, and covered 1200m in 1m 25.1s (31.0, 28.3, 25.8).
Trainer David Hayes was on hand this morning after arriving in Hong Kong yesterday. “She looks great and the guys (staff) tell me she's settled in really well. I was happy with her this morning and we're hopeful she can be competitive in a strong race.”

Work rider Alexandra Slattery said: “She's doing really well and felt great this morning. She's always very relaxed and it's a good sign when she shows a bit of spark and she's been doing just that.”

SATONO CROWN (JPN)
Warmed up in the trotting ring and, after attempting to take his rider across to the inside rail as he walked and trotted down the home turf straight, he then worked for three furlongs on the grass along the back straight to familiarise with the course. Ended his work at the turn into the home straight as planned.

WERTHER (HK)
Galloped on turf under Thomas Yeung in company with Beauty Prince and clocked 1m 25.1s (32.7, 29.4, 23) for 1200m.
Trainer John Moore said: “Werther worked really well – he came home really strongly and pulled up clean in the wind. He’s gone on from the Derby.”