Plenty of Hope for Lush Lashes Kevin Manning is confident Lush Lashes can make her presence felt when she takes on male rivals for the first time in Sunday's Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin. Manning guided Alexander Goldrun to victory in the race in 2004 and will look to claim a second win for father-in-law Jim Bolger on board the Galileo filly against the likes of Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Eagle Mountain and five-time Group One winner Viva Pataca. The three-year-old has won Group Ones at a mile, 10 furlongs and a mile and a half, but this 10 furlong-trip is believed to be her optimum. "I am very happy. She has travelled well. She was doing a swing canter on the grass this morning and we are pleased with how she is going," Manning told PA Sport. "She is a high-class filly. She has been thrown in the deepest level all year and she has competed at the highest level so I am very hopeful." Mike de Kock's four-year-old Eagle Mountain heads to Hong Kong following his near-miss at the Breeders' Cup, while John Moore's home favourite Viva Pataca is seeking a maiden Cup win after finishing fourth in 2006 and an unlucky runner-up 12 months ago behind Ramonti. "The home horse is the obvious one," added Manning. "He is the local horse and has done nothing wrong and sets the standard."
