Hong Kong International Races Trackwork Notes Saturday

CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG CUP (Gr.1-2000m)
The finishing touches were put to the International Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup contenders this morning at Sha Tin. Most of the horses had a quiet canter on the all weather.

The Irish filly Alexander Goldrun had a light canter on the dirt under big race jockey Kevin Manning, and both he and her trainer Jim Bolger were thrilled with her condition.

'All her prep has gone well. All we can do now is keep our fingers crossed for tomorrow. The thing that makes this filly good is her battling powers, she really sticks her head down and fights, so anything that gets past her has to be significantly better than her,' reported Bolger.

'If all goes to plan tomorrow I am very hopeful that she will stay in training next year,' he added.

Fellow Irish raider Powerscourt breezed up the all weather straight under Seamus Heffernan. Pat Keating, travelling head lad to trainer Aiden O´Brien reported that all had gone according to plan with the build up to Sunday.

The boisterous Rakti had a quiet morning in the trotting ring in an attempt to keep the likely big race favourite calm and settled. 'He´s fit and able, it´s only his mind we have to worry about now,' said trainer Michael Jarvis.

Australian contender Fields Of Omagh worked in pleasing fashion on the all weather track. 'We´re happy with him and it looks like he´s on his game. Really this race is going to come down to which horses are on their game on the day. It may be most of them, it might only be a handful. Sunday will tell,' said trainer Tony McEvoy.

McEvoy´s confidence is boosted by the horse´s good draw. 'Danny (Nikolic) just has to consolidate from the good draw, and then ride his own race. If the speed is just fair, we´d envisage him settling third or fourth. If the pace is on we might be sixth or seventh. I´m reasonably confident. I think the trip here last year has really helped him in terms of this year,´ McEvoy said.

Japanese three-year-old contender Dance In The Mood cantered easily on the all-weather track under her regular exercise rider Naruhito Kasai. 'She looks good and worked in the powerful shape. I think everything is going well for the race on Sunday.' Kasai said.

CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG MILE (Gr.1-1600m)

Aidan O´Brien´s Breeders´ Cup Mile runner up Antonius Pius completed his preparations for the Hong Kong Mile this morning with a gallop on the turf under his work rider Pat Lillis. Despite his long season which has taken in seven Group One races in three countries thus far, the three year old son of Danzig looked to be in great shape as he breezed down the home stretch.

Eagle Rise from Germany continued to please his trainer Andreas Schutz as he completed his final canter on the all weather track with Schutz´s wife Elke. ' He´s in good form ,' said his trainer.'On paper he´s perhaps not quite good enough, but he has won his last two starts, and his confidence is high. He is also relatively fresh, while some of the others have had long seasons, and that is to his advantage.'

Germany´s other representative the Peter Schiergen trained Martillo looked good as he has all week in his final canter on the all weather track.

Durandal, the dual Mile Championship (Group 1) winner from Japan, was also out for a canter on the all weather track this morning. Sunday´s race favourite cantered two easy laps, after which his jockey Kenichi Ikezoe said' All he can do now is run his race. He likes to be held up and come with a run on the outside, and that´s what he´ll do on Sunday.'

The second Japanese runner Telegnosis also had a gentle canter on the all weather surface this morning.

His travelling head lad Goro Nagashima said, 'His weight is spot on at 474 kgs which is exactly the same as last time out when he was third in the Mile Championship. He is in good shape and ready for Sunday.'

Godolphin´s Firebreak, who will have the assistance of Frankie Dettori in the saddle on Sunday, did no more than jog around the track after his piece of turf work yesterday.

CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG VASE (Gr.1-2400m)

Prince Khalid Abdullah´s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe was at Sha Tin this morning to watch over the final preparations of the Juddmonte contender Polish Summer.

'This is his third trip out here so he knows the place better than most,' quipped Grimthorpe.

'He loves it here, he´s traveled well and looks well, he now just has to go one better than last year.

Clearly the draw 13 of 14 is not ideal but he´s better held up and the pace in these international races is generally good.'

Grimthorpe was happy to forgive his charge his disappointing latest start in New York where he finished 5th of seven in the Gr.1 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes, beaten 8.5 lengths.

'The ground was soft and he didn´t enjoy it. Last year he won a small listed race before here, but now he´s a Gr.1 winner having won the Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad al Sheba, there were very few options for him in the build up.

He´ll be a great price here for a consistent horse who does not know how to run a bad race.'

British trainer Mick Channon flew in yesterday and was at the track this morning to oversee the final preparations to his two Hong Kong International runners.

'Imperial Dancer´s training programme has not been smooth. The horse has never taken a lame step in his life but he managed to bang the inside of his hock on the way over which has not been a help. He is perfectly sound though, and he´ll take his chance. It´s his last run before he retires to stud in England.'

There was disappointment in the German camp this morning at the news that Senex was a confirmed non-runner in the Hong Kong Vase. The team reported that the horse had been suffering from travel sickness since arriving in Hong Kong so they had no option but to withdraw him.

British Vase raider Warrsan had a last pipe opener on the turf at Sha Tin this morning behind stable mate Var who tackles the Sprint. They started at the 1000 m pole and breezed over 400 m.

'That´ll have them just right,' said trainer Clive Brittain. 'That´s all they need. Roll on tomorrow!'

Classic winner Brian Boru looked very well this morning as he had a last feel of the turf at Sha Tin under his work rider T.J. Comerford ahead of tomorrow´s Group One. Connections feel he´s as good as they could have him, 'He has bloomed since he´s been here. He looks great, especially when you think he´s had a long season,' said Aiden O´Brien´s traveling head lad Pat Keating.

Last year´s winner Vallee Enchantee and fellow French runner Sweet Stream both had quiet leg stretches on the all weather surface.

CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG SPRINT (Gr.1-1000m)

Calstone Light O, who was the third pick behind Silent Witness and Var in yesterday´s handicappers´ selections. The veteran six-year-old was put through his paces ahead of Sunday´s target. Trainer Hiroyuki Oneda gave him an easy gallop on the all-weather track this morning and said he was happy with his horse. 'The Sprint is the only race that Japanese runners have ever won. But I think my horse will have a chance. He lost weight on arrival on this his first trip outside of Japan, but he is back in good form. He seems to keep his condition well of his own accord.'

The other Japanese contender for the Hong Kong Sprint, Sunningdale had an easy morning on the trotting ring, and did not appear on the track.

'I am very pleased with him. He is very relaxed and is in good shape. He eats up so well, and I have no worries about him.' said his exercise rider Takeshi Setoguchi.