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Highland Reel drawn 10 in Hong Kong Vase

Highland Reel doing some work at Sha TinHighland Reel doing some work at Sha Tin
© Healy Racing Photos

Last year's winner Highland Reel will be in stall 10 as he tries to defend his title in Sunday's Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin racecourse.

Aidan O'Brien's class act was last seen making all of the running to lift the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Michael Bell was delighted to see Big Orange drawn in stall seven for the Vase. The five-year-old arrives on the back of two outings in Australia, disappointing when down the field in the Melbourne Cup before being edged into third in the Zipping Classic at Sandown.

A dual Goodwood Cup winner, Big Orange sticks to 12 furlongs for this Group One event, and Bell is eager to make use of his stamina from a decent draw.

He said: "Lucky seven - that suits.

"Big Orange wants a true pace over 12 furlongs and we will definitely be on the pace. And Ryan Moore (on Highland Reel) is too good a jockey to go on a suicide mission by taking us on.

"Racing is not an exact science but in the normal course of events we will go forward."

O'Brien fields Cougar Mountain in the Mile event and he will be in stall seven, while Richard Fahey's Growl appears to face an uphill battle in the Sprint after drawing stall 12.